The Eternal Significance of the Abrahamic Covenant

[Hizikyah]

The fulfillment of the promise is the return of the Messiah and the kingdom set up on Earth, Psalm 89 speaks of Yahshua's throne;

Psalm 89:26-37, "He will call out to Me; You are my Father, O YHWH! You are the Rock of my salvation! And I will make Him My firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy I will keep for Him forever and My covenant will stand fast with Him. And I will establish his Seed forever, and his throne will be as the days of heaven. Should his children forsake My Law, and refuse to walk in My judgments; Should they profane My statutes, and fail to keep My commandments; Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with lashes from the whip. Nevertheless, My lovingkindness I will not utterly withdraw from him, nor will I ever betray My faithfulness. My covenant I will not break, nor will I change what has gone out of My lips. Once for all, I have vowed by My holiness--I cannot lie, and I say to David: His Seed will endure forever, and his throne will endure before Me like the sun. His throne will be established forever like the moon: the faithful witness in the sky."

 

[LoveGodForever]

Who are Christians and who is Israel?

Where does the name Israel come from?

Israel" is only a name given by God himself to represent his people. It has its origin from Gen 32:28 where Jacob wrestled with the Angel and prevailed ...for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Its meaning is his posterity will rule as God. Jacob had 12 sons representing the 12 tribes of Israel. This is God's people and today anyone the is following Jesus is part of God's spiritual Israel according to God's Word. The same New Covenant is written for God's people who are now spiritual Israel following. Scripture support;

For it is written…

Let God be true and every man a liar that thou might be justified in thy sayings, and might overcome when thou art judged.

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ

Israel is from the seed of Abraham so who are Abraham’s seed?

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus and if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Gal 3:28-29,
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Col 3:11,
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Rom 10:11-13,
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom 2:28-29,
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Jer 31:33-4,
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

If you are not part of God's Israel you are not part of the New Covenant...

Heb 8:10-12,
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 10:14-17,
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Gal 3:29,
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise

The New Covenant is for God's Israel which represent God’s followers the believers. If you are not part of God's Israel you are not part of the New Covenant (Heb 8:10-12).

God's Israel are those that believe the Word of God and follow it. They are also called Christian. The Word Christian means a follower of Christ. God's Israel are Christian

May God bless you are you seek him through his Word.....

 

[Johnny_B]

There are many Christians who deny the eternal significance of the Abrahamic Covenant. Another thread was started on “forgetting” this covenant, but few participated in that. Possibly because it is a matter of ignoring or rejecting this covenant, or failing to hear about it in their churches.

I started that thread and also thought I had listed Acts 1:6 and Romans 11 http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/158553-forgotten-everlasting-covenant-abraham-his-descendants.html

I will here since some have aleast replied, thanks fpor bringing more light to it Brother.

What was the first question the disciples asked before He ascended? Acts 1:6 “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

What was Jesus' answer? Acts 1:7 “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The disciples understood that the Messiah and the land were convenants that the Lord made with Abraham, yet Jesus did not correct them or tell them that He was the fulfillment or that they were the fulfillment.

The most important part of the covenant of the land is Genesis 15:9-21, that is why I believe that those that believe that the Church is the fulfillment of the covenants did not want to post in that thread. Because they know that as I mentioned that that covenant was secured by the Lord Himself. Yes, Abraham prepared the offerings for the covenant and they were both supossed to walk through the offering to complete the covenant according to the custom of those days. But the Lord waited until Abraham fell asleep, because this covenant was going to made complete by the security of the Lord Himself. Then in Genesis 17 He reminds Abraham of the covenant and calls it an eternal covenant because the Eternal God Himself is the one who secures it. Now for Abraham and his offsprings part, their part is to be circumcised in their flesh. 17:13c "So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant."

Notice this eternal covenant is in Abraham's flesh, not to all his flesh. Genesis 18:18-21 “And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

The only other everlasting covenant was with Noah and the rainbow. This everlasting covenant is to Abraham and his offspring that keep this covenant in their flesh. Genesis 17:7 "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you."

He is still their God, it does not say they will worship Him as God, what does the Holy Spirit say about who the Israelites are Romans 11:1-2 "I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew."

Did the Holy Spirit say that Israel was His people? No, He asks, "has God rejected His people? By no means!" Here's the sad part many in the Church have become wise in their own eye's.

Romans 11:24-36 "For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may nowreceive mercy,32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

To those that think somehow the Church is the fulfillment of Israel or that all of the covenants have been fulfilled in the Messiah and the Church, you really need to read Romans 9-11. If you believe that the Lord is done with Israel Romans 11: they can 1-2, 24 they can and will be grafted back into thier own olive tree that we have been grafted into. QUIT BEING WISE IN OUR OWN SIGHT. Read become aware of the mystery about Israel, 11:25-27. Learn about how Israel is related to the Gospel, election, God gifts and calling, 11:28-29. Learn how we recieved mercy because of Israel and how they will recieveit also, 11:30-32. Learn of God's sovereigntyin all of it, 11:33-38.

The covenant of the land is secured by the Lord Himself, Genesis 15:17-21. The Lord reminds Abraham of the everlasting covenant between the Lord, Abraham and his offspring and He will be their God in this everlasting covenant, 17:8. He give Abraham and his offspring thier part in this everlasting covenant Genesis 17:12-14. As long as they kept the circumcision it was the sign of the everlasting covenant and if they did not that man would be cut off from the people and have broke that covenant.

Here's the most interesting part, the Jews for over 1800 years kept that everlasting covenant and the Lord brought them back to the land. But here's the kicker, circumcision is not that, with the USA having the highest number of none Jewish or Muslim males circumcised. Don't forget that Ishmael was circumcised and the Lord had a different plan for him 17:20. The everlasting covenant would go through Isaac's offspring, Genesis 17:19, so not all that are circumcised are part of the everlasting covenant only those offspring of Isaac that bare the sign in the flesh, Genesis 17:11 and this covenant is everlasting in the flesh, Genesis 17:13.

Link to the stats on circumcision http://www.circumcision.org/harmswomen.htm

 

[Johnny_B]

Here are the three mentions of the land, Genesis 12:7 "Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”

Genesis 15:4-5 "And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be........

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

Genesis 17:9-14 "And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

There are many that say that Galatians 3:15-18 show that it is fulfilled in Christ and some of it is.

"To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise."

I believe that Christ does fulfill what is said in Genesis 12:7, then the Lord Himself radifies and adds more information about the covenant in, Genesis 15:5 is not talking about Christ unless you believe there are many christ's that number as the stars, so we know that this is not about Christ. Once the Lord walks through the offerings to radify the covenant, He adds a map and which people live in those lands.

Then in Genesis 17:19 the Lord says exactly who the offspring and his pffspring that would fulfill the covenant with the sign in the flesh of circumcision Isacc.

"God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him."