God’s Covenant People: who are they and what do they have?
Our reading for Sunday January 6, 2013 Genesis 17:1-19:29 click here to open
My selection: Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
My reflections: God graciously chose Abraham and made a covenant with him which extends to his offspring.
But who are his offspring? Can I be included?
The Apostle Paul in Romans 2 and Galatians 3 shows that these offspring are not the biological descendents of Abraham but rather his spiritual children by faith. Some, of course, may be both biological and spiritual children of Abraham but the decisive element for inclusion in the covenant people is faith not genetics. Yes, I can, by faith, be included.
What does it mean to be included in the covenant? What do covenant people have?
It means to have God as our God, to belong to Him, to be His children. Born in sin and, to put it bluntly, by nature children of the devil (John 8:44), we need deliverance from the power that the serpent gained over mankind at the Fall (Genesis 3). In Genesis 3:15 God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. That seed was Jesus Christ who definitively defeated Satan by dying on the cross. He rose again leading His people to eternal life. Now all who by faith are in Jesus Christ are included in the covenant with Abraham
My challenge: God’s covenant with Abraham had in view blessing for all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3). This is the good news of the gospel, that God has made a covenant to save all who believe in the One who crushed the serpent’s head. These are His covenant people. Are you among them? If not, believe in Him. If so, rejoice in His salvation and proclaim the good news of the gospel.
Tomorrow’s reading: Genesis 19:30-22:24 Click here to open