Thursday: “Make Your Name Great”
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Gen: 12:2).
In Genesis 12:2, God promises to make Abram’s name great — that is, to make him famous. Why would the Lord want to do that for any sinner, no matter how obedient and faithful? Who deserves a “great” name? (See Rom: 4:1-5, James 2:21-24.) Did God bestow greatness on Abram for his own personal benefit, or did it represent something more? Explain.
Compare Genesis 11:4 with Genesis 12:2. What is the big difference between the two? In what ways does one represent “salvation by works” and the other “salvation by faith”?
Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com
However much the plan of salvation rests only upon the work of Christ in our behalf, we — as recipients of God’s grace — are, nevertheless, still involved. We have a role to play; our free choice comes into prominence. The drama of the ages, the battle between Christ and Satan, is still being played out in and through us. Both humanity and angels are watching what is happening with us in the conflict (1 Cor: 4:9). Thus, who we are, what we say, what we do, far from having no importance beyond our own immediate sphere, has implications that can, in a sense, reverberate across the universe. By our words, our actions, even our attitudes, we can help bring glory to the Lord, who has done so much for us, or we can bring shame upon Him and His name. Thus, when the Lord said to Abraham that He would make his name great, He surely was not talking about it in the same way the world talks about someone as having a great name. What makes a name great in the eyes of God is character, faith, obedience, humility, and love for others, traits that while they might often be respected in the world are not usually the factors the world would deem as making someone’s name great.
| Look at some of the men and women who have “great” names in the world today, be it actors, politicians, artists, the wealthy, whatever. What is it about these people that has made them famous? Contrast that with the greatness of Abraham. What does that tell us about how perverted the world’s concept of greatness is? How much of that worldly attitude impacts our view of greatness, as well? |
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Now-a-days, fame is often an ephemeral thing. I think of the media "influencers" who operate in social media, whose only claim to fame is that they have millions of followers. It is a fickle world though and it does not take much for the crowd to change their minds and leave their idols high and dry. For many of these people, their only claim to fame is that they are famous. They have not done anything of note to really make them famous other than get a whole lot of likes on the social media webpages.
I have told this story previously of the missionaries who went to one of the African nations after World War 2 with the aim of running a school that would teach people the love of education. They remained there for the rest of their lives and ultimately, in their nineties, they died and were buried there. Their school closed, and within 5 years of their death, it was in ruins. A friend, visiting the site found that few of the locals even remembered their names. Yet in towns and villages across the country, there were doctors, teachers, ministers, office workers, and others who had absorbed that love of education and were communicating that love to others. The influence of those unnamed missionaries was still there, outliving their lives.
You don't need to have your name in lights in the pages of history, nor have a stone statue in a park for the birds to roost on, in order to be great. Exercising your faith in a practical way within the horizon of influence is all you are asked to do.
thankfully there is NOTHING that human beings have to do or achieve or accomplish or contribute to our Salvation from sin and being in the Kingdom of God.
Nothing? No faith to exercise or good works to bring glory to God? What does the word of God tell us on this matter of doing/achieving(Heb 11:6, Josh 24:15, Phil 2:12,13, Matt 25:1-46, James 2:14-26, etc)? While we are saved by grace, we will be judged by our works(Eccl 12:13,14, Rev 22:11,12), not our profession. This world of sin and death resulted by the choice and action of those made in the image of God.
Don't the teachings of Jesus call for choices and actions from all who "believe"?
I believe the issue with works is that, when someone says something as Mark E Marek said, we think that they are shunning works. But they are (in my opinion) highlighting Faith, because there is absolutely nothing we can do/achieve/accomplish/contribute to be saved. Our works simply are the evidence of our faith. We don't work FOR Faith, we work BECAUSE of faith.
There is no Salvation in works, even the works that spring from faith, it is still Faith in God that has the saving power, ALONE. Abraham believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness and his keeping of God's statues, judgments and commands were not so he CAN be saved, but because he was ALREADY saved. Our works JUDGE our faith, whether it is genuine or not, but it is ALWAYS faith that saves.
I understand what you are saying Benjamin, and I got the intention of Mark, but it is still incorrect to say works have nothing to do with salvation. We are JUSTIFIED by faith alone, however, without works of obedience, there is no faith as shown in the passages from Scripture cited in my comment above. It is by our good works that God is glorified and faith is confirmed(Matt 5:16, Heb 11). Faith and good works are the purpose and end result of Scripture(Rom 10:17, 2 Tim 3:16,17).
I am making this point due to the increasing acceptance that we are saved by faith only, and that obeying the law is trying to be saved by works. This misses the meaning of what it means to be saved. Justification by faith alone is only the first part of being saved, as typified in the courtyard of the sanctuary, while the holy place typifies sanctification/obedience. No one can be saved without demonstrating obedience(Ps 40:8, Rev 22:14), which as you stated, confirms our faith as genuine.
Also, could we say that faith(and its resulting obedience) is the means of accepting the GRACE that saves us?
