God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac to test his faith (Genesis 22:2, 12).  Because he feared God, he did not withhold his son from the Lord.  On the way up the mountain to offer the burnt offering, Abraham was asked by young Isaac where the lamb for the burnt offering was.  Abraham’s answer was, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (22:8).  God did!  The angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from killing his son, and then when he looked behind him, a ram was caught in a thicket.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).  He holds every person accountable for the deeds of his life and promises to judge him.  Judgment Day is as real as death itself (Heb. 9:27).  “A certain fearful expectation of judgment” awaits the evil, the wicked, the unrighteous and the disobedient (Heb. 10:27).

            King David prophesied, “My flesh also will rest in hope.  For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:9, 10).  The apostle Peter explained that the patriarch David was looking to God’s promise of raising the Christ to sit on his throne (Acts 2:29-31).  Jesus Christ died on a cross on Calvary, but He was then raised up on the third day.

            According to God’s own purpose and grace, He saves and calls us in Christ Jesus through the testimony of the Lord (2 Timothy 1:8-9).  Salvation and the holy calling are not according to man’s works, but according to divine purpose and heavenly grace.  The predetermined counsel of God has now been revealed through the gospel with the coming of the Savior Jesus, “who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light” (v. 10).  That grace of God that has appeared bringing salvation teaches us what changes we must make and how we must live (Titus 2:11-12).