The Advent of Christ:
The Fulfillment of A Divine Promise
The Abrahamic Covenant
“It is recognized by all serious students of the
Bible that the covenant with Abraham is one of
the important and determinative revelations of
Scripture. It furnishes the key to the entire Old
Testament and reaches for its fulfillment into
the New…The analysis of its provisions and
the character of their fulfillment set the mold for
the entire body of Scriptural truth.”
John Walvoord
“It is this Abrahamic covenant, so explicitly
set forth in (Genesis) that underlies the
whole subsequent development of God’s
redemptive promise, word, and action. . . .
The redemptive grace of God in the highest
and furthest reaches of its realization is the
unfolding of the promise given to Abraham
and therefore the unfolding of the
Abrahamic covenant.”
John Murray
Introduction of the Promises
Institution of the Covenant
Individuality of the Seed
The Introduction of the Promises (12:1-4)
Who is Abram?
Son of Terah
Resident of Haran
Married to Sarai
Childless (Sarai barren)
Called by God (12:1)
Blessed by God (12:2-3)
Three promises
National
Personal
Universal
Faith in God (12:4)
Romans 4:3
Galatians 3:6
James 2:23
Institution of the Covenant
(Genesis 15, 17, 18)
Berit = covenant
“binding obligation, confirmed by a culturally
known practice including an oath, to do
something for Abraham and his seed”
Keith Essex
Chapter 15
Request for an alternate seed / promise of
genetic heir (Isaac) – vv. 1-4
Reaffirmation of the national promise – v. 5
Abram saved at this point – v. 6
Request for a sign – v. 8
Initiation of a unilateral covenant – vv. 9-21
Chapter 17
Reaffirm God as covenant maker and
keeper
God Almighty = El Shaddai – v. 1
Covenant 13x in vv. 1-21
“I” and “Me”
Everlasting covenant – v. 7
Everlasting possession – v. 8
Chapter 17
Reaffirmation of blessing
Great nation – vv. 2-6
Great name – v. 5
Land – v. 8
Physical sign of covenant – vv. 10-21
Chapter 18
Promise of Isaac reaffirmed
“this time next year” – v. 10
“is anything too difficult for the Lord?” - v. 14
Individuality of the Seed (22:15-18)
Chapter 22
Birth of Isaac – right on schedule – cf. 21:2
First conversation with God – vv. 1-14
Test of faith – vv. 1-2
Alternate sacrifice given – v. 13
Jehovah Jireh = the Lord will provide
Genesis 22
Second conversation (with a twist)
Reaffirmation of three promises
Personal blessing – v. 17a
National blessing – v. 17a
Universal blessing – v. 17b – 18
The twist – One Seed is singled out
Genesis 22
zera = seed / offspring / descendant
(Gen 3:15)
“your seed” – zaraka – 2nd masc. sing (ref to
Abraham’s offspring)
“shall possess the gates of their enemies” –
we’yirash = 3rd masc. sing (he shall possess)
ASV – “And thy seed shall possess the gate of his
enemies.”
Analogy of Faith
Galatians 3:16
“Now the promises were spoken to
Abraham and to his seed. He does not say,
"And to seeds," as referring to many, but
rather to one, "And to your seed," that is,
Christ.”