Which covenant are you following for salvation? The Old Covenant? The New Covenant? Or the Everlasting Covenant established with Abraham?
Let us study and understand the importance of Abraham’s life as the ‘Father of Faith’ (Rom 4:11,12 NASB throughout). God made His Covenant of Promise with Abraham and with his descendants (Gen 17 & 26). Abraham’s life combines Faith and Obedience as an example for us as to how to repent.
Holy Scripture describes how a person can become a child of God - who is Abraham’s offspring? Jesus explained to the Pharisees what it meant to be Abraham’s children (John 8:39). He said, “If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham.” Jesus is a descendant you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham Abraham and is specifically Abraham’s SEED (Gal 3:16-29).
Abraham relied on the first promise God made to him, but he was also shut up “under law” as we are, that the promise by Faith in Jesus Christ (Abraham’s Seed) might be given to all who believe (Gal 3:22). Abraham looked forward to his descendants being a blessing to the world.
Abraham appears in the gospels and many of the letters written to the churches – John, Romans, Hebrews, James, and 1John. These are significant because Abraham’s life also occupies much of the book of Genesis as an example for us as the opening of the story of the people of God. God made a covenant with Abraham. Abraham is an example of how to live.
The letter Paul wrote to the Romans is not studied seriously by many because of a popular short cut widely taught; “The Romans Road.”
In this letter to the Romans we also find many significant ideas such as the faith of Abraham, “Obedience of Faith,” examples of law vs. “legalism,” and discussions of how to repent. All are related to how we express faith. As Jesus is used as the goal, or example, of law in (Rom 10:4), the letter to the Romans is the goal of many bible ideas taught throughout scripture. These ideas of how to live picture Jesus.
Jesus told those who believed in Him - "do the deeds of Abraham." Our WORKS are to worship God – to honor the One we follow. If a man is justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Abraham is called our Father of Faith (Math 6:1, Rom 4:11,12).
Holy Scripture says Abraham was justified by FAITH (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:11-12, Eph 2:8, Hebrews 11:8-9).
Holy Scripture teaches Abraham was justified by Works of Faith (Genesis 22:12, 16-18, James 2:21-24).
Holy Scripture explains that the covenant with Abraham’s descendants was established because of Abraham’s Works of Honor (Genesis 17:7-9, 26:3-5, Josh 24:14-15).
This needs explanation; Paul tells us to WORSHIP THE CREATOR GOD, (Rom 1:25). We do this through honoring. Adam was told to “till” the soil. (“Till” means to cultivate, worship, be a slave to, (see an older Strong’s Concordance # 5647 and Romans 6:16-22). Jesus tells us that the soil is the garden of our heart (Math 13:1-23).
Holy Scripture shows that we should do Works of Love (Gen 14:14-16, 21-23, Lev 19:18, Mk 12:31, John 14:15).
All these works of Abraham are the fruits of his belief in God’s ways and Faith in His promises. Works must be fruit of faith, not the root of faith.
Holy Scripture teaches that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully. Scripture provides a holy, righteous and good framework within which a person might be saved. (Lev 18:5, Lk 10:25-28, Rom 7:10, 1 Tim 1:8).
Holy Scripture warns about using the Law legalistically. Paul sometimes uses the word Law in a negative way, as “negative works,” or “bad self- strength works.” David Stern calls these “legalistic observances of the law’s commands.” He describes these as;
“Bad self-strength works (are) produced when people misuse and pervert the Torah (Law), so that instead of regarding it as God’s gracious gift intended both to orient people toward righteous, God-motivated behavior and at the same time to show them how far short they fall of achieving it, they regard the Torah (Law) as a rule book containing requirements they can meet mechanically, without trusting God or even caring about Him, and can therefore take great pride in their own achievements and have great satisfaction over how much they have pleased God.”
(p346 JNTC, David H. Stern, 1992, Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc, Clarksville, Md.).
The everlasting covenant was extended to Abraham’s DECENDANTS. The Lord “established the covenant of blessings with Isaac, Abraham’s son, because Abraham followed the Lord, kept His statutes, His ordinances, His commandments, and His laws,” (Gen 17:1-21, Gen 26:4-5).
This is how the covenant is perpetuated as an Everlasting Covenant (Genesis 17:1-21, 26:2-5). Abraham showed loyalty to the Lord by following His Ways. His children saw his beliefs (Faith) through his actions (Works) and learned to believe in the One Abraham honored (Worship).
The devil has attacked God’s Covenant by lying and deceiving people as to what the covenants require. His first act as a deluding influence was in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ignored the Lord’s law, the Truth (Gen 2:15-17, Ps 119:160) but followed someone else’s teaching (Gen3:1-6) thus dying spiritually (Eph 2:1-5, 2Thes 2:7-12).
Abraham honored the Lord, rather than following someone else’s teaching (Rom1:25, Gal 1:6-8).
The letter to Romans has been providentially placed first in the New Testament after the Acts of the Apostles because it is so important for us to know how to Repent and walk by Faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection according to scripture (1Cor15:1-4, Gal 1:6-8). The Nation of Israel failed at this (Romans 9:31-32). Paul used his nation as an example of failing because they pursued Righteousness by Law, or works, not faith.
