Our Redemptive Journey: Pictured in the Lives of the Patriarchs

By Michael Norten

The lives of the patriarchs can teach us many things about character, commitment, and the walk of faith. In this brief look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph in their historical context, Michael Norten has done a splendid job of explaining the biblical doctrine of sanctification. The give-and-take between the author and Rabbi Jake Cohen enables the reader to more easily understand all the nuances of sanctification. Michael Norten puts this doctrine on the lower shelf where anyone can see it and profit from its study.

--Dr. Dennis A. Wright, president of lionandlambapologetics.org

Michael Norten experienced the saving grace of God as a child and has continued to walk in that grace for many years. His explanation of God's grace that saves and sanctifies believers today, paralleled in the lives of the patriarchs, will encourage any modern pilgrim who is trekking through the valley of life on to glory. Michael's personal stories of experiencing that grace are fascinating and his heart to help others understand the grace of God in truth is soul stirring. Our Redemptive Journey is a must read.

--Dr. Denis Kavanaugh, Bridges International Ambassador at University of South Florida

Thank you, Michael Norten, for this wonderful book, a treasure from now on to any Christian pilgrim, from one who is young, growing in the faith, to a knowledgeable biblical scholar. I wondered if the character, Rabbi Cohen was a metaphor for our Lord Jesus. He invites us to sit across the table with us daily, having coffee, as we hear from Him in His Word and can now, with more understanding, discuss the wonders of the different types and promises of sanctification with the author of our salvation Himself! I was so enriched, lavishing in the loving truths explained.

--Ellen Grigsby, strategic relationships director for Frontlines International

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891301672

Book preview

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Our Redemptive Journey

Pictured in the Lives of the Patriarchs

Michael Norten

ISBN 979-8-89130-166-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89130-167-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2024 by Michael Norten

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

To the memory of the late Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. He was the first to introduce to me the four phases of our redemption.

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1

Observations in the Life of Jacob

Chapter 2

Pondering More on Progressive Sanctification

Chapter 3

Observations in the Life of Abraham

Chapter 4

Pondering More on Preparatory Sanctification

Chapter 5

Observations in the Life of Isaac

Chapter 6

Pondering More on Positional Sanctification

Chapter 7

Observations in the Life of Joseph

Chapter 8

Pondering More on Prospective Sanctification

Chapter 9

Conclusion

Bibliography

About the Author

To the memory of the late Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. He was the first to introduce to me the four phases of our redemption.

Foreword

I remember meeting Mike Norten and his wife, Ann, on their first Sunday visit in Grace Bible Church. As senior pastor, I actively try to identify and meet first-time guests to hear their stories. After briefly talking with Mike and Ann, I knew they were both students of the Word of God.

What you have in your hands demonstrates Mike's love for and study of the Word. He has creatively written a story that invites the reader to see not only the phases of redemption in the lives of the four patriarchs but also God's redemption in our lives as Christians. As you answer Mike's question in the book's conclusion, What should be our response to these wonderful promises? I pray you would appropriate God's redemption through Christ by faith in Him.

Mike has dedicated this book to Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, the man from whom Mike first learned about God's stages of redemption. Dr. Johnson served as the first pastor and patriarch of Grace Bible Church from 1954 to 1958. Years later, as the fifth senior pastor of Grace, I'm grateful for Mike's artistic articulation of Dr. Johnson's teaching so that many more people might grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

Dr. Jace Cloud

Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church of Dallas, Texas

Introduction

Quite a number of years ago, I found myself intently studying the life of Jacob in order to write my thesis on how God developed Jacob's spiritual life. This was for my master's thesis and an interest in looking for applications to our Christian walk. By God's providence, I was also studying the First Epistle of Peter. Apostle Peter's letter is very clear on how we grow to maturity in our walk with the Lord. We fellowship with Him in studying His Word and spend time in prayer as we live out our lives by faith in Him and His blessings. After all, the Lord is the One who caused us to be born again. As 1 Peter 1:3 states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

When I observed the apparent parallels between the description by Apostle Peter about the process of sanctification of the believer and the recorded life experiences of Jacob, I was very intrigued. After taking a closer look at the comparisons, I began to wonder if there were some parallels with the other patriarchs and our salvation experience. So after I finished my thesis on how God developed Jacob's spiritual life, I began studying what was recorded about the lives of the other patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph. As I expected, there were obvious pictures of our redemptive journey that were described in the experiences of these patriarchs as well as what was seen in Jacob.

God often teaches us using pictures, patterns, and parallels. Many times, experiences in the Old Testament illustrate principles that are explained in the New Testament. What we see in the lives of the four patriarchs is no exception. I wrote down my discoveries in narrative form in order that the reader could interact with the biblical truths in a more engaging manner. The story consists of discussions that go on between a messianic rabbi and myself. I included, after each conversation, true life experiences I have encountered in my own spiritual development. Instead of going in exact order, I started with Jacob because that is where I began to see the pictures of our redemption.

Chapter 1

Observations in the Life of Jacob

As I have continued to study through the years the First Epistle of Peter, I have prepared several presentations on this encouraging letter that God provided for us. In analyzing this epistle, I was struck with how well it described the process of our transformation as believers and our sanctification. Peter covered thoroughly our spiritual journey from the moment of salvation to the hope we have for our glorification. He even relayed to us that our inheritance was secure in heaven and guarded by God's Word. He actually let us know that God had an antitheft protection service for our future rewards.

While meditating on this wonderful epistle, my mind drifted to my seminary thesis where I presented the argument of how God developed the spiritual life of the patriarch, Jacob. It seemed to me that the flow of events in Jacob's life was very similar to the flow of instruction in 1 Peter. This was intriguing enough to me that I shared this piece of insight with some of my friends. They all appeared to respond the same way that I had. The epistle could almost serve as an overlay to Jacob's life experiences. You might call it a template of your life's journey to maturity in your relationship with the Lord.

One morning, I was enjoying my breakfast, consisting of an egg and a pancake along with a blueberry sausage link, when I received a mysterious phone call. The voice on the call introduced himself as Rabbi Jake Cohen. I was somewhat startled and perplexed. Why would he be calling me? I didn't even know him or know of him. He couldn't have been determined to ridicule me for my nonkosher breakfast. Maybe, because I was a financial advisor, he wanted to get some investment advice. After verifying to him that I was the one he wanted to reach out to by his call, he simply asked me if I could meet him at the Common Grounds Coffee Shop on Abrams Road. Before I could respond, he told me that he wanted to discuss some ideas with me. Being quite cautious and it being suggested three days away, I agreed to the appointment.

Finally, when the day of the appointment arrived, I got into my car