Abraham, the first Hebrew, was called by God to come out from a heathen people that served other gods. He called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees (Babylon - present day Iraq) to the land He promised him, Canaan (present day Israel). (Joshua 24:2-3, Nehemiah 9:7. Acts 7:3-4, Hebrews 11:8)

God calls us to come out from the world to live for Him. Just as God gave Abraham the promise of Canaan when He called him, God gives us the promise of His Spirit when He calls us. (Genesis 15:7, 18)

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

Anyone that was not circumcised, broke the covenant God made with Abraham. (Genesis 17:10, 14) In our New Covenant with God, circumcision is fulfilled by water baptism in Jesus name for the remission of sins. (Colossians 2:11-15) Baptism is necessary for salvation.

As soon as Abraham was given the commandment to circumcise, he did so the selfsame day. (Genesis 17:26) In the New Testament, they were baptized the same day they were commanded. (Acts 2:41, Acts 8:36, 38, Acts 9:18, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16:33, Acts 19:5, Acts 22:16).

After Abraham was circumcised, strife between herdsmen caused him to separate from Lot. We can see a shadow of our Christian walk in this, for Jesus calls us to separate ourselves from the world. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

When Lot found himself in the midst of Sodom and facing the judgment of God, Abraham interceded for him. (Genesis 13:12-15, Genesis 18:20-33). We too should follow Abraham’s example and intercede for the lost.

Abraham’s greatest trial was when God tested his faith and asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. The very next morning Abraham set out to obey God’s command. We see this as our greatest test - our willingness to sacrifice our own flesh. Isaac laid down his life, and a ram (a male sheep - Christ) caught in a tree (the cross) took Isaac’s place as a blood sacrifice (1 Peter 2:24). Our sacrifice as a Christian is as Isaac’s living sacrifice:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:1-2

"And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together." - Genesis 22:6

"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." - Genesis 22:8

God did provide Himself as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

Isaac carried the wood (the cross) of the burnt offering, the fire (the Holy Ghost), and a knife (the circumcision of baptism). We are to deny our ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:24)

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

*This chart is from the Bible Study, "Exploring God's Word." The manual is available as a downloadable, FREE eBook at: http://mychurchwebsite.s3.amazonaws.com/c250/exploring_gods_word_bible_study.docx Color charts are available at: http://www.riveroflifeupc.org/our-beliefs.php The Bible study and charts are also available at: Pentecostal Publishing House: [https://pentecostalpublishing.com/products.aspx?categoryid=158&layout=List&page size=20&sort column=Date&sort direction=DESC]