Some gathered in multitudes to hear Jesus. Some of them followed Jesus. A few disciplined their lives with His teachings. “A student, when he is fully trained will be like his teacher,” (Luke 8:4-10). Jesus said, “If you are a child of Abraham – do the deeds of Abraham,” - He means physically, emotionally, lovingly, and spiritually. “I am the way, the Truth, and the life” (John 14).
One of the most important ideas discussed through Romans is the response of “Obedience of Faith” as taught by Paul. Our motives should be to honor God and show gratitude to Him for His deliverance and grace given to us.
Holy Scripture describes Abraham’s life to help us see these ways to honor God. Paul introduces the concept of “Obedience of Faith” (Romans 1:5). He sees Obedience of Faith in his church as a result of Christ’s work through himself (Rom 15:18). As a conclusion, he says the gospel preaching should lead us to respond with Obedience of Faith” (Rom Ch 16:25-26).
The New Covenant requires our Lord’s Old Testament Law to be written on our hearts and minds (Duet 6:5-6, Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8-10). That will affect your thoughts and works and faith. Therefore, our thoughts and deeds should be like those of Abraham and Jesus. The Lord told Abraham, “Walk before Me and be blameless and I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly,” (Gen 17:1-2).
The Lord said He would establish His covenant with Abraham and his descendants as an Everlasting Covenant, and “He would be their God,” (Gen 17:8). Part of the agreement was for Abraham and his descendants to keep the Lord’s Covenant and pass it on by living it and teaching it (Gen 17:9, 26:3-5, Mt 28:19).
This simple picture of our Father of Faith spans the Old and New Testaments from the beginning to end. Holy Scripture uses Abraham as a consistent, unchanging example for us.
Jesus does not command us anything new that He did not tell Abraham – “Walk before Me and be blameless,” (Gen 17:1, Lev 19:2, Phil 2:14-15, 1Pet 1:15-16, 2Pet 3:14).
THE GOOD NEWS. The Lord offers the same Everlasting Covenant to us which He offered Abraham.
Jesus will extend His everlasting covenant and promises to us and our children, -- IF;
we believe and do the deeds of Abraham, the Father of Faith, (John 8:39, Acts 16:31-34, Acts 26: 6-7 ).
The New Covenant has the same Laws as the Old Covenant. Instead of laws written on a sign which a man places in his yard, the laws are to be written on his heart and mind. Abraham responded to the Grace that God gave him with Faith in God’s Ways, so that Abraham expressed his faith from his heart through works of Faith, works of Honor, and works of love.
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The letter to Romans has been providentially placed first in the New Testament after the Acts of the Apostles because it is so important for us to know how to Repent and walk by Faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection according to scripture (1Cor15:1-4, Gal 1:6-8). The Nation of Israel failed at this (Romans 9:31-32). Paul used his nation as an example of failing because they pursued Righteousness by Law, or works, not faith.
Some gathered in multitudes to hear Jesus. Some of them followed Jesus. A few disciplined their lives with His teachings. “A student, when he is fully trained will be like his teacher,” (Luke 8:4-10). Jesus said, “If you are a child of Abraham – do the deeds of Abraham,” - He means physically, emotionally, lovingly, and spiritually. “I am the way, the Truth, and the life” (John 14).
One of the most important ideas discussed through Romans is the response of “Obedience of Faith” as taught by Paul. Our motives should be to honor God and show gratitude to Him for His deliverance and grace given to us.
Holy Scripture describes Abraham’s life to help us see these ways to honor God. Paul introduces the concept of “Obedience of Faith” (Romans 1:5). He sees Obedience of Faith in his church as a result of Christ’s work through himself (Rom 15:18). As a conclusion, he says the gospel preaching should lead us to respond with Obedience of Faith” (Rom Ch 16:25-26).
The New Covenant requires our Lord’s Old Testament Law to be written on our hearts and minds (Duet 6:5-6, Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8-10). That will affect your thoughts and works and faith. Therefore, our thoughts and deeds should be like those of Abraham and Jesus. The Lord told Abraham, “Walk before Me and be blameless and I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly,” (Gen 17:1-2).
The Lord said He would establish His covenant with Abraham and his descendants as an Everlasting Covenant, and “He would be their God,” (Gen 17:8). Part of the agreement was for Abraham and his descendants to keep the Lord’s Covenant and pass it on by living it and teaching it (Gen 17:9, 26:3-5, Mt 28:19).
This simple picture of our Father of Faith spans the Old and New Testaments from the beginning to end. Holy Scripture uses Abraham as a consistent, unchanging example for us.
Jesus does not command us anything new that He did not tell Abraham – “Walk before Me and be blameless,” (Gen 17:1, Lev 19:2, Phil 2:14-15, 1Pet 1:15-16, 2Pet 3:14).
THE GOOD NEWS. The Lord offers the same Everlasting Covenant to us which He offered Abraham.
Jesus will extend His everlasting covenant and promises to us and our children, -- IF;
we believe and do the deeds of Abraham, the Father of Faith, (John 8:39, Acts 16:31-34, Acts 26: 6-7 ).
The New Covenant has the same Laws as the Old Covenant. Instead of laws written on a sign which a man places in his yard, the laws are to be written on his heart and mind. Abraham responded to the Grace that God gave him with Faith in God’s Ways, so that Abraham expressed his faith from his heart through works of Faith, works of Honor, and works of love.
Return to HARMONY BIBLE STUDIES Homepage.