Sunday, 9 August 2020

Genesis 17:7—“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee …”


And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee (Gen. 17:7).



(I)

Rev. James D. Slopsema

[Source: The Standard Bearer, vol. 62, no. 13 (April 1, 1986), p. 303]

In Genesis 17:7, God says to Abraham, “I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.”
      
As we discuss this particular passage, we must bear in mind that the covenant God promises to establish with Abraham and his seed embraces all peoples. It is not true, as the Baptist of our day claims, that this covenant with Abraham is limited to the natural descendants of Abraham, the Jews. It is certainly true that this was by and large the case in the old dispensation, when God’s covenant was limited to the nation of Israel. However, in the new dispensation this covenant has been broadened to embrace all nations. Belonging to this covenant are all those who believe in Jesus Christ, whether they be Jew or Gentile.
      
The Baptism Form suggests this when it calls Abraham “the father of all the faithful.” This expression is no doubt based on Romans 4:11 where we read that Abraham “received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised.” In verse 16 of this same chapter, we read that Abraham is the “father of us all.” This certainly indicates, does it not, that all those who believe, whether Jew or Gentile, have Abraham as their father. And if Abraham is their father, then they in turn are the seed of Abraham, with whom God has established His eternal covenant of grace. This same truth is beautifully set forth in Galatians 3:7-9: “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” In addition to this, we read in verse 29 of this same chapter, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” Certainly, therefore, the Baptism Form properly identifies Abraham as the father of all the faithful. And by that expression, it expresses the truth that all those who believe in Jesus Christ are the true seed of Abraham with whom God has established His eternal covenant of grace.
      
Secondly, we learn from the promise of God to Abraham in Genesis 17:7 that also the children of believers are included in God’s covenant. For God promises to establish His covenant with Abraham and his seed in their generations. This means that not only was Abraham included in this covenant but also his seed, his children. And, according to the promise of God, this would continue from generation to generation. God’s covenant of grace would continue throughout the generations of Abraham. From this we certainly may conclude that God’s covenant is with believers and their seed. For when one comes to faith in Jesus Christ, he manifests himself to be a true seed of Abraham. And as a true seed of Abraham, he has this promise of God that God will continue His covenant in his generations. The covenant of grace is not only with him as a believer but also with his children.
      
Now this does not mean that all children of believers are true members of the covenant and therefore recipients of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. The Word of God makes this very clear in Romans 9:6-8, “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” On the basis of this and other like passages we are able to distinguish a twofold seed born into the sphere of the covenant. Born to believing parents is first an elect, spiritual seed. These are truly members of the covenant of grace and, even as children, are the objects and recipients of God’s saving grace. However, also born to believing parents is a carnal, reprobate seed. These are members of the covenant only in an outward and formal sense. They are not, as children, nor will they ever be, recipients of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Truly, they are not all Israel that are of Israel.
      
It is in this sense that we understand the Baptism Form when it says that our children, even without their knowledge, are received unto grace in Christ. This is not true of all our children. It certainly is not true of the carnal seed which we as believing parents bring forth. However, God does give to us a spiritual seed with whom He also establishes His eternal covenant of grace. Even as children they are recipients of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ, long before they have any knowledge of these things.


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(II)

More to come! (DV)





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