COVENANT - The Seed of Blessing
Genesis 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed...”
Abraham’s covenant (Chuck McCoy)
Key Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-3; 15; 17:9-14)
Parties: God & Abraham (and his descendants)
Terms: live in Canaan/circumcise the boys/"walk before Me and be blameless"/endure the Egyptian bondage
Promises Abraham would be great, his descendants would be a great nation in Canaan, /Curses: and the blessing to all nations would come through "his seed"
Oathswearing: walking "between the halves" (Gen.15:7-21) |
The promise was first made in when Abraham was called (Genesis 12:3), again in the promise of a child (15:3-6), it was elaborated on when he was given the covenant of circumcision (17:1-8), and it was again mentioned when Isaac’s birth was foretold (18:18) to which mom and dad got a chuckle. It was finally promised upon Abraham’s faithful obedience as demonstrated in his sacrifice of his only begotten son (22:18). This was a type of the Seed of blessing who would be given as the Only Begotten Son sacrificed for the sin of the world (Galatians 3:16).
All the world would be blessed by the seed of Abraham. “Seed” means descendant(s). If we follow the line of Abraham’s seed, we will see how all the world will be blessed. Covenant’s have three parts: 1. Parties (who is involved) 2. Terms (stipulations and precepts of the covenant) and 3. Promises (the blessings and curses of staying in the covenant or leaving the covenant). The promise was blessing to all the world. Let’s follow the covenant; let’s follow the seed.
The promise continued with Isaac who came to be known as the “child of promise” (Genesis 17:16-20, Romans 9:6-9, Galatians 4:22-31).
The promise continued with Jacob who was later renamed “Israel” and the father of the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis 28:3-4, 10-17, 1 Chronicles 16:16-17, Romans 9:10-13).
The promise is re-affirmed with God’s people.
After 400 years in bondage (Genesis 15:13), the seed of Abraham continued as the “children of Israel” (Leviticus 26:46) under Moses and the Law which was ratified with the “blood of the covenant” (Exodus 24:7-8). The law did not invalidate a covenant but came in because of transgression. This was to convince the world of their sin. Just as Abraham was promised blessing because of his faithfulness, so every man will be in covenant with God through faithfulness (Galatians 3:17-22). Abraham and his seed were promised Canaan and Moses led them right up to it, only to see it from a distance and die on Pisgah on Mount Nebo. Moses promised that there would be another prophet like him and they should give heed to His word (Deuteronomy 18:15). That Prophet is also the Seed of blessing. (John 6:14)
David was in covenant with God and his throne would be established forever (1 Chronicles 16:16-17, 2 Samuel 7:16, Psalm 89:3-4). The One to sit on his throne is the Seed of blessing.
Prophets announced that this One would come through Judah, in Bethlehem, born of a virgin, to rule the nation, and that he would suffer. Their main purpose was to keep the people in the covenant in order to inherit the promises.
The promise is fulfilled in Jesus.
Clinton Gill, in his commentary of the Minor Prophets said, “The theme of the Bible is the history of this covenant, and the fulfillment in Christ, through the new covenant people.”
THE GENEALOGY CONFIRMS IT
Matthew 1:1 “This record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
THE ANGEL GABRIEL CONFIRMS ITLuke 1:32-33 “He will be great and be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; (33) and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
JESUS CONFIRMS IT
Luke 24:44-47 “Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ (45) Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, (46) and He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’”
PETER CONFIRMS IT
Acts 3:22-26 “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you. (23) And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ (24) And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. (25) It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ (26) For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.’”
PAUL CONFIRMS ITA. The Spirit is given to those who believe (Galatians 3:1-5, 14, 26-27, Acts 2:38). And “having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge (or down payment) of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
B. Jesus became a curse to lift the curse (Galatians 3:10-14)
C. The Covenant and promises are fulfilled Jesus by His blood (Galatians 3:15-16, Hebrews 9:11-17, Matthew 26:28)
D. He Himself is the Mediator (Galatians 3:19, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:6, 12:24)
E. Through faith we become heirs according to promise (Galatians 3:26-29)
In Christ we are...
Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to promise
As Isaac was, we are children of promise
Jacob was renamed Israel, we are the New Covenant Israel
David ruled over a mighty kingdom, but we are the Kingdom of God
Moses was on Sinai and received the Law on stone, but we come to Zion and law on our hearts