The Details of the Covenant Between God and Abraham

The covenants in the Bible are very important to a Bible student interpreting the Word of God, and especially in the field of eschatology. God’s plan through the ages is determined as well as revealed through His covenants. In other words, His covenants must be studied diligently, and is the basis of our study if we are to understand God’s plan from the foundation of the world.

I. Covenant means – basically a contract between God and man, man and man, or nation and nation.

A. Pre-Abrahamic Covenants

1. Edenic – Gen. 1:28-30; Genesis 2:15-17

2. Adamic – Gen. 3:16-19

3. Noahic - Gen. 8:20-9:17

B. Four Biblical unconditional covenants – Formula “I Will”

1. Abrahamic - Genesis 12:1-3 – either expressed or understood 7 times

2. Palistinian - Deuteronomy 30:1-10 - either expressed or understood 12 times

3. Davidic - II Samuel 7:10-16 - found 7 times

4. New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:31-40 - found 7 times

C. Conditional Covenant – Formula “If ye will”

Mosiac - Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 28:1-68

II. Nature Of The Covenants

A. They are literal covenants and to be interpreted literally

B. They are eternal – (except for Mosaic and Edenic)

C. They are solely dependant on the integrity of God

1. God entered into covental relationship with the Jew

Romans 9:4 - Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; {covenants: or, testaments}

2. The Gentiles (Until Christ) were not given the covenants or inheritance

Ephesians 2:11 - Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

III. The Abrahamic Covenant is central to all Scripture

A. Important to Soteriology – Paul states that believers enter into the blessings promised to Abraham. Galatians 3:14; 3:29; 4:22-31

B. Important to the Resurrection

1. God revealed Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with whom He had entered into a covenant relationship – Exodus 3:15

2. These men died without receiving in full the promises – Hebrews 11:13 – resurrection was necessary because the covenants can not be broken

3. Refuting the Sadducees, the resurrection was the issue – Matthew 22:23-32

4. Paul before Agrippa – Acts 26:6-8 – combines the “promise to the fathers” with the resurrection.

C. Important to Eschatology –

1. Eternal guarantee to Israel a permanent national existence,

2. Eternal title to the land of promise, and

3. Eternal certainty of material and spiritual blessings through Christ, and

4. Eternal guarantee of Gentile nations to share in these blessings.

Relationships of The Eternal Covenants of God with Israel
Basic Covenant with Abraham	The Other Covenants
Promise of A National Land – (Land) Genesis 12:1; 13:14-15 & 17	Palestinian Covenant – gave Israel assurance of final, permanent restoration to the land forever Deuteronomy 30:3-5; Ezekiel 20:33-37, 42-44
Promise of Redemption – National and Universal – (Blessing) Genesis 12:3; 22:18 & 3:16	New Covenant – Israel’s Spiritual Blessing and Redemption forever Jeremiah 31:31-40; Hebrews 8:6-13
Promise of Numerous Descendants – A Great Nation – (Seed) Genesis 12:3; 13:16;17:2-6	Davidic Covenant – Dynasty, Nation, Throne forever II Samuel 7:11, 13, 16 Jeremiah 33:20 & 21; 31:35-37
Christ and the Gentiles – Based not on birth but rather rebirth Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. {accounted: or, imputed} Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.