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God’s Plan to Ransom Man, March 12
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.
Genesis 17:7
.
As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the other
provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The covenant
of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall, there
was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should bruise
the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon, and the
assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ. It
also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law.
Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation.
This same covenant was renewed to Abraham in the promise, “In
thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”
Genesis 22:18
.
This promise pointed to Christ. So Abraham understood it, and he
trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. It was this faith that was
accounted unto him for righteousness. The covenant with Abraham
also maintained the authority of God’s law. The Lord appeared unto
Abraham, and said, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be
thou perfect.” The testimony of God concerning His faithful servant was,
“Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments,
my statutes, and my laws.”
Genesis 17:1
;
26:5
....
The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood of Christ, and it
is called the “second,” or “new,” covenant, because the blood by which
it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first covenant.
The covenant of grace is not a new truth, for it existed in the mind of
God from all eternity. This is why it is called the everlasting covenant.
There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant,
which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus. The gospel
preached to Abraham, through which he had hope, was the same gospel
that is preached to us today.... Abraham looked unto Jesus, who is also
the author and the finisher of our faith.
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