HM#003 - THE GOSPEL AND GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM


A careful reading of the New Testament will show that the Gospel we now hear is the SAME as that preached to Abraham! (Galatians 3:8-9)

The GOOD NEWS from the New Testament is all about how God is fulfilling His covenant with Abraham. And it contains the same CONDITIONAL offer made to Abraham, through which we also can share in Abraham's inheritance. (Genesis 17:1-2)

God made specific promises to Abraham, the Father of the Jewish race.

(Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15:1-11, 17:1-8, 22:15-18)

So unchangeable is this covenant that God swore an OATH to confirm it.

(Genesis 22:15-18, Hebrews 6:13-14)

The specific promises are :-

- That Abraham would become a great NATION.

- That Abraham and his descendants would inherit the LAND of Canaan

   as an everlasting possession.

- That through Abraham and one of His descendants, all families of the

   earth would be BLESSED.
In the New testament we learn that :-
- The REAL "great nation" refers only to those "spiritual descendants"
   who share the FAITH OF ABRAHAM. (Romans 4:13-17)

- The "promised land" actually includes the WHOLE EARTH.

   (Romans 4:13, Matthew 5:5)

- The promised descendant through whom the blessing comes is JESUS.

   (Galatians 3:16)

- Our future inheritance of the promises is THE GOSPEL HOPE.

   (Galatians 3:29, Hebrews 11:8,13,39-40)

- The promises are the GUARANTEE of the resurrection of our bodies.

   (Luke 20:27-38)
God's covenant with Abraham guarantees an eternal inheritance to those who SHARE his faith. Those promises are CENTRAL to the Gospel Of The Kingdom Of God. They are an indispensable element of the GOOD NEWS. They define our hope.

THEY ARE OUR ETERNAL FUTURE!

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A COMPARISON WITH "POPULAR GOSPELS".

From these promises we learn that :-

- The real hope of IMMORTALITY depends on a bodily resurrection.
   (Not on the continuing life of inherent immortal souls without a body)

- Our eternal inheritance is received AFTER Jesus returns from heaven.

   (Not immediately at death)

- The place of our eternal reward is on EARTH.

   (Not in Heaven)

- This inheritance is reserved for those who share the FAITH of Abraham,

   in God's promises to Abraham.

   (It is not for those who cannot possibly believe promises they have never heard)

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HEAR THESE PROMISES OURSELVES ..... BELIEVE THEM OURSELVES ..... AND MEET THE CONDITIONS OURSELVES ..... IN ORDER TO RECEIVE OUR OWN PERSONAL INHERITANCE OF THEM.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE MAKE THEM AN INDISPENSABLE ELEMENT OF THE GOOD NEWS WE PREACH.

A "GOSPEL" WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN THESE PROMISES IS NO GOSPEL AT ALL!

Allon

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"Every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? ..... So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ." (Romans 10:13-17)

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