New Covenant Theology
Steve Atkerson ~ Atlanta, Georgia
New Testament Reformation Fellowship
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT &
THE NEW COVENANT
1
2
3
4
1. Land, 12:1, 7a
5
The LORD said to Abram . . . "Lift up your eyes and look from the
place where you are, northward and southward and eastward
and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and
to your offspring (“seed” KJV) forever (olam).
— Genesis 13:14-15, ESV
6
1. Land, 12:1, 7a
2. Great Nation
(“Seed”), 12:2a, 7
7
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed
will I give this land
— Genesis 12:7 KJV
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your
offspring I will give this land.“
— Genesis 12:7, ESV
8
1. Land, 12:1, 7a
2. Seed, 12:2a
3. Blessing, 12:3b
9
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to
the flesh?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but
not before God.
For what does the Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the
blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
— Romans 4:1-8, ESV
10
In hope he (Abraham) believed against hope, that he should
become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall
your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered
his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a
hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of
Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the
promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to
God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had
promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as
righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not
written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us
who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who
was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
— Romans 4:18-25 (ESV)
11
And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the
terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them
like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts —
the officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the
priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the
parts of the calf.
— Jeremiah 34:18-19 (ESV)
12
. . . even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it
once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham
and to his offspring . . . the law, which came 430 years afterward,
does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make
the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no
longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
— Galatians 3:15-18
13
14
We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.
How then was it counted to him?
Was it before or after he had been circumcised?
It was not after, but before he was circumcised (Ge 15).
He received the sign of circumcision (Ge 17) as a seal of the
righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.
— Romans 4:9b-11a
15
“everlasting” (17:7, 13, 19)
olam (#5769)
Olam fundamentally means “most distant times”
(future or past)
In some contexts it can mean “evelasting”
However, TWOT (#1631a) points out that “neither the
Hebrew nor the Greek word (aion) in itself contains the
idea of endlessness.” It is determined by context.
16
olam literally means “a long time” (Holladay, p. 267).
Olam is used 300 times to denote indefinite continuance into the
very distant future:
17
olam literally means “a long time” (Holladay, p. 267).
Olam is used 300 times to denote indefinite continuance into the
very distant future:
ESV 1 Samuel 1:22, 28 (Hannah about Samuel) ~ "As soon as the
child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the
presence of the LORD and dwell there forever . . . I have lent him to
the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."
18
olam literally means “a long time” (Holladay, p. 267).
Olam is used 300 times to denote indefinite continuance into the
very distant future:
ESV 1 Samuel 1:22, 28 (Hannah about Samuel) ~ "As soon as the
child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the
presence of the LORD and dwell there forever . . . I have lent him to
the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."
NAS 1 Samuel 27:12 ~ So Achish believed David, saying, "He has
surely made himself odious among his people Israel; therefore he
will become my servant forever.“
19
olam literally means “a long time” (Holladay, p. 267).
Olam is used 300 times to denote indefinite continuance into the
very distant future:
ESV 1 Samuel 1:22, 28 (Hannah about Samuel) ~ "As soon as the
child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the
presence of the LORD and dwell there forever . . . I have lent him to
the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD."
NAS 1 Samuel 27:12 ~ So Achish believed David, saying, "He has
surely made himself odious among his people Israel; therefore he
will become my servant forever.“
Key Idea: It does not necessarily contain the idea of endlessness,
but rather of a long duration or period (TWOT, II, p. 672).
20
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to
do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty
nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
— Genesis 18:17-18 (ESV)
21
I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring (seed)
as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And
your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your
offspring (seed) shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
because you have obeyed my voice.”
— Genesis 22:17-18 (ESV)
22
And the Lord appeared to him (Isaac) and said, “. . . I will establish
the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your
offspring (seed) as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring
(seed) all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the
earth shall be blessed . . . ”
— Genesis 26:2-4
23
And the LORD appeared to him (Isaac) . . . and said, "I am the God
of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless
you and multiply your offspring (seed) for my servant Abraham's
sake.“
— Genesis 26:24 (ESV)
24
And he (Jacob) dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up
on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the
angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold,
the Lord stood above it and said, “ . . . The land on which you lie I
will give to you and to your offspring (seed). Your offspring (seed)
shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to
the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in
you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be
blessed.
