The Abrahamic Covenant

[Ezequiel]

Hey everybody! I have recently begun to study the Old Testament for the first time ever(This being the only canonical book I haven't studied yet). I'm loving every single second of it. I very committed to studying it and understanding - and making to the end!

I'm having a litle trouble in sorting out the Abrahamic Covenant in my mind. I mean... I think I understand the blessings of it, but I still don't know how to put it all together. This is what I understand so far... and I need some correcting/clarifying.

The Abrahamic Covenant are the blessings that were promised to Abraham and his righteous posterity(literal and adopted) upon accepting the Gospel through baptism, and entering into the Covenant of Celestial Marriage. These blessings are:

1)posterity would be numerous

2)the descendents would receive the Gospel and hold the Priesthood

3)all families of the earth would be blessed (refering to the Messiah coming from Abraham, as well as missionary work?)

so I have a few questions!

-When the scriptures refer to the Covenant, in the old testament, are they refering to the blessings and not the covenants themselves!?! (the Bible Dictionary kind of hinted at this, as I understand)

-the people that came before Abraham and lived the gospel, were also promised salvation and exaltation, so why would there be a need for a "Abrahamic Covenant" to be made?

-does the modern expression "born in the covenant" refer to us being born as partakers of this covenant, even before we have been baptised and married in the temple?

-Hows is the Abrahamic Covenant relevant to us today!?

I've always been a litle confused about the Abrahamic Covenant, except for now that I'm studying the Old Testament I feel a real need to understand it in order to understand everything else that will come afterwards in the other books. I feel like once it comes to "wording" the Abrahamic Covenant, that I can do it pretty well, but when it comes to vizualising, understanding and applying it, I have no clue!!!

Thank you in advance for taking the time to explain this to me! I think this is probably something very simple that I'm over complicating - but I'm pretty dumb....

Edited June 23, 2009 by Ezequiel

[ViolinGirl]

What is the Abrahamic Covenant?

Hope this link is helpful to you!

[Just_A_Guy]

A few thoughts, though I'm certainly no expert in the field:

-When the scriptures refer to the Covenant, in the old testament, are they refering to the blessings and not the covenants themselves!?! (the Bible Dictionary kind of hinted at this, as I understand)

The blessings are the Covenant. They're God's half of it, anyways. I'm not sure I buy the assertion in ViolinGirl's link that the covenant is entirely unilateral with nothing required on our part (though parts of it certainly are--see below).

-the people that came before Abraham and lived the gospel, were also promised salvation and exaltation, so why would there be a need for a "Abrahamic Covenant" to be made?

Good question. I look forward to learning the answer.

-does the modern expression "born in the covenant" refer to us being born as partakers of this covenant, even before we have been baptised and married in the temple?

At least in part, yes. See the following from Orson F. Whitney:

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught a more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God. [Conference Report, April 1929, 110]

-Hows is the Abrahamic Covenant relevant to us today!?

Because everything that Abraham received, we may also receive. This is spelled out a little more clearly in the temple, but consider Abraham 2:11:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee [JAG's interpretation: just like you, Abraham] (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.

[bytebear]

-does the modern expression "born in the covenant" refer to us being born as partakers of this covenant, even before we have been baptised and married in the temple?

This refers to the covenant of sealing parents to children. If we are born in the covenant, we have been born to parents already sealed, and our sealing to them is automatic. If we have children without a temple marriage, those children must be sealed in covenant in the temple. So, the temple marriage has effects on future posterity, without the need of a sealing covenant ceremony placed on the children.

[Traveler]

Hey everybody! I have recently begun to study the Old Testament for the first time ever(This being the only canonical book I haven't studied yet). I'm loving every single second of it. I very committed to studying it and understanding - and making to the end!

I'm having a litle trouble in sorting out the Abrahamic Covenant in my mind. I mean... I think I understand the blessings of it, but I still don't know how to put it all together. This is what I understand so far... and I need some correcting/clarifying.

