Monday: The Covenant With Abraham
Read Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:1-5, Genesis 17:1-14. What do these texts tell us about what the Lord intended to do through the covenant He made with Abraham?
The Abrahamic covenant of grace is fundamental to the entire course of salvation history.
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
That’s why Paul used it to help explain the plan of salvation as it was fulfilled in Jesus Himself.
Read Galatians 3:6-9, Galatians 3:15-18. How does Paul connect the covenant made with Abraham to Jesus and to salvation by faith alone?
Through Abraham’s seed-referring not to his many descendants, but in particular to one, Jesus (see Gal. 3:16), God would bless the entire world. All who would be a part of Abraham’s seed, which happens by faith in Christ (Gal. 3:29), would find that Abraham’s God would be their God as well. Even back then, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness
(Gal. 3:6). Abraham was no more saved by works than the thief on the cross was; it’s always and only God’s saving grace that brings salvation. Abraham fulfilled his end of the covenant promise. His obedience revealed the faith that took hold of the promise of salvation. His works didn’t justify him; instead, the works showed that he was already justified. That’s the essence of the covenant and how it is expressed in the life of faith (see Rom. 4:1-3).
Dwell upon the great truth that your hope of salvation comes only from the righteousness of Jesus credited to you by faith. What great hope and joy can you derive from this wonderful provision made in your behalf?
(34)
I'm lost. Please help me; especially with Galatians 3:15-18
Simply stated the covenant promise was to Christ as "the Seed" and to Christians by faith in the Seed's ratification of God's promise!
These comments from the SDA Bible Commentaries are helpful - you can go through 15-18 verse by verse:
http://bibletools.info/Gal_3.15
Thanks
Hamilton, I think Paul is trying to convince the Galatians that they can't add anything to their salvation. Not even keeping the law can be payment for the free gift God has provided. The law is helpful in leading us to a clearer understanding of who God is and in providing a safe and happy social structure, but our keeping of the law is useless for salvation. Again and again Paul (and all scripture) is pointing us to Christ who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. So we can not even boast in our faith, for it is also a gift.
Very well said!
Salvation through Jesus has always been by promise and by God just like Abraham's son, Isaac, was by promise to Abraham by God.
God's challange to Abraham as well as to his descendants and also to us now, was and is to focus their (our,) faith in His Promise of salvation through His own son Jesus and not on Law or ritual even though Law and ritual were never to be totally ignored either.
Law and ritual become a problem when we make them the means of salvation and thereby we lose sight of Jesus as our only means of salvation.
The Author states, “Abraham fulfilled his end of the covenant promise”. What was Abraham’s “end of the covenant promise”? This adding to the Word of God by our authorities makes it more difficult to come to a “knowledge of God’s will” for us(Col 1:9,10); especially those who are not “Bereans”.
Abraham believed “the covenant of promise” God made to him and his faith was accounted as “Righteousness”. Abraham asked for a sign of assurance, in essence. God gave him a covenant-confirmation sign, a sign in which God’s glory passed between the divided and undivided carcasses. Abraham did not pass between the carcasses.(Jer 34:18,19) Abraham was NOT bound to anything! God staked His own Life on his Word. God bound Himself to the fulfillment of His Word. Would God entrust to “man” a part in the fulfillment of HIS WORD? (Abraham patiently waited, chasing away birds of prey until twilight when the Lord spoke to him).
Abraham, in ignorance, thought that he might have some input into the fulfillment of the promise. He married his servant. He even offered Ishmael to God as the “son of promise”. Do we proffer the same?.The lesson author says Abraham “fulfilled his end of the covenant promise”. James later says that Abraham was justified by a work that came more than 20 years later - offering up the “son of promise”. His faith was perfected or completed by this work.
What did Abraham do?
Gen 26:5 ... Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
What did the LORD ask of Abraham?
17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.
The dividing of the carcasses was an ancient ritual (God always contextualizes his communication with us in terms we can relate to). The meaning of the ritual was, "may this and more be done to either of us if we fail to abide by the terms of this covenant.
The beauty of the illustration is that God did abide by the terms of the covenant. Abram's descendants did not, so deserved "this and more". Yet it was not them that were killed. It was their substitute, Christ, the one who had fulfilled the terms of the covenant and did not deserve any of "this".
That the covenant made with Abraham is universal is demonstrated by the apostle Paul (Galatians 3:6-9, 15-18). The agreement with the promise was to be executed primarily through the Messenger of the Covenant, Christ (Malachi 3:1). As well the descendants (plural) of Abraham were to be secondary agents in sharing the message with the world (Genesis 17:7-9; John 4:22).
Perhaps the Creator could have made this covenant with Adam after he sinned, or with Noah after the reset, to make it abundantly clear this applied to all humans and there is no elite entitlement to salvation based on lineage or some other factor (Romans 3:1, 9-12). However Jehovah’s actions are deliberate and purposeful.
By making the covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7) God would identify the line through which the Messiah would come (Hebrews 7:14). As well an important aspect of the plan of salvation, that of believers being co-laborers together with the Savior (1 Corinthians 3:8-11) would be presented in pattern.
God designs to work through people to develop an attitude of service as He restores His image in mankind. Sharing and service are important principles of Heaven. All who will find a place in God’s Eternal Kingdom will develop a mindset of service and find joy in it. It becomes the believers to cultivate a habit of service until they really enjoy it.
The Lord would have all His people live to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2). Make this your prayer and make yourself available. Then is when living is really worthwhile.
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the spirit. Galatians 3:14.
Jesus rigteousness provided salvation. God is slow to anger & does not deny forgiveness to any sinner asking for it. Humankind have e tendancy to sin that is why a righteous saviour is needed. we cant save ourselves because we do not a strength to resist evil, we dont have strength to create a living being, that is why we need a saviour to renew or recreate our heart ready for salvation amen
If God's covenant is entirely one-sided and universal, why aren't we preaching universalism? God is not willing that any should perish. He has the power to save, so what is the problem? Why are people lost?