— Genesis 28:12-14
25
And God said to him (Jacob), “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and
multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to
Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your
offspring after you.”
— Genesis 35:11-12
26
And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob,
Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.” Then he said, “I am God, the God
of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will
make you into a great nation.
— Genesis 46:2-3 (ESV)
27
Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the
land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will
make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a
company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after
you for an everlasting possession.’
— Genesis 48:3-4
28
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit
you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
— Genesis 50:24 (ESV)
29
God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. I appeared to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty . . . I also
established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan,
the land in which they lived as sojourners . . . I will bring you into the
land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will
give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”
— Exodus 6:2-8 (ESV)
30
Moses speaking: “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your
servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I
will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land
that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall
inherit it forever.’”
— Exodus 32:13 (ESV)
31
Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot
has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever
(olam), because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’
— Joshua 14:9 (ESV)
32
Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for
a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed as a statute to
Jacob, as an everlasting (olam) covenant to Israel (Jacob), saying,
"To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an
inheritance.”
— 1 Chronicles 16:15-18
33
. . . He (God) confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying,
“To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an
inheritance.”
— Psalm 105:10-11 (ESV)
34
THE PROMISED LAND?
“Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will
show you”
— Genesis 12:1 (ESV)
35
What can we deduce about the “land” promise?
“Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will
show you”
— Genesis 12:1 (ESV)
36
What can we deduce about the “land” promise?
Let Scripture interpret Scripture
37
Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to
their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled
there . . .
Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to
the house of Israel had failed;
all came to pass.
— Joshua 21:43-45 (ESV)
38
What can we deduce about the “land” promise?
39
Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land
of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute
and served Solomon all the days of his life.
— 1 Kings 4:21
“To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the
great river, the river Euphrates”
— Genesis 15:18 (ESV)
40
What can we deduce about the “land” promise?
41
You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out
of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. You
found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the
covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite . . .
And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.
— Nehemiah 9:7-8 (ESV)
42
What can we deduce about the “land” promise?
43
Land promise was literally fulfilled
44
Literally
Literarily
45
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and
builder is God.
— Hebrews 11:10 (ESV)
46
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and
builder is God.
— Hebrews 11:10 (ESV)
Then came one of the seven angels . . . saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride,
the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high
mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven
from God, having the glory of God . . . And the wall of the city had twelve
foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb . . . And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the
Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the
nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates
will never be shut by day — and there will be no night there. They will bring into it
the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor
anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in
the Lamb's book of life.
— Revelation 21:9-27
47
Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free
woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh,
while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now
this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two
covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she
is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to
the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
— Galatians 4:22-26
48
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to
come.
— Hebrews 13:14 (ESV)
49
All these people were still living by faith when they died.
They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them
and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that
they were aliens and strangers on earth.
— Hebrews 11:13 (NIV)
50
All these people were still living by faith when they died.
They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them
and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that
they were aliens and strangers on earth.
— Hebrews 11:13 (NIV)
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised.
— Hebrews 11:29 (NIV)
51
HEAVENLY COUNTRY (11:16)
52
BLESSING TO ALL FAMILIES
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed
— Genesis 22:18 (KJV)
53
Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as
righteousness . . .”
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles
by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying,
“In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham,
the man of faith.
— Galatians 3:6-9 (ESV)
54
BLESSING TO ALL FAMILIES
=
Blessing of Justification by Faith
55
GOSPEL
56
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to
the flesh?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but
not before God.
For what does the Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the
blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
— Romans 4:1-8, ESV
57
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse
for us — for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a
tree” — so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come
to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through
faith.
— Galatians 3:13-14
58
And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who
came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the
prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers,
saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the
earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you
first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
— Acts 3:24-26 (ESV, Peter speaking)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the
Greek.
