THE COVENANT MADE WITH ABRAHAM

“Now I say that Jesus the Messiah was the minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” [Romans 15:8]

Surely there can be no doubt as to the importance of knowing the lord Jesus to whatever extent he has revealed himself in the scripture. Such knowledge of him is a mark of us being members of his flock, for he says, “I know my sheep and am known of mine.” [John 10:14] So we are commanded to “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our lord Jesus the Messiah.” [2 Peter 3:18] Now a clear understanding of this text will greatly increase our knowledge of him and of that gospel of the kingdom which he and his apostles preached. To obtain a clear understanding of Paul’s language in Romans 15:8, let us first inquire, who are “the fathers?” and then what are “the promises” made to them?

1^st, who are the fathers? Moses was commanded to say to the children of Israel, Yehovah God of you fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob has sent me unto you.” [Exodus 3:15]    Peter says, “the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His son Jesus.” [Acts 3:13] These testimonies from the O.T. and the N.T. is enough to show that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are the fathers. In another place, Paul clearly says, “To Abraham and his ‘seed’ was the promises made” [Galatians 3:16] As a result of these promises repeated to Isaac and Jacob, they are called, “the promises made unto the fathers.”

2^nd, what are the promises made to them? The promises are found in the history of these patriarchs recorded in Genesis. When Abraham left Mesopotamia and came into the land of Canaan Yehovah said to him, “unto your seed, I will give this land….. Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which you see, to you I will give it and to your ‘seed’ forever… Yehovah made a covenant with Abraham, saying, unto your ‘seed’ I have given this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates…. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your ‘seed’ after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto you and your ‘seed’ after you. I will give unto you, and to your ‘seed’ after you, the land where you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God…. Your ‘seed’ shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your ‘seed’ shall all the nations be blessed.” [Genesis 12:7; 13:14, 15; 15:18; 17:7, 8; 22: 17, 18]

The same promises were repeated to Isaac and Jacob as verified that about 67 years after the last promise quoted, Yehovah said unto Isaac who was dwelling in Canaan, “unto you and unto your ‘seed’, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath I made swore unto Abraham your father… and in your ‘seed’ shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” [Genesis 26:3, 4] About forty years after these promises were made to Isaac, Yehovah said to Jacob, who was dwelling in Canaan, “I am Yehovah the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac: the land that you are lying upon, to you will I give it, and to your ‘seed’…. And in your ‘seed’ shall all the nations be blessed.” [Genesis 28:13, 14] When Jacob was about to die he said, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, and said unto me, behold I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and I will this land to your ‘seed’ after you for an everlasting possession.” [Genesis 48:3, 4]

Having learned what the promises are, let us bring out their full meaning carefully considering the following important points: Who are their heirs? Where is the inheritance? How long will they hold it? the certainty of the promises; and how many individuals obtain a personal interest in them?

1.   Who are the heirs? It is plain enough who Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but who is the ‘seed’ referred to in the promises? Paul has the answer when he states: “To Abraham and his ‘seed’ were the promises made. He did not say, “And to the seeds, as of many, but to one ‘seed’ which is the Messiah.” [Galatians 3:16] In these words, “And to your ‘seed’,” kai to spermatic sou, Paul makes the exact quotation, word for word, from the Greek version of Genesis 13:15; 17:9, both places which refer to the land of Canaan. In Genesis 17:7, the Greek words are sou, kai tou spermatos sou, which literally rendered would be “of you”, and of your seed.”

The word ‘seed’ is frequently used of a single person; it has this meaning in Genesis 3:15; 2 Samuel 7:12, as its pronoun “his” in the singular number proves. Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon refers to various Greek authors who also use it in this way.

