The Gospel Promises to Abraham
About Abraham
Abraham lived approximately 4000 years ago.
Abram came from the city of Ur in the land of the Chaldees, in modern-day Iraq. Ur was an idolatrous city but the family of Abram worshipped God, Joshua 24:2-3.
Abram journeyed from Ur to Haran with his father Terah. After his father died God called Abram to go into a land God would show him. Abram journeyed to the land of Canaan (modern-day Israel) with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. He lived in it as a nomad for the rest of his life, Genesis 11:31-12:1, Acts 7:3-5.
The story of Abraham’s life is covered in articles under the Old Testament menu.
Abraham was known as a “Hebrew”, Genesis 14:13, which means “one who has crossed over” because he had crossed over the Euphrates River to settle in the land of Canaan.
Abraham was originally called Abram, Genesis 11:26. His name was changed to Abraham by God when he gave one of his promises to him, Genesis 17:5, Acts 7:2.
Abraham was known as a man of faith and was called the friend of God, James 2:23.
Abraham is the forefather of the nation of Israel and of the Arab nations, Genesis 17:20-21, 25:12-16, 25:25-18, Isaiah 60:6-7.
The importance of Abraham is underlined by the fact that 14 chapters in Genesis are devoted to his story. He is also mentioned over 70 times in the New Testament.
The Promises God Made to Abraham
God gave Abraham a series of promises throughout his life. The elements of God’s promises to Abraham are summarised below.
Genesis 12:1-3
Genesis 12:6-7
Genesis 13:14-17
Genesis 15:1-21
Genesis 17:1-8
Genesis 22:15-18
Make of Abraham a great nation and make his name great.
Genesis 12:2
God will bless those who bless Abraham and his offspring, and curse those who curse him and his offspring.
Genesis 12:3
The land of Canaan from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates for him personally as well as for his offspring for an everlasting possession.
Genesis 12:7, 13:14-15, 17, 15:7, 17:8, 18-20
A vastly numerous offspring.
Genesis 13:16, 15:5, 17:2, 22:17
One specific singular offspring who will be both the king and saviour of the Gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. This singular son of promise to come is Jesus Christ, who will rule over his enemies, and all nations shall be blessed in him. Abraham is therefore a father of many nations.
Genesis 22:17-18 - NB the singular tense of the promised offspring “the gate of his enemies”. The gate of the city is the centre of control and is where kings sit to rule and judge. To possess the gate of your enemies is to rule over them. The passage then continues in the singular tense to say that in this specifically promised offspring, all nations of the earth shall be blessed.
Acts 3:25-26, Galatians 3:16 - all families and nations would be blessed is Christ, who is the promised offspring in the singular tense.
Genesis 12:2-3, 17:5-6, Romans 4:16-17, Galatians 3:16,
The heirs of the promises to Abraham are those who are of faith like Abraham, not those of natural descent only.
Genesis 12:3, 17:5, 22:18, Galatians 3:8-9, 27-29, Romans 4:16-17, 9:6-9
God is the guarantor of the promises he made to Abraham. They were confirmed in Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 6:13-17, Romans 15:8
The Promises to Abraham are the Gospel Fulfilled in Jesus Christ
The promises to Abraham are the Gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:8, Acts 13:32-33
Paul calls the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ the “hope of Israel” for which he is bound by a chain. On another occasion, he said he was on trial for the “hope of the promise made by God to our fathers”.
Acts 28:20-23, 26:6
The promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the promised offspring in the singular tense promised to him.
John 8:56 - Abraham looked forward to the coming of Christ.
Matthew 1:1 - Jesus is introduced as the son promised to David and Abraham.
Galatians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 1:20
The Gospel Promise of the Kingdom of God
The promises to Abraham involve an inheritance in the kingdom of God.
Genesis 17:6, 15-16, Matthew 8:11, Luke 13:28, Romans 4:13
Jesus Christ, as the promised offspring in the singular tense, will possess the gate of his enemies which means to rule over them as king.
Genesis 22:17
The Gospel Promise of Salvation Through Jesus Christ
Abraham was justified, or made righteous, by God because of his faith.
Genesis 15:1-6, Romans 4:1-9, 13-25, James 2:21-23
God would justify, or make righteous by forgiveness of sins, believers from all nations on the basis of grace by faith.
Genesis 22:17-18, Acts 3:25-26, Galatians 3:16 - the singular promised offspring of Abraham is Jesus Christ in whom all nations of the earth would be blessed with salvation from sin and death.
Genesis 12:3, Psalm 72:17, Romans 4:16-25, 15:8-11, Galatians 3:8, 27-29, Micah 7:18-20
The miraculous birth of Isaac when Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children foreshadows the miraculous birth of Jesus as the Son of God born of a virgin. The significance of this is that the power of salvation is with god alone and than mankind is completely helpless to save themselves.
Genesis 17:1-22, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:20-21, Luke 1:26-35, Romans 8:3
The offering of Isaac foreshadowed the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. God provided a ram for an offering instead of Isaac. Abraham had faith in the salvation of God and the resurrection from the dead. God raised Jesus from the dead through the “blood of the everlasting covenant” which was his own blood fulfilling the covenant to Abraham. In his sacrifice
Genesis 22:9-14, Hebrews 11:17-19, 13:20, Luke 20:35-38, Psalm 80:17
Abram met Melchizedek the king of Salem and priest of the Most High who blessed Abram, Genesis 14:17-20. Melchizedek foreshadowed the saving work of Christ, (the promised offspring of Abraham), as our King and High Priest, Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5:5-6, 6:19-20, 7:1-4, 11-26. Melchizedek was king of Salem (Jerusalem). The meaning of his name and the city he ruled over are titles of the Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews 7:2-3. King of Salem means King of Peace. Melchizedek means King of Righteousness.
The Faith of Abraham
Abraham is mentioned a number of times in Hebrews 11 which is a chapter about examples of faith. It defines Biblical faith as a belief and conviction in things not seen but hoped for, which is evident in the life of Abraham.
Hebrews 11:8 - his call to a land God would show him.
Hebrews 11:9-10, 13-16 - he lived in the land promised to him as a stranger and foreigner without ever receiving it.
Hebrews 11:11-12 - he and Sarah believed God would provide them with an heir when they were past having children.
Hebrews 11:17-19 - he was prepared to obey God in offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice, who was the heir the promises relied on, believing in the resurrection of the dead.
The Promises Were Repeated to Issac and Jacob
God repeated the promises he made to Abraham to his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. The promises are sometimes referred to as the promises which were made to the fathers, ie the patriarchs of Israel.
Genesis 24:7, 26:2-5, 28:10-15, Hebrews 11:9, 20-21, Acts 13:32, 26:6
Jesus said that “salvation is from the Jews” who are descended from Isaac the son of Abraham through whom the promises were repeated.
John 4:22
Have the Promises to Abraham Been Fulfilled?
The promises to Abraham had a partial fulfilment when the nation of Israel occupied the promised land.
Exodus 33:1, Nehemiah 9:23
The promises are yet to be fulfilled when Jesus Christ will return to the earth to raise the true offspring of Abraham from the dead and give them immortality, and establish the kingdom of God. Also, Abraham has never received what God promised to him personally. He had to buy a cave in which to bury his wife Sarah. He will receive what God promised him at the return of Jesus Christ when Abraham will be raised from the dead.
Genesis 13:15, 15:7-8, 17:8, 23:7-20, Acts 7:4-5, Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40, Romans 4:13, Luke 20:35-38, Matthew 8:11, Luke 13:28