— Romans 1:16 (ESV)
59
THE PROMISED SEED
I will surely multiply your offspring (seed) as the stars of heaven and as the sand that
is on the seashore.
— Genesis 22:17 (ESV)
60
Letting Scripture interpret Scripture,
what can we conclude about the promise of
descendants (“seed”)?
61
Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate
and drank and were happy.
— 1 Kings 4:20 (ESV)
I will surely multiply your offspring (seed) as the stars of heaven
and as the sand that is on the seashore.
— Genesis 22:17 (ESV)
62
Seed promise was literally fulfilled
63
He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness
that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose
was to make him the father of all who believe without being
circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as
well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not
merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith
that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
— Romans 4:11-12 (ESV)
64
He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness
that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose
was to make him the father of all who believe without being
circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as
well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not
merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith
that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
— Romans 4:11-12 (ESV)
65
"Abraham is our father," they answered.
"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do
the things Abraham did.”
— John 8:39 (NIV)
66
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him
as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are
children of Abraham.
— Galatians 3:6-7 (NIV)
67
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him
as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are
children of Abraham.
— Galatians 3:6-7 (NIV)
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise.
— Galatians 3:29 (NIV)
68
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision,
but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and
mercy be upon them, and (even) upon the Israel of God.
— Galatians 6:15-16 (ESV)
69
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh,
called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision,
which is made in the flesh by hands — remember that you were at
that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth
of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise . . . But now in
Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by
the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us
both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of
hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in
ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of
the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in
one body through the cross . . . So then you are no longer strangers
and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members
of the household of God . . .
— Ephesians 2:11-22 (ESV)
70
Old Testament physical Israel was not the church (“new”).
71
Old Testament physical Israel was not the church (“new”).
Old Testament physical Israel was only a type of the church.
72
Old Testament physical Israel was not the church (“new”).
Old Testament physical Israel was only a type of the church.
Promised “new” covenant (Jer 31) was between God and people
called the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
73
Old Testament physical Israel was not the church (“new”).
Old Testament physical Israel was only a type of the church.
Promised “new” covenant (Jer 31) was between God and people
called the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Only believers (Jew or Gentile) are the true, promised children of
Abraham.
74
Old Testament physical Israel was not the church (“new”).
Old Testament physical Israel was only a type of the church.
Promised “new” covenant (Jer 31) was between God and people
called the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Only believers (Jew or Gentile) are the true, promised children of
Abraham.
The church is now the true Israel.
75
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The
Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but
"and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.
— Galatians 3:16 (NIV)
76
Seed Promise
1. Physical descendants of Abraham
77
Seed Promise
1. Physical descendants of Abraham
2. Christ (Seed Jesus)
78
Seed Promise
1. Physical descendants of Abraham
2. Christ (Seed Jesus)
3. Any true believer (Israeli or Gentile):
True Israel, Spiritual Israel
79
What effect (if any) do the ultimate New
Testament fulfillments of the promises of the
Abrahamic covenant have on the
intermediate Old Testament fulfillment of
the promises?
80
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
81
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
82
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
83
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
84
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
85
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
86
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
87
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
88
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
89
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
90
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
91
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
92
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
93
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
94
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
interim . . .
95
immediate . . . ultimate
physical . . . metaphysical
foreshadow . . . reality
type . . . fulfillment
temporary . . . eternal
outward . . . inward, internal
sign . . . substance
interim . . . permanent
96
Once the final fulfillments came,
how are we to view the initial fulfillments?
97
And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant,
you and your offspring after you throughout their generations . . .
Every male throughout your generations . . . shall surely be
circumcised.
So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised . . . shall be cut off
from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
— Genesis 17:9-17
98
What does the NT do with circumcision?
Does the NT require circumcision of Jewish
believers under the New Covenant?
99
For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law,
your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his
uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who
have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and
physical.
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit,
not by the letter.
His praise is not from man but from God.
— Romans 2:25-29 (ESV)
100
Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised?
Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision.
Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised?
Let him not seek circumcision.