Hello Benjamin and Robert – may I point out that the ‘works’ you refer to are those spoken to in Eph.2:10KJV - ”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained (or, for the acknowledgement) that we should walk in them. Please note where to place the emphasis by the highlighted operational 'words'.
‘In Christ Jesus’ - I understand this to mean that we have given our heart and mind's ability to determine for ourselves the ‘right from wrong’ to Jesus who lives in us in the form of the Holy Spirit and follow His guidance by faith instead.
Created ‘unto good works’ - I understand this to mean just as the text points out; in our 'born-again' state we understand that 'all things good' are inspired by God, not man's will or determination. Christ in us, to whom we have given up our proclivity to 'self-will', will by our permission lead us with the power of His Spirit to do that which is ‘good and right’ by faith.
To me good ‘works’ mean all those thoughts and actions which are inspired by the spirit of God - by His Love and Righteousness. The spirit of Christ within us brings them to our attention and leads us to engage in them by faith. Though it is us who engage in them, their true value is spiritual, derived from the spirit of God which conceived them and motivated us to do them.
Our spirit has become/is becoming reunited/aligned with the spirit of the heavenly Father and expresses/reflects willingly, without coercion, our willingness to do the Father's Will. Sometimes it takes a bit of prompting by His spirit to stay faithful and follow through with the action; this process is guided by faith from its beginning of perception to the workings by action.
This is what I consider to be the re-born life of the believer as he is now living in the heavenly kingdom of God. The believer's wisdom and understanding is purposely, by faith, being aligned with the Will of the Father who then guides us with His Wisdom and Rightousness.
Amen Benjamin. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, plus... nothing else (Ephesians 2:8).
The Judaizers who hounded Paul for years (never to his face, always after he left a particular church or city), insisted that salvation was the result of good works, obedience to the law and circumcision.
Like pesky gnats, Paul had to continuously swipe away at these false teachings and relentlessly preach that that it was the other way around. Obedience, repentance, good works, law keeping, etc. were the result, not the cause of our salvation.
I would agree. We're not so much talking about works here. Rather, we're talking about living a life pleasing to God. That's what we should be doing. If we are living a sinful life, but still feel "safe", then we are in for a rude awakening. We all sin and that's a fact. (Romans 3:23), but that's far different than living a sinful life. To your point Robert, it is by His grace we've been saved, but by our works we will be judged. (Rev. 22:11-12)
So, when we are in front of the Lamb and He opens the Book of Life, what will we have done in our life on this Earth which would cause our name to be listed there? You can't just sit on the sidelines because you are "saved" and expect to reap the full benefits of His grace.
Parents want their children to have more than they had. They want education and food and clothes and good health for their family. There is this universal desire to be blessed and it is found among all people everywhere.
The blessings of God however include much more than good health, food, shelter and a good job. God’s blessing includes our Salvation and our future heavenly home. God desires to bless us in ways that are spiritual and eternal.
Ephesians Chapter 2 highlights the true blessing of God. We are made alive when previously we were spiritually dead. The Spirit of God is at work in us. We were aliens, now we are in the family of God. These are indeed the blessings of God.
Indeed,one's greatness is an expression of God's attributes on an individual which is the diametric opposite to what the world deems as greatness. Abraham being the father of faith didn't proclaim self-greatness but God declared it on him.Now to us who live in the 21st century, which route do we take, intelligent faith or primitive faith? If in any case there's something like intelligent faith, what intelligence is in it? How far does it go? Are the two in perfect harmony in the journey of faith? Help please!
Simeon, without knowledge, faith cannot be "intelligent". Faith is based on a knowledge of God and His promises, and those who believe will simply act on those promises. So it seems that genuine faith must be both intelligent and primitive(simple?), if you wish to apply those specific terms.
Faith is quite simply trusting God as you indicated. If we look for intelligent faith then if God asks something that does not seem intelligent we will hesitate. If we look for the primitive(simple), then we will say oh it is just too simple. Abraham believed and it was counted to him for righteousness. Faith is just that believing in “thus smith the Lord”, whether simple/primitive or intelligent.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tingling cymbal. 1 Cor 13:1.
Make Your Name Great”
Humans/Christians/SDA are an offspring/offshoot of their society. We mingled for 6 days in the world and learn about their way of life and how business is being done. As a result, we practice the same on the 7th day, Sabbath. One of such area is in our evangelist or preaching. We are told to become a Pastor one must be train for so many years in our institution to become one. Without that, no use considering that position. According to the bible in 1 Corinthians 12:1-31. I did not read Paul saying we aught to have a degree to do these. Can someone write to the headquarters and let them know they have a spiritual give and wants to be selected for a certain position? Lets say, a Pastor or Evangelist and be treated in the same light as those who went to school for yrs to become a Pastor?
Many of our people use their positions to be consider great similar to the world, we also have some TV stars. Let men and women look to Jesus and let him decide who is the greatest of all. Have your feet being washed by someone in the church who others have considered great? Have they visited the poor with a food basket? Can you sit in their vehicle with your clothing coming from a hard days' work?
