Abrahamic Covenant. last week began series. Covenant - solemn agreement -- or promise always solemn agreement sometimes ceremony sometimes sign

Transcription

1 Intro last week began series Covenant - solemn agreement -- or promise always solemn agreement sometimes ceremony sometimes sign Abrahamic all three Today promise sign not ceremony how that leads to new testament 1

2 Genesis 15:5-7 (NIV) 5 (The Lord) took (Abram) outside and said, Look up at the heavens and count the stars if indeed you can count them. Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be. 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it. Genesis 17:7 (NIV) I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. promise God to you and your descendents Unconditional Everlasting last week ceremony not today today just promise and sign 2

3 Genesis 17:9-11 (NIV) 9 Then God said to Abraham, As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. sign Sign very important indicates acknowledgment of promise was not the promise but a sign of promise applied to sons born into covenant also to those who joined the covenant from another nation That significant in a bit as we see we are in the covenant 3

4 Everlasting Covenant How long is everlasting? Everlasting how long is everlasting? Abraham - covenant about 2000 years - before Christ but 2000 years - not everlasting Today will see this covenant extends to New Testament and forever 4

5 Romans 4:16-17 He (Abraham) is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: I have made you a father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed. Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV) 6 Consider Abraham: He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: All nations will be blessed through you. 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. promise Romans four Paul says Abraham our father not just Jewish now BUT by promise father of many nations Galatians 3 expands Abraham believed righteousness a righteousness by faith not by law Therefore those who believe who understand justification by faith not by obedience or law they are the sons of Abraham GOSPEL: justification by faith PAUSE so promise to all believers promise for all eternity the promise is yours We are Children of Abraham what does that mean? All the blessings upon Abraham our ours - by faith not obedience Promise is ours our identity God s protection is ours God s blessing is ours God s covenant holds us God s covenant gives us everlasting life 5

6 Galatians 3:14 (NIV) 14 He (Christ)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. promise Galatians understanding increase Blessing to Abraham promise to Abraham was unconditional now we see descendents of Abraham are all believers So now we see Christ is the key God saw Abraham as righteous because of faith all God s people are his by faith covenant expressed by obedience but based on faith - expand knew couldn t obey so sacrifices trusted sacrifices forgave sins Christ fulfillment of these sacrifices SLOWLY Old Testament look through obedience to the promise of Christ New Testament looks through Christ to the desire to obey neither case is obedience the key Christ is always the key The issues of obedience and faith cause a conflict in the New Testament church and we will see it causes confusion even to this day 6

7 Abrahamic Covenant Genesis 17:10-11 (NIV)10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. Galatians 3:1-6 (NIV)3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Law / Faith confusion Works or law salvation vs. faith salvation History competing concepts fulfillment in Christ History 2000 years began to substitute sign for promise Substituted law for faith substituted obedience for faith so competing concepts law or faith Genesis 17 must be circumcised Galatians 3 no value So some said circumcision first then Christ controversy Many passages in New Testament about controversy Paul says if circumcision then the whole law which can t do Galatians 3 verses five and six righteousness through Christ not to circumcision Through faith not law Christ fulfilled the law So verse six challenges we also substitute sign or law for faith Instead of Christ we think church Bible study obedience time Not saying these things aren t good in fact they are very very important But they are not in any way a means to salvation they are simply expressions of love salvation is result of faith alone 7

8 Abrahamic Covenant H e brews 13:20-21 (NIV) 20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us w h at is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to who m be glory for ever and ever. A m e n. Hebrews 3 often used at benediction puts together Blood of covenant represents the sacrifices that are fully fulfilled in Christ Jesus The eternal covenant is realized in Jesus The eternal covenant is fulfilled by Jesus result we seek his will Jesus author and finisher of faith Jesus expected in Old Testament realized in New Testament Jesus to whom be glory for ever and ever If reject Christ if you embrace the science but faith has not changed your heart none of covenant gifts are for you you must believe through gospel in heart all promises yours 8

9 Covenant of Promise Realized through Faith How God Always Has And Forever Will Love His People 9