Here we discover that, in the very plainest and most positive manner, and real and tangible inheritance on this earth has been promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the Messiah, for an everlasting eternal possession. The scriptures clearly show that although the Messiah and all the “fathers” lived personally on the land of Canaan, yet none of them obtained the promised possession of it. Concerning Abraham it is testified that Yehovah “gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much at to set his foot on; yet He promises He would give it to him.” [Acts 7:5] Nor did Isaac and Jacob fare any better, for they died in the faith, not having received the promises. [Hebrews 9:13, 39]

Now the Messiah, at the hight of his ministry on earth, testified concerning himself that, “the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” [Matthew 8:20] “He came to his own and his own received him not;” or “he came to his own land and his own received him not.” Campbell’s edition, 1832. [John 1:11] The land is called Immanuel’s by virtue of “the promises.” [Isaiah 8:8] Now although his own people rejected him and crucified him, he rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of his God and Father Yehovah. We cannot conclude that the promises will not be fulfilled. Notice: The Scripture cannot be broken. [John 10:35] “Though the vision holds off, wait for it, because it will surely come.” [Habakkuk 2:3]

The Messiah knew that the people who occupied the land would reject him, and so he spoke two parables which, viewed in succession, afford a thrilling outline of events from his first coming as a “lamb” to suffer and die, until his return as a “lion” to conquer and reign. In the parable of the vineyard, he is “the heir” of whom the wicked husbandmen say, “Come let us kill him, and let us seize his inheritance.” [Matthew 21:33-39] This represents his inheritance on the earth. After they crucified him, is resurrection intervenes at this point, which connects this parable with the parable of the pounds; for without his resurrection the latter parable could not be fulfilled. [Luke 19:12-27] In this parable we recognize the risen “heir” as the “nobleman” going to a “far country to receive for himself a kingdom and return.” Yes, from the Mount of Olives he leaves his disciples as he rose up into the cloud and on up to be seated at the right hand of Yehovah, his God, and his Father. As this was taking place, two angels appeared to the disciples and said, “You men of Galilee, why are you standing gazing up into the heavens? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go up into heaven.” [Acts 1:11] The parable of the pounds was based on the fact the kings of Judea in those days, before commencing their reign, to go on a journey to Rome, in a far country, to be invested with the royalty, after which they returned to Judea. Herod and Archelaus are notable instances of this. And although the Messiah’s reign will be on this earth, he has gone to heaven to receive it, and when his God and Father sends him back to this earth he will come with great power and take his place on the throne of David at Zion, and rule over Israel as King, and over the nations and King of kings, and Lord of lords. It is at that time that he will establish in the land of promise, the kingdom of God and break in pieces all the human kingdoms, and like a great mountain, fill the whole earth; “for his kingdom shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.” [Matthew 25:31; Daniel 2:35, 44; Zechariah 9:8] Thus, throughout the world he will “possess the gate of his enemies,” and many voices will be heard saying, “The kingdom’s of this world have become our Lord’s and His Messiah, and He shall reign forever and ever.” [Genesis 22:17; Revelation 11:15] And because of the full scope of the promise to Abraham and his ‘seed’ involves all this extensive inheritance, Paul speaks of it as the promise of “the world.” [Romans 4:13]

The members of the body of the Messiah Jesus and all the Old Testament saints – holy ones will be joint-heirs in the kingdom of God that the lord Jesus will rule over as Yehovah’s agent. “As many of you that have been baptized into the Messiah have put on the Messiah… You are all one in the Messiah Jesus. And if you be the Messiah’s then you are Abrahams ‘seed’, and heirs according to the promise…. heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus the Messiah.” [Galatians 3:27, 29; Romans 8:17] The Messiah is pre-eminently Abrahams ‘seed’, but believers being reckoned by adoption as all one in and with the Messiah, they too are Abraham’s ‘seed’ and therefore they are joint-heirs with him.” So intimate is the union between the Messiah and believers that they are called the body of the Messiah” – the called-out Assembly. And “are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones.” [1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 5:30] They are also collectively and by a figure of speech, called “The bride of the Lamb’s wife,” all of which proves their joint-heirs with him. [Revelation 21:9] So we now understand that the Messiah and the saints – holy ones are heirs and that the inheritance will be received at the second coming of the Messiah.

