The Importance of Ancestry

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The Importance of Ancestry

When the Christian church was first beginning,  the apostles worked hard  to teach the people  what they had learned  from Christ Himself.     These  new Christians came  from all sorts  of backgrounds.     Some had been idol worshipers  and others came  from very strict Jewish families.     They sometimes got confused  about all that Jesus did  for them  and how Jesus’ work  should be affecting  the way they lived.

Consequently,  some of the Jewish Christians tried  to preach  that it was still important  to keep  all the Jewish laws  for circumcision,  Sabbath days,  and the maintaining  of genealogies.    The Gentile Christians  didn’t have a clue  about what was appropriate.     So,  much of the New Testament testifies  about our freedom  from all the Jewish laws  —  the overall teaching is  that we are saved  by the grace  of God  through faith  in what Jesus  has done for us.

Paul reminds Titus  of this basic testimony  by saying  in Titus 3:5-9,

He saved us,  not on the basis  of deeds  which we have done  in righteousness,  but according to His mercy,  by the washing  of regeneration  and renewing  by the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out  upon us richly  through Jesus Christ  our Savior,  that  being justified  by His grace  we might be made heirs  according to the hope  of eternal life.

This is a trustworthy statement;  and concerning these things  I want you  to speak confidently,  so that those  who have believed God  may be careful  to engage  in good deeds.     These things are good  and profitable  for men.

But  shun  foolish controversies  and genealogies  and strife  and disputes  about the Law;  for they are unprofitable  and worthless.

In several New Testament passages,  we are told  to forget about genealogies.     Why?     It is because ongoing genealogies  have nothing to do  with saving us.     Instead,  we are now  “justified by His grace”.     In other words,  God loves us  and has freely elected  to forgive all  of our sins  when we believe  in His promises.

The strict Jews  could not fathom  why genealogies were no longer important  to their salvation.     They needed  to learn that all the genealogical work done  throughout the Old Testament  served only one purpose.     It was done only  to prove  that Jesus truly was  the promised Savior.     God wanted  to give us undeniable proof  of who the Savior would be.     God had promised  that the Savior  would be a descendant of  —  Adam  —  Seth  —  Abraham  —  Isaac  —  and David.     As we read through the genealogies  in Luke 3:23-38  and Matthew 1:1-16,  it is there  that we have the proof  that God kept His promises exactly  as He said  in all those Old Testament prophecies.

No other promises are made  regarding genealogies.     So,  once they served their purpose  of pointing out  the true Savior,  the New Testament writers testify  that they are no longer needed  and Paul even instructs us  to shun them  and the controversies  they can create.

Jesus Himself showed how  the Old Testament should be used  concerning His work  of salvation.    After His resurrection, when some followers were  on their way  to Emmaus,  Jesus joined them  along the road.     They did not recognize Jesus,  but told Him  about their sadness  regarding the crucifixion.     Then  in Luke 24:25-27,  it says,

And He [Jesus] said  to them, “O foolish men  and slow of heart  to believe  in all that the prophets  have spoken!     Was it not necessary  for the Christ  to suffer these things  and to enter  into His glory?”

And beginning  with Moses  and with all the prophets,  He explained  to them  the things concerning Himself   in all the Scriptures.

We can be sure  Jesus pointed out all the prophecies  about His genealogical background  and how it all proved  that He truly was  the promised Messiah  —  the Christ.     There are prophecies  that describe where this promised Savior  would be born,  His lineage,  how He would come  out of Egypt  and live in Nazareth,  how He would heal people,  and how He would suffer  and die  on the cross  —  only to rise  from the dead  and totally wash away  all our sins  —  and much more.

In their sadness,  the disciples had totally overlooked  all those prophecies.     They were utterly amazed  that all those prophecies  really did come true  in Jesus.     It all proved  that there absolutely could not be  any other savior  —   ever.     Jesus’ lineage,  life as a child,  ministry,  suffering,  death,  and resurrection  were all proof,  upon proof,  upon proof  that God kept all  of His promises  in Jesus.

With all that proof, there is nothing to doubt.     No other man’s life  could possibly be  a fulfillment  of all those prophecies, made over thousands of years  of time.

Now,  all there is left to do  is praise God  for faithfully keeping  His promises.     Now we can be assured  that Jesus’ promise  to forgive all  of our sins  when we simply believe  really does  pack some punch.     That’s a powerful promise  from the Almighty God,  who is true  to His word.

There’s no longer  any reason  for us to doubt  and think  that the promise  is only for “those good people over there”.     Jesus promised  that all who believed  in Him alone  would be saved.

The record  of Jesus’ ancestry  is a treasure  to stand in awe of.     It was a marvelous work  that God led the Jews  to do  —  and it was all  just so that we  could relax  and erase every little doubt  in our minds     Now we can joyfully live  in the freedom Christ wants us  to live in  —  the freedom He earned  for us.

As we enjoy our forgiveness  and freedom  in Christ,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  there is no doubt  that You alone  are almighty to save  to the uttermost.     Blessed be Your love  for each of us.”

Love,
Margaret

A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods

Pray for our country.

The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.

Psalm 118:24

 

 

The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield to all who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

  

  

How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

 

 

Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

 

 

Oh give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already become perfect,  but I press on  in order that

I may lay hold  of that  for which also I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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