For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision,
but keeping the commandments of God.
Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
— 1 Corinthians 7:18-20 (ESV)
101
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again
to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision,
Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts
circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from
Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from
grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of
righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts
for anything, but only faith working through love.
— Galatians 5:1-6 (ESV)
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creation.
— Galatians 6:15 (ESV)
102
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false
circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the
Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the
flesh . . .
— Philippians 3:2-3
103
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without
hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of
Christ . . .
— Colossians 2:11 (ESV)
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
— Colossians 3:11 (ESV)
104
Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his
foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.
— Genesis 17:14 (ESV)
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Something fundamental has changed.
We are playing by new rules.
There has been a radical shift in significance from outward signs to
inward reality.
The Abrahamic Covenant itself had two fulfillments, a short term
and a long term, an intermediate and an ultimate, and shadow and
a substance. So too with the sign of the covenant:
from physical circumcision to spiritual circumcision.
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LAND
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. . . it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman
(Hagar) and one by a free woman (Sarah).
But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the
son of the free woman was born through promise.
Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two
covenants (Old & New Testaments).
One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.
Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present
Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
— Galatians 4:22-26 (ESV)
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I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy
for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth . . .
And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises
from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them
and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great
city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord
was crucified.
— Revelation 11:3-8 (ESV)
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We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right
to eat.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy
places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the
camp.
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people
through his own blood.
Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach
he endured.
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
— Hebrews 13:10-14 (ESV)
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James’ letter was written to Jewish believers, to the twelve tribes,
who were “scattered among the nations.” Did he tell them to
move back to Palestine and reclaim their Canaan?
112
James’ letter was written to Jewish believers, to the twelve tribes,
who were “scattered among the nations.” Did he tell them to
move back to Palestine and reclaim their Canaan?
Did he tell them that they were the rightful heirs of the land
promise?
113
James’ letter was written to Jewish believers, to the twelve tribes,
who were “scattered among the nations.” Did he tell them to
move back to Palestine and reclaim their Canaan?
Did he tell them that they were the rightful heirs of the land
promise?
Did the author of Hebrews instruct the Hebrew believers to send
money to help Jews throughout the Roman Empire relocate to
Judea?
114
James’ letter was written to Jewish believers, to the twelve tribes,
who were “scattered among the nations.” Did he tell them to
move back to Palestine and reclaim their Canaan?
Did he tell them that they were the rightful heirs of the land
promise?
Did the author of Hebrews instruct the Hebrew believers to send
money to help Jews throughout the Roman Empire relocate to
Judea?
Does the New Testament anywhere teach that the Roman Empire
would fall if it ever attacked the Jews of the Holy Land? (Because
the Jews are the apple of God’s eye).
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Hagar, Mount Sinai (allegory)
Slavery
Sodom, Gommorah (figuratively)
Christ is outside the camp
Here we have no lasting city
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SEED
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They answered him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works
Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I
heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your
father did.”
They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—
even God.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from
God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not
understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of
your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires . . . Whoever is of
God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are
not of God.”
— John 8:39-47 (ESV)
118
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision
outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is
a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not
from man but from God.
— Romans 2:28-29
I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the
slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a
synagogue of Satan.
— Revelation 2:9 (ESV, Jesus)
119
“There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug
a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another
country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his
fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned
another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to
them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the
tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and
have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed
him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard
to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
”. . . Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a
people producing its fruits . . .”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was
speaking about them.
— Matthew 21:33-46 (ESV, Jesus)
120
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you (Jesus, Mt 21)
you are of your father the devil (Jesus, John 8)
you are not of God (Jesus, John 8)
no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly (Romans 2)
those who say that they are Jews and are not (Jesus, Re 2)
synagogue of Satan (Jesus, Re 2 & 3)
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I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a
descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his
people whom he foreknew . . . at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace . . .
What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest
were hardened, as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
. . . Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a
partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in
this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
“and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they
are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are
irrevocable.
— Romans 11:1-29 (ESV)
122
Is the covenant with Abraham still in
effect today?
Revised
12/04/09
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