Notice that the occupation of the land of Canaan by Israel was made conditional on their keeping the law. [Deuteronomy 11:22, 25], but the covenant with Abraham, after being confirmed, was not to be added to and was not conditional on keeping the law or anything else. The scriptures positively teach that the inheritance promised to Abraham was not of the law. [Galatians 3:15, 18] About seven centuries after Israel entered Canaan a prophet spoke of the Abrahamic covenant as still unfulfilled, for he says, “You will perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham which you have sworn to our ‘fathers’ from the days of old.” [Micah 7:20] Paul, glancing at the long succession of good men who lived during the law, says, “These all, having received a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided a better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” [Hebrews 11:39, 40] “To Abraham and his ‘seed’ were the promises made.” [Galatians 3:16] “To you and your ‘seed’ with you,” which implies that the patriarchs and the ‘seed’ “which is the Messiah,” will both possess it at the same time; so they will ever be with the lord.” [Genesis 28:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17] In him out title stands secure, and in him we read our title clear; not to “mansions in the sky” but in the promised land of Canaan and the whole earth, which, by his glorious presence will be gladdened and regenerated into a “heavenly country.”

2. Where is the Inheritance? The promises plainly prove it will be on this earth. “Yehovah God of heaven, swore unto me, saying unto your ‘seed’ will I give this land.” “I will give this land to your ‘seed’ after you for an everlasting possession.”[Genesis 12:7; 15:7, 18; 24:7; 48:3, 4] We see Stephen interpreted the promise as referring to Canaan on earth, for he spoke of it to the Jews as “this land” wherein you now dwell.” [Acts 7:4] It was described to Abraham as “the land where you are a stranger.” [Genesis 28:13; 17:8] In Hebrews 9:9, we are taught that Abraham went “into the place (eis ton topon) which he should afterward receive for an inheritance.” Canaan is called “Yehovah’s land; [Leviticus 25:23] Immanuel’s land; [Isaiah 8:8] The pleasant land; [Psalm 56:24] The glorious land. Daniel 11:16, 41] The glory of all lands; [Ezekiel 20:6, 15] A good land, and large, a land flowing with milk and honey; [Exodus 3:8] A land which Yehovah your God cares for; the eyes of Yehovah your God are always upon it; [Deuteronomy 11:12] The holy land. [Zechariah 2:12] The land of the promise (tes epaggelias); [Hebrews 11:9] By its central location it is admirably adapted to be the royal seat of a world-wide kingdom, being a bridge and a ligament of three continents. It extends from the river Euphrates on the east to the river of Egypt and the Mediterranean sea on the west, an area of about 300,000 square miles. [Genesis 15:18] But, as already shown, the promise of that land Canaan involves the promise of all lands, for the triumphant kingdom which the Messiah will establish upon his return will extend “to the ends of the earth.” [Zechariah 9:10] So we see that Yehovah, the Father of the Messiah promises the son the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; and the son promises to make the righteous heirs with himself, saying, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” [Psalm 2:8; Matthew 5:5]

2.   How long will they hold it? “Forever.” [Genesis 13:15] “For an everlasting possession.” It will be their “eternal inheritance’ [Genesis 17:8; Hebrews 9:15] If the future life will be endless, the future possession of the land must also be, for the same word “everlasting” describes them both. “This mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruptible shall put on incorruptibility.” [Luke 20:36; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:53] The law could not give that inheritance because it could not give eternal life. The law could not give righteousness which is the condition that qualifies one for everlasting life as Paul argues in Galatians 3:18. We are all sinner by nature and therefore subject to death, which is the wages of sin. [Romans 6:23] So, by what means can we obtain that righteous that is required to enter into everlasting life and take part in an everlasting inheritance? Can the law of Moses give us that righteousness? No, “for if righteousness came by the law then the Messiah died (apethanen, past tense) in vain.” [Galatians 2:21] So it is that “what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,” was accomplished through the pure and spotless Messiah who, “died for our sins,” that, “by means of his death” all who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance. [1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:15] In this way, “he confirmed the promises” which no one else could have done, but the only perfect sinless man.

