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Fulfilment of Promises to Abraham

#6c "Blessing to the Nations" Promise
Part of the series on the Flow of OT History

"Blessing to the Nations" Promise

In Gen. 12:3, the LORD promised Abram in him or through him (i.e., Abram) all the families of the earth will be blessed.

Throughout the Old Testament, there were provisions to include foreigners and consider them as natives, as one of the Israelites.

  •  Included in the rite of circumcision and participation in the covenant (Gen. 17:12-13)
  • Celebration of the Passover (Exo. 12:48-49) 
  • Many foreigners left Egypt with the Israelites (Exo. 12:37-38) 
  • Participation in the sacrifices (Lev. 17:8-9) 
  • Included in the law (Lev. 17:10-16) 
  • Praying and worshipping in the temple (2 Chron.6:32-33 cf., Isa. 56:6-8) 
  • Salvation of the people of Nineveh, a Gentile city (Book of Jonah) 
  • Rahab from city of Jericho and Ruth, a Moabite included in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:5)
Going back to the seed promise, the seed of Abraham is restricted to the “children of the promise” … the chosen lineage coming from Isaac (not Ishmael) and Jacob (not Esau) and through Jacob to the twelve tribes of Israel (Rom. 9:6-13). It is also clear that not all the children of the promise but only a remnant will be saved ... a remnant who by faith obeys the law (Rom. 9:27-29).

In the New Testament, it is revealed that the promise was made to Abraham and his seed (singular, not plural) and that this ultimate seed is Jesus Christ. 
A Gentile in the present age who believes in Christ belongs to Him and is “in Christ” therefore considered as a seed of Abraham.   This blessing (promise of the Spirit) to the Gentiles comes under the promise to Abram to bless all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3; Gal. 3:6-9) ... the third (not the second) promise to Abram.

© April 2018 by Alan S.L. WONG