Establishing the Church
So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
GENESIS 13:18
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Establishing the Church
Moses takes special care to mention that there [Abraham] built an altar to the Lord; that is, as I stated above, Abraham preached at that place and gave instruction about the true worship of God. But this is no small comfort, that God gathers remnants from the heathen and lets them partake of the blessing of Abraham. Unless Mamre had been a godly and pious man and, like Abraham, had believed in the true God and had heard His Word from Abraham, he would not have received Abraham hospitably; nor would Abraham have gone to him. Even at that time, therefore, God had His worshipers among the heathen, worshipers whom He called in a marvelous manner through the holy patriarch, in accordance with the promise given him above in chapter 12:3: "You will be a blessing"; that is, "The blessing is so inherent in you that wherever you may come, others will also receive a blessing through your ministry." .. . The holy patriarchs were especially zealous in endeavoring to bring as many as possible to the knowledge of God. Therefore Abraham not only takes care of his household, but he also builds an altar. There he teaches the true religion; there he calls upon God; there he publicly practices the outward forms of worship. The Amorite Mamre and his brothers join him, and so a large church is established.
GENESIS 13:18
+
Establishing the Church
Moses takes special care to mention that there [Abraham] built an altar to the Lord; that is, as I stated above, Abraham preached at that place and gave instruction about the true worship of God. But this is no small comfort, that God gathers remnants from the heathen and lets them partake of the blessing of Abraham. Unless Mamre had been a godly and pious man and, like Abraham, had believed in the true God and had heard His Word from Abraham, he would not have received Abraham hospitably; nor would Abraham have gone to him. Even at that time, therefore, God had His worshipers among the heathen, worshipers whom He called in a marvelous manner through the holy patriarch, in accordance with the promise given him above in chapter 12:3: "You will be a blessing"; that is, "The blessing is so inherent in you that wherever you may come, others will also receive a blessing through your ministry." .. . The holy patriarchs were especially zealous in endeavoring to bring as many as possible to the knowledge of God. Therefore Abraham not only takes care of his household, but he also builds an altar. There he teaches the true religion; there he calls upon God; there he publicly practices the outward forms of worship. The Amorite Mamre and his brothers join him, and so a large church is established.
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