The Messiah and the Covenants of Israel

Concluding Summary

The Abrahamic Covenant.

 

We began by suggesting that the purpose of God, formed before the foundation of the world, was that He was set on creating a living organism with which He could have fellowship. He was aiming to bring into being, a complex and unique group of living creatures, who together would be able to receive and give love. And because this unit, which we can now identify as the Church, would be made up of many and varied individuals, it would be of such caliber and stature that it would be a worthy object of the love and attention of the Godhead.

The Abrahamic Covenant was the beginning of that process. Abraham was to be father of the faithful –‘the faithful’ being drawn from all nations. Abraham, elected by God to be the door through which abundant blessings would flow, began the process. He believed God and was imputed righteous. From his loins came the nation that would bring the knowledge of God, understand fellowship with God and recognize the righteousness of God.

The Mosaic Covenant.

This covenant was designed to continue the underlying purpose of God. The nation was to be trained in righteousness and fellowship. God dwelt among them – they knew His presence – they heard His word – they had His protection. The covenant not only laid on them obedience to the righteous requirements of the Lord, but they were also commanded to love Him. They were being trained to take their place in new entity that was the ultimate goal of God.

The Land Covenant

The land covenant which imposed conditions on the occupation of the Promised Land was designed to encourage the faithfulness of Israel. Be faithful and be safe in your homeland; but if you apostatize you will be evicted.

The Davidic Covenant

This covenant, while initially being part of the plan of God to bring to Israel the Messiah, the promised seed of Abraham, was also a great encouragement to them through dark times. While this covenant was in place (and it was always in place) they always had hope. They could anticipate a Deliverer, a Son of David to come and rescue them.

The New Covenant

This was promised to the nation during one of its darkest periods. When things were at their worst God made a covenant promise that there would be a day when the nation would come into the fullness of the blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant. This was where the Abrahamic Covenant was pointing – to the blessing of God upon the nation, which would also be the catalyst for blessing for the whole of humankind.

The Messiah

Jesus of Nazareth, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, was the ‘seed’ of Abraham, and the instrument by which the Abrahamic Covenant could be fulfilled. He was a law abiding Hebrew who obeyed and fulfilled the Mosaic Covenant in every aspect. He knew His covenants and prophesied that His rejection would activate the Land Covenant, and Israel would lose their temple, city and homeland. But He also knew that a future quickening of both the Davidic and New Covenants would bring blessing to the nation and they would again occupy the land and enjoy fellowship with the God that had chosen them. In the meantime, His death, the great act that allowed an immediate activation of the New Covenant, was to be of such a magnitude that the salvation of God would reach the ends of the earth. So any individual who recognizes who He is and what He has done has access to the blessings that are available under the Abrahamic and New Covenants.

The Church

Those believers who now make up the members of the body of the Messiah, the Church, rejoice that God elected a man, ‘cut’ a covenant with him, trained the nation that came from him by means of a conditional covenant, and offered them unconditional covenants by which the means of salvation could proliferate to all people. The members of the Church recognize that the benefits of salvation come to them through the death of the Jewish Messiah, and they have eternal life because they can share in the blessings of the Abrahamic and New Covenants. Consequently they acknowledge the debt they owe to the Hebrew nation, and are happy to confess that Israel remains God’s chosen people, and they still feature in His future plans.

The Nation of Israel

The Scriptures teach that they will yet come into the fullness of the Abrahamic Covenant; they will possess the Land; they will know success in a kingdom ruled under in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant; for the nation will be saved on the basis of the New Covenant.

 

This brings us to the end of this particular study. I am considering closing this blog. If any that read would wish me to continue, please email me to say so. I can be reached at bryan@bryansbiblestudy.co.uk