God's Covenant With Abraham

"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you." (1)

The covenant of grace was renewed with Abraham and extends to more than his physical descendants. "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (2) Because of Abraham's faithfulness, he was chosen to be the progenitor of the promised Messiah through whom all mankind is blessed. And Abraham received this covenant because of his faith, trust and obedience to the word of God.

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise... By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called,' concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense." (3)

By faith Abraham obeyed, and as a result he is called the father of the faithful. It is by faith and obedience to the instruction of God to us that we also will share in the rewards of the covenant made to Abraham. "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (4)

The covenant made with Adam and renewed with Abraham was ratified at the death of Jesus Christ. It had existed by promise before creation. "The power of God - has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purposes and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (5)

God's covenant of grace has been extended to every man, woman and child, who put their faith and trust in their Creator. "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (6) What an inheritance! Thank God for His covenant to those who value His values and who trust Him.

1. Genesis 17:7.
2. Genesis 22:18.
3. Hebrews 11:8, 9, 17-19.
4. Galatians 3:29.
5. 2 Timothy 1:8-10.
6. John 17:3.