Covenant with Abraham
- God’s covenant with Abraham — which He initiated — has three parts: land, kids, and blessings (Gen. 12: 1-3; 13: 14-17; 15: 1-21; 17: 1-27; 18: 9-15) (Is the Old or New Covenant Better?).
- The Jews put a lot of stock in being descendants of Abraham. That was with whom the covenant that made them God’s people was established (Gen. 12: 1-3; 13: 14-17; 15: 1-21; 17: 1-27; 18: 9-15) (Did Election Fail?).
- In a way, they were justified in being proud of the covenant (Did Election Fail?).
- The problem was that the Israelites focused on the covenant. It seems to me that – every once in a while – the Israelites felt that the covenant gave them a pass (Did Election Fail?).
- The old covenant – and the old laws – could not save them – or us (Did Election Fail?).
- The Jews were especially proud of being circumcised. It was the seal of the covenant (The Nominal Disciple).
- Instead of just “uprightness,” the original definition of righteousness was based on fulfilling the covenant and building relationships with God and others (What Is Righteousness?).
Jesus’ Covenant
- Jesus initiated a new covenant. In a way, it is the fulfillment of the all-the-world-will-be-blessed part of Abraham’s covenant (Is the Old or New Covenant Better?).
- Even though Abraham’s covenant was sealed with the blood of sacrifices, this covenant would be sealed by the blood of Christ Himself (Is the Old or New Covenant Better?).
- “When God speaks of a ‘new’ covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear” (Heb. 8: 13 NLT).
- Just as Moses was the mediator of the old covenant, Jesus is a Mediator of the new covenant (Who Is Jesus?).
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