I write this as a study of what the Abrahamic covenant is. Some think that the law was not a part of this covenant. I intend to show they are wrong.
Gal 3:16-19
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. (NKJ)
In the above notice who the promise was made to. It was made only to Abraham and Jesus.
Promises = a covenant.
In verse Gal 3:16 we see Jesus as the SEED (one). The promise of righteousness by faith was made to Abraham AND HIS SEED (Jesus), NOT SEEDS (THE JEWS). It was not made to SEEDS (plural). And there were more promises made to Abraham SEEDS (plural). We see in Gen 22:17. There were additional promises made about Abraham's seeds (descendants; plural = the Jews) and they will rule over the nations of the earth. ---- Let me say it again, the promise of righteousness by belief (faith) was ONLY MADE TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED, Jesus. So why is it said that it was made to all the people at that time?
Gen 22:17
17 "blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. (NKJ)
Please note; If you will look at Gal 3:19 above we see that something was ADDED to the covenant. It became a part of the Abrahamic covenant. It did not annul the promise of Jesus but it was added to the covenant.
Paul said: Rom 15:8
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises (plural) made unto the fathers: (KJV)
The promises (plural) made to the fathers are a covenant. Jesus came to confirm/fulfill all
that was written of Him in the O.T. His mission was to fulfill ALL of the promises including the laws. His mission was to the Jews, not to the Gentiles.
Jesus offered to fulfill the covenant by setting up His kingdom on earth (the kingdom of heaven). However, as we all know, the Jews rejected Him.
A person might ask, how did He fulfill the Law; He fulfilled it by shedding His blood on a cross as payment for all the sins of the world. People are no longer judged for their sins of the flesh, they are all paid for. The only sin that condemns a person in this world today is the sin of un-belief; to not believe that His shed blood on the cross has paid for their sins of the flesh. If a person doesn’t believe it then they don’t believe the promises of God’s grace poured out on the cross. Under the Law of Moses a person could be stoned to death for breaking the Law. Of how much greater will be the condemnation of those that refuse to accept the shed blood of Jesus as their salvation.
Gal 3:16-19
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. (NKJ)
In the above notice who the promise was made to. It was made only to Abraham and Jesus.
Promises = a covenant.
In verse Gal 3:16 we see Jesus as the SEED (one). The promise of righteousness by faith was made to Abraham AND HIS SEED (Jesus), NOT SEEDS (THE JEWS). It was not made to SEEDS (plural). And there were more promises made to Abraham SEEDS (plural). We see in Gen 22:17. There were additional promises made about Abraham's seeds (descendants; plural = the Jews) and they will rule over the nations of the earth. ---- Let me say it again, the promise of righteousness by belief (faith) was ONLY MADE TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED, Jesus. So why is it said that it was made to all the people at that time?
Gen 22:17
17 "blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. (NKJ)
Please note; If you will look at Gal 3:19 above we see that something was ADDED to the covenant. It became a part of the Abrahamic covenant. It did not annul the promise of Jesus but it was added to the covenant.
Paul said: Rom 15:8
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises (plural) made unto the fathers: (KJV)
The promises (plural) made to the fathers are a covenant. Jesus came to confirm/fulfill all
that was written of Him in the O.T. His mission was to fulfill ALL of the promises including the laws. His mission was to the Jews, not to the Gentiles.
Jesus offered to fulfill the covenant by setting up His kingdom on earth (the kingdom of heaven). However, as we all know, the Jews rejected Him.
A person might ask, how did He fulfill the Law; He fulfilled it by shedding His blood on a cross as payment for all the sins of the world. People are no longer judged for their sins of the flesh, they are all paid for. The only sin that condemns a person in this world today is the sin of un-belief; to not believe that His shed blood on the cross has paid for their sins of the flesh. If a person doesn’t believe it then they don’t believe the promises of God’s grace poured out on the cross. Under the Law of Moses a person could be stoned to death for breaking the Law. Of how much greater will be the condemnation of those that refuse to accept the shed blood of Jesus as their salvation.