Have you ever considered the importance the Old Testament promises of God and His covenant with Abraham have upon your Christian life? You may say, well, it is important because Christ came to this world as an heir of Abraham. But if you stop there you are not fully understanding the importance of all the promises found in the Old Testament. Note verse 4 below. "thou shalt be a father of many nations". Are we, gentiles who believe in Christ as our Savior also heirs of the covenant promise God made to Abraham?
Genesis 17:
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.(blameless)
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.
Let’s look at Romans 4 to help us understand this. Faith was the key. Abraham’s faith counted to him for righteousness; because, it was the looking forward to Christ’s payment for His sin.
Romans 4: What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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.
Circumcision became the outward sign of what God had already done in the life of Abraham through faith; that is, the righteousness of Christ was imputed to Abraham because of faith and faith alone. Therefore, God’s covenant promises to Abraham became a covenant to all His heirs by faith. Look at verse 11, "that he might be the father of all them that believe…that righteousness might be imputed unto them also." The law could not justify mankind. The law brings only condemnation; because, no one can fulfill the full letter of the law. Perfect Righteousness is only found in God Himself. So what do we do? Do we not hopelessly fall short of that righteousness? Certainly, I cannot stand before Perfect Righteousness without being justly judged as condemned. Still, God sent forth Christ to take upon Himself the full wrath of God’s judgement against us; therefore, my only hope of righteousness can be found by faith in Christ. Then, He removes my sin and cloaks me with His Righteousness. This is by faith and faith alone. This is true of Abraham and this is true for each of us. Therefore the promises found in the Old Testament are promises to all of Abraham’s heirs through faith. It becomes our birthright. The birthright to all who believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Deuteronomy 30: 5 And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Our circumcision is a circumcision of the heart in which the flesh with all it’s selfish, self-centered desires are cut away by God so that you and I are able to "love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live". That we may have eternal life in His presence, basking in His Glory and partakers of His fullness of love and Joy. So, my question is do you know Christ as Your Savior, through faith? If so, do you know what are the promises of God to you and do you see the importance of the Old Testament Promises as well? Are you just a little more eager to read the Old Testament?