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The promises of God were given to the descendants of Abraham. But where does that leave everyone else? Do the Ten Commandments apply to everyone, or just Israel? Is there hope of eternal life for others?
When we talk about the covenant God made with Israel, it is clear that those promises were given to them specifically. But God made two other covenants before the nation of Israel even came into existence.
The first covenant between God and mankind was very one-sided. He did not require any promise from mankind. He simply promised us that He would never again send a flood of water to destroy the earth and all life on it. This happened at the end of Noah’s flood.
The second covenant was made with Abraham.
A Covenant of Resurrection and Eternal Life
Genesis 17:3-5
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
There are some important things to take note of. First, God made this covenant with Abraham, meaning it was a promise to him specifically. Then He said He would also establish this covenant with the descendants of Abraham forever.
Notice in this covenant that God did not require Abraham to be perfect in following a law or set of commands. There is no condition He set. This was a promise God made to him without asking for anything in return, except that he believe God. Later, we read that Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of that.
Another thing we should take note of is that God said the land would be given not just to Abraham’s seed but to Abraham himself. God also told him that it would be an eternal possession for him and his seed. But Abraham died before the land became theirs.
This tells us that God intends to raise the dead. Because if Abraham is dead, he cannot take possession of it. We also see that not only does God plan to raise the dead, but He also says Abraham will have it forever. This tells us that He is offering eternal life.
So, in this covenant with Abraham, God was offering not just the land, but resurrection from the dead and eternal life. He didn’t say it in those exact words, but that is what it would take to fulfill His promise to the letter.
Hebrews 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
This is why Abraham had no reservation about offering up Isaac. He didn’t believe it would be murder because he believed Isaac would live! Abraham knew God was offering eternal life. Abraham was right.
A Changed Life
Genesis 17:9-11
9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
After God made this promise to Abraham, He told Abraham that as a token (physical proof) of this covenant, he and his descendants should be circumcised. But God did not require Abraham to be perfect in following any other law or set of commands.
Instead, He required Abraham to be a changed man—a man that would be changed by God to the point that it was evident even in his flesh. There is a lot of spiritual meaning we can gain from that, but I will not get into that now.
The most important thing to note is that this covenant was not based on Abraham’s or his descendants’ ability to follow the law. That stipulation wasn’t added until God offered the covenant to Israel after they came out of Egypt.
So, it was technically a different covenant. The covenant God made with Abraham was one that only required Abraham to trust God. This was actually the covenant that God told Abraham He would establish with his descendants.
The Descendants of Faith
Romans 4:13
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
So, we see that the law given to Israel is not the covenant God promised Abraham He would establish. The covenant God promised Abraham was one in which faith in God would be counted as righteousness.
Romans 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 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.
Romans 3:29-30
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Remember, this promise was to Abraham’s descendants. You may be wondering how the Gentiles could be called descendants of Abraham. In fact, all who believe and trust in God are his descendants. But how?
Romans 8:14-17
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Those who are made children of God through faith are considered joint-heirs with Jesus. They are His brothers and sisters. Since Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, all those He calls His family are therefore also descendants of Abraham by adoption.
Romans 9:6-8
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 8 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.
So, while the Jews had the law, it was actually always only those who believed and trusted in God who were counted as His descendants. What this means is that throughout history, there have always been people who were heirs of salvation through faith in God—both Jew and Gentile.
This is how all who live by faith, whether Jew or Gentile, are heirs of salvation. They trusted God and, therefore, trusted in Jesus even before He came.
Israel had the law with its sacrifices, but that would never make them right with God. Salvation has always been through faith.
In our next study we will talk about what it means to be righteous and unrighteous. We will examine why all of mankind has been judged as sinners.
Continue To Unit 2:6 – Why Is Everyone Guilty Before God – All Have Sinned OR
Return To Christianity 101 Unit 2 – Sin and Eternal Judgment