Abraham was respected for his righteous character and faith in God. In Jesus day Abraham was the boast of the self-righteous leaders and perhaps many of the common people as well. God's promise makes sense to those who know the Lord and understand His ways as they are revealed in scripture.
"Compare Genesis 11:4 with Genesis 12:2."
If we know these stories, the answer is obvious isn't it? Gen 11 was works of unbelief, Gen 12 is a promise to one who was faithful, and acted on those promises.
THE PROMISE an everlasting convenant
Lesson 5: The Children of Promise
Thursday
I'm glad to meet you again brethren and sisters, i last discuss with you last quarter thanks for great work you do here
On point
".....I will make your name great...."(Gen 12:2 NIV)
Who deserves a great name?
Everybody who have faith and act according to that faith as Abram did (James 2:24)
Salvation by Works and Saltation by Faith.
Salvation by works alone is not accepted because it intends to uplift oneself alone see Gen 11:4 these wanted to make themselve alone and God ended up stopping there work Gen 11:8
On the other hand, salvation by faith is accepted forexample Abram by faith what the Lord promised him happened and are happening but we should note that Abram's faith moved along with actions so faith is valueless without works James 2:14,26
As I conclude, dear brethren lets have faith in our God and also try our best to work as His Spirit directs us in Jesus' name we will have a "great name".
Gen.12:2KJV is the promise by the Creator to Abram to encourage/entice him to leave his father's family behind ‘and depart out of Haran’ with his own family to live in a country not yet seen, but promised to become his family's new home.
We do not know how long it took Abram 'till he was ready to follow God’s call. After all, this ‘voice’ was in his head and in his heart. He believed it was his God who promised to make his name recognized throughout mankind’s history, and I can only say “thank you, Abram, and thank you heavenly Father”.
I do not think that God looks at us as sinners, but rather as His children who have been lead to go astray. I look at the word ‘sinner’ coming from the mind of a judge, the word ‘children’ coming from the mind of a righteous, but loving father. God's relationship with humankind incorporates all attributes of a loving Father; from loving admonition to stern correction, to happily giving generous rewards; all expressed in the context of bringing us out of this evil world and living our lives in His heavenly kingdom instead.
Phil.2:12-16KJV – v.12,13 ”…… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Believing the Father’s promises and following them up with action is what Abram did and what we do today as well; nothing has changed. Abram’s example demonstrates to us God's power inherent in the acts of Faith by the faithful. After all, these acts are based on God’s Will and He undergirds all faith-efforts.
Those who built the Tower of Babel based their faith on using their abilities to manage their lives according to their own reasoning and will. Abram demonstrates that doing God’s Will brings about spiritual blessings in addition to one’s efforts; the efforts of faith.
I believe that the battle has always been between believe and unbelieve. Believe in the invisible God who guides man’s hearts and minds, versus the rejection of God the Father and the consequences of a catastrophic decline of humanity – this is what is playing out for all to see.
Faith in the Father, once fully embraced, will act like leaven; it will reach into the recesses of our heart and mind and change the way we think, feel, and act.
Borrowing the melody from the soooo beautiful song ‘Amazing Grace’, we can sing ‘Tis Faith that brought me safe thus far, and faith will lead me home.’
However much the plan of salvation rests only upon the work of Christ in our behalf, we — as recipients of God’s grace — are, nevertheless, still involved. We have a role to play; our free choice comes into prominence. The drama of the ages, the battle between Christ and Satan, is still being played out in and through us. Both humanity and angels are watching what is happening with us in the conflict (1 Cor: 4:9). Thus, who we are, what we say, what we do, far from having no importance beyond our own immediate sphere, has implications that can, in a sense, reverberate across the universe. By our words, our actions, even our attitudes, we can help bring glory to the Lord, who has done so much for us, or we can bring shame upon Him and His name. Thus, when the Lord said to Abraham that He would make his name great, He surely was not talking about it in the same way the world talks about someone as having a great name. What makes a name great in the eyes of God is character, faith, obedience, humility, and love for others, traits that while they might often be respected in the world are not usually the factors the world would deem as making someone’s name great.....Respectfully, I am not comfortable with this theology....it seems to me the author of this commentary is having difficulty reconciling that THE LORD, THE GREAT I AM, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST has DONE IT ALL for His Creation. His Creation, Us, have nothing to DO, SAY or ANY ROLE...We are saved BY FAITH !!!!
Man, fallen man, may be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that he can “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” How does he prove this? By the Holy Spirit taking possession of his mind, spirit, heart, and character. Where does the proving come in? “We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” A real work is wrought by the Holy Spirit upon the human character, and its fruits are seen.......the great controversy is a spectacle to the rest of creation to demonstrate LORD's character
Thank you Maurice for telling the experience of the missionaries going to Africa and the impact their lives had on the people although to the frail human eyes, it did not seem worth the sacrifice. As a retired pastor / evangelist , this was an encouraging reminder that it is only when we get in the kingdom will we be able to see the results of our labors for Jesus, and that it was worth it all to see others in the kingdom as a results of obeying the voice of God to go and share the gospel to those who know it not , Thank you ,