4. The certainty of the promises. The fact that they are the word of Yehovah is proof enough for their certainty, for several times it has pleased Yehovah to give His word and then confirm it with a solemn oath, thus giving two immutable pledges. “Yehovah that swore to me, saying, “Unto your ‘seed’ will I give this land.” [Genesis 24:7] “I will perform the oath which I swore unto Abraham your father.”  [Genesis 26:3] “I did sware to give it to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” [Exodus 6:8] “You will perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn unto our ‘fathers’ from the days of old.” [Micah 7:20] Paul is speaking of the promises to Abraham saying, “The covenant that was confirmed before God in the Messiah, the law, which was four hundred years after cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” [Galatians 3:17] Here we find that the covenant was “confirmed in the Messiah,” and the law has never disannulled it. Since the promises were not set aside by the giving of the law, and since the office of the Messiah is to “confirm” them, then they must remain in full force unto this day. It is an everlasting and one in which the scripture says, “be you always mindful.” [1 Chronicles 16:17]

5. How many individuals will obtain a personal interest in these promises? And by what process can they obtain the eternal inheritance and all the ceaseless joys connected with it? Paul describes the process when he says, “You are the children of God by faith in Jesus the Messiah, for as many of you who have been baptized in the Messiah have put on the Messiah… And if you be the Messiah’s then you are Abraham’s ‘seed’, and heirs according to the promises…. heirs of God and joint-airs with the Messiah.” [Galatians 3:26, 26, 29; Romans 8:17] Here are two essential conditions that to be complied with before you can become heirs of the promises made to Abraham and his ‘seed’., They are, first, “faith in the Messiah Jesus,” by which expression Paul means exactly the same as when he told the jailor, “believe on the lord Jesus the Messiah.” [Acts 16:31] And, as have been stated, “no one truly believes on the lord Jesus the Messiah, or has “faith in the Messiah Jesus,” if he refuses to believe and obey the message Jesus preached about the gospel of the kingdom. Note, “He that has received his testimony – a message of the kingdom has set his seal that God is true;” but on the other hand, “he that believes not the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” [John 3:33, 36] Now the testimony, message that Jesus preached was “the gospel of the kingdom of God” [Mark 1:14], and he who truly believes that gospel of the kingdom, and totally commits to living out the words of the lord Jesus is ready to comply with the second condition, which is to be “baptized into the Messiah.” In complying with these two conditions he is enrolled among the “children of God,” and become a “new creation” in Jesus the Messiah,” able to rejoice in the hope of realizing at the second coming of Jesus, his part in the “precious promises” made to the ‘fathers’. [2 Peter 1:4]

To recapitulate we see, 1^st, that when the lord comes in glory to sit on the throne of David and establish his kingdom, the land of Canaan and the whole earth will be given to him and the redeemed “for an everlasting possession;” 2^nd, That this promise of an everlasting possession involves having everlasting life; and that the death of the Messiah as a sin-offering sacrifice for our sins was necessary in order to confirm the promises and make their attainment possible; 3^rd, that the belief in the gospel of the kingdom, and baptism into the Messiah, followed by a life that completely commits to walking in faith/obedience to the will of God, are the conditions on which an individual can attain and inheritance in the promises made unto the ‘fathers’.

In reflection, how can anyone refuse to accept the blood-bought blessing which the amazing grace of God provides to all who will accept His call? Unfortunately the vast majority of mankind refuse the awesome loving offer that God offers to all who will believe in the one whom He has sent. [John 6:29] and this is the work of God.