Abraham the “Friend of God” Genesis 12

The Abrahamic Covenant Who was Abraham What is a Covenant What was Promised Explanation of what was Promised Why do I need to know all this? Is this the only time this promise occurs? When will God fulfill His Promises? What do I need to do about this?

The friend of God - James 2:23 “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

Who was Abraham? –He lived in Ur of the Chaldees near Babel (Gen. 11: 27-32)

Midrashic Tale

Who was Abraham? –A very rich family (Gen. 12:5) –Abraham worshipped idols (Josh. 24:2) –In Ur God told him to leave, and go to a land that God would show him (Gen. 12:1 ) –Abraham Obeyed without knowing where God wanted him to go (Heb. 11:8)

What is a Covenant? More than a promise A solemn agreement A commitment A contract between two or more parties Concise Oxford English Dictionary

What was Covenanted? At Ur & Haran {Genesis 12:2-3} –Abraham is to become a great nation and a great name –God would bless him that blessed Abraham, and curse: him that cursed him –In Abraham shall all nations be blessed

What was Covenanted? At Sichem (Shechem) {Genesis 12:7} –Abraham to have children who would inherit land At Bethel {Genesis 13:14-17} –Abram & his seed to inherit Palestine forever. –His seed to be multitudinous

What was Covenanted? At Hebron {Genesis 15} –God makes a covenant by sacrifice –The boundaries of the land are defined At Mount Moriah {Genesis 22} –Abraham to possess the gates of his enemies –In his seed all nations to be blessed –Promise is confirmed by an oath

Explanation of the Covenant –The True Seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ “Now the promises were addressed to Abraham and to his progeny. The words were not to his progenies in the plural, but in the singular, ‘to your progeny’, which means Christ” (Galatians 3 verse 16 - Jerusalem Bible)

The covenant was with: Abraham Jesus Abraham’s natural descendants - The Jews Abraham’s True heirs - Baptized Believers (Gal 3:26-29)

Why is this Covenant / Promise important to me? –The blessing of Abraham is: Justification from sins for all baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:7-9) Eternal Inheritance (Galatians 3:29)

Why is this Covenant / Promise important to me? "The Hope of Israel". That phrase employed by the Apostle Paul was used to sum up the whole substance and issues of his life-ministry “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” (Acts 28:20).

Why is this Covenant / Promise important to me? The Promise is to Baptized Faithful Believers It Promises Eternal Life / Immortality Living on Earth Resurrection from the Dead !! –Matthew 22:32

Is this the only promise of the Bible? Similar Promises are made –In the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:15) –To Noah after the flood (Genesis 9) –To Isaac - Abraham’s Son (Genesis 26) –To Jacob - Abraham’s Grand Son (Genesis 28) –To King David (2 Samuel 7) –To the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33)

When will God fulfill His Promise? The terms have not yet been fulfilled (Hebrews 11:13,39; Acts 7:5) The Prophets declared that fulfillment will be at Christs’s Return –1300 years after Abraham (Micah 7:20) –2000 years after Abraham (Luke 1:72,73) –2050 years after Abraham (Romans 15:8; Galatians 3)

What do I need to do? –Believe –Be Baptized –Faithfully obey God’s Commandments –Become God’s friend

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” The friend of God - James 2:23