ABRAHAM’S CITY
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
How sad it is to hear all of the religious quibble concerning ‘holy’ real estate which really should be directed towards God’s true city, the organism of the church! We’re not speaking of the ‘organization’ of the religious church, but, the spiritual, heaven sent, Spirit born, organism of the spirits of just men made perfect who have been brought to the general assembly and church of the firstborn! (Heb. 12:23). We speak of those seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus! (Eph. 2:6). This is what Abraham’s faith presented to him.
He certainly wasn’t looking for real estate, for he was content to dwelt in “the land of promise, as in a strange land!” Acts 7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: Abraham had to rent a place to pitch his tent in a plain which belonged to Mamre the Amorite! (Gen. 14:13). And he didn’t look to King David, nor Solomon to build a Jewish city! For Abraham was an uncircumcised Gentile!
Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. The Holy Spirit, who gave Abraham the faith and the vision, clearly states that he was looking “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God!”
And our passage, listed above, actually informs us (verse 15) that he was not even “mindful” of earthly plots of land! For this reason the true God of heaven and earth was not ashamed of him! – Surprising just how many today, who have not the faith and vision of Abraham, but that of Scofield, think that God is pleased with them! It’s no wonder that there is no more worship than there is in our churches!
For it is for those who desire a better country – that is – an Heavenly – of whom the Lord God is not ashamed and hath prepared for them A CITY! Abraham’s City is a God prepared city! It is city that can only be builded and made by God!
The problem with seeing Abraham’s City as he saw it is a matter of being born from above! 1 Corin. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
For those who are not born from above by the Holy Spirit can neither see, nor enter, the spiritual city and kingdom of God! (John 3:3,5). Those with only the natural eye, read the facts of the Scriptures and must only draw mental conclusions. But those with both ears to hear and eyes to see, receive from the Lord of the Scriptures, spiritual revelation! Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The City’s Foundations
The True Church is a city with foundations! (Heb. 11:10). It has a double foundation like Solomon’s temple, which first had Mount Moriah, where Abraham offered up Isaac, and then it had the great and costly stones (1 Kings 5:17) that Solomon had cut and brought in. For we read of the double foundation of the True Church, first in 1 Corinthians 3:11, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. And then secondly, in Ephesians 2:20, And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Mount Moriah is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, our True Foundation. It was not only the place of Isaac’s offering, but also of David’s altar built on the threshing floor of Ornan, the Jebusite, to stop the angel of the Lord’s slaughter of his people! (1 Chron. 21:15,18).
2 Chron. 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. In the threshing floor we can readily see Christ as our Bread, but also, as this is the place of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, and David’s sacrifice, we also clearly see Christ as the Lamb of God to take away sin!
From the Person of the Foundation Himself we read in Revelation 21:5, And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And from the second foundation of the apostles and prophets we have the witness of that which is made new!
The Prophet Isaiah saw these, like Abraham, by faith. He writes in Isaiah 65:17, For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. And again, in Isaiah 66:22, For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
Then we have the other part of this same foundation, for we have not only the “prophets,” making up this second portion of the foundation, but also the apostle’s writings. For the Apostle Peter, while looking for and hasting unto the second coming of the Lord, states, Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter 2:12,13). He was certainly looking for future glory in the realm of the presence of the Lord after His coming. But he was now looking for the realm of righteousness, which Abraham obtained by faith! Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
For it was never possible for the blood of bulls and goats to put away one single sin! Sin was only put away by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ! but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Heb. 9:26).
And then in the Apostle John’s revelation, we read in Revelation 21:1, And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Then in Revelation 21:9, And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: How much clearer can it be? Heaven told John, “I am going to show you the Lamb’s wife; his bride!” And what does he have revealed to him, but THAT GREAT CITY, THE HOLY JERUSALEM!
Galatians 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. The earthly city is not the church. It is the spiritual, the heavenly Jerusalem, that speaks of the Lord dwelling with his people!
As we are instructed to look to Abraham, the father of the faithful, so we are now instructed to look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith! Is. Isaiah 51:1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. 3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Where we are Not come!
Hebrews 12:18 For ye are NOT come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Where we Are come!
Hebrews 12:22 But ye ARE come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Pastor Gene Breed
