To understand the importance of Abraham to our chart and doctrine we need to look at 2 key words: “unto himself”

Old Testament

• Deuteronomy 29:13 That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

New Testament

• Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

We find that through the mist of all that was wrong in the world through sin God desired to have a people “unto Himself” Abraham was the man that God would use to establish a covenant with to bring his plan to fruition.

God’s plan – the land and the seed

Genesis 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7 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.

8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

God promise was important – God’s promise was unconditional – God’s doesn’t break His promises.

Galatians 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Galatians Chapter 3 gives us great insight into God’s plan through the ages. God made a covenant Abraham, not as the forerunner of the law… but the forerunner of faith. God desired to call a people unto Himself, so he sought a man that would walk by faith and not by sight. This was to become a faithful people through the seed of Abraham. In addition to the promised land God would use Abraham’s seed to establish the line of Christ would come through.

IF GOD’S PROMISE was made through the course of the Law then the promise would have become void when the law was no longer in effect. In essence the promise would have been conditional based on the obedience of the people. If the people broke their end of the agreement, God would have been justified to remove the promise.

BUT because the promise was made by faith prior to, and with no consideration of, the law… it was unconditional and God keeps his promise.

Romans 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

REMEMBER ABRAHAM IS NOT THE SYMBOL OF THE LAW BUT RATHER THE FAITH THAT GOD PREFERRED AND SEEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER!

The Sign

Old Testament

Genesis 17:11  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

New Testament

Colossians 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Abraham, as it relates to our chart, teaches that God made a promise to a specific man for a specific purpose for a specific time to fulfil His plan to bring about mankind back into fellowship. He was promised a land and a seed. This promise is still in effect and has NOT YET BEEN FULFILLED!