The Abrahamic Covenant are the blessings that were promised to Abraham and his righteous posterity(literal and adopted) upon accepting the Gospel through baptism, and entering into the Covenant of Celestial Marriage. These blessings are:

1)posterity would be numerous

2)the descendents would receive the Gospel and hold the Priesthood

3)all families of the earth would be blessed (refering to the Messiah coming from Abraham, as well as missionary work?)

so I have a few questions!

-When the scriptures refer to the Covenant, in the old testament, are they refering to the blessings and not the covenants themselves!?! (the Bible Dictionary kind of hinted at this, as I understand)

-the people that came before Abraham and lived the gospel, were also promised salvation and exaltation, so why would there be a need for a "Abrahamic Covenant" to be made?

-does the modern expression "born in the covenant" refer to us being born as partakers of this covenant, even before we have been baptised and married in the temple?

-Hows is the Abrahamic Covenant relevant to us today!?

I've always been a litle confused about the Abrahamic Covenant, except for now that I'm studying the Old Testament I feel a real need to understand it in order to understand everything else that will come afterwards in the other books. I feel like once it comes to "wording" the Abrahamic Covenant, that I can do it pretty well, but when it comes to vizualising, understanding and applying it, I have no clue!!!

Thank you in advance for taking the time to explain this to me! I think this is probably something very simple that I'm over complicating - but I'm pretty dumb....

The Abraham covenant is important for many reasons. For one it is the standard by which all covenants can be compared or in the vernacular of scholars it is a type and shadow. There are in essence three promises that G-d makes to those that covenant with him and like I said the Abraham covenant is the means by which we can understand even the New Testament covenants.

By definition of a covenant it is bilateral; which means that G-d makes promises with value for man and man makes promises with value to G-d. A covenant is begun with an initiation. The formality of the initiation is an ordinance where the initiate meet with G-d or his approved and authorized stand in proxy representative and the promises are exchanged. The initiate promises to be loyal (similar to marriage) to G-d and do whatever G-d ask (keep his commandments). In return G-d (the Suzerain) promises three things:

1. A place or land to be given to the initiate. (This is a spiritual type and shadow of a place in heaven)

2. Protection and deliverance from being taken into bondage by one’s enemies. (This is a spiritual type and shadow of protection from Satan and deliverance from the bondage of sin or redemption and salvation)

3. Seed or enduring offspring. (This is a spiritual type and shadow of eternal life). I personally believe that it is of upmost importance to note that with G-d legitimate offspring comes only through marriage and only with offspring is there a promise of eternal life under covenants with G-d.

Following the initiation the initiate must be tested for their loyalty before actually receiving the blessings – or in the vernacular of Book of Mormon prophets “there must be a time of probation” where the initiate is tested to the upmost extremes so that their loyalty is beyond any question. In general it appears from scriptures like Job that the proctor of the testing is Satan. It is most important to note that one does not “earn” the blessings of G-d by their loyalty – only that their love, devotion and loyalty are proven in the covenant before blessings are granted. I would add a little caveat here that I have never talked to anyone that did not believe that G-d is merciful and extends his blessings only to those that are loyal and accepting of G-d. I would also note that regardless of what anyone believe concerning their acceptance and belief in G-d that they will still suffer death before being granted their promised blessings. In essence though they think they are saved that actual saving does not occur until sometime later and they will still suffer death as will all regardless of their acceptance of G-d or not.

As demonstrated by Christ the ordinance or rite of initiation for Christians or those that covenant loyalty to G-d through the mediator Jesus Christ is baptism. Some may argue if baptism is necessary but this only demonstrates two things – First they do not understand covenants with G-d and second; they are not loyal to G-d’s commandments or will.

Being born under the covenant guarantees the opportunity to covenant with G-d by the right of one’s forefathers – it does not guarantees the blessings of the covenant.

The Traveler

Edited June 26, 2009 by Traveler

[Ezequiel]

when I went to reply to this thread my connection was killed. So I'm finally able to write a response!

thank you all for the links and information! I have learned alot more from this topic and I have received some personal revelation concerning this topic that I didn't think I ever would! Thakn you so much for your wisdom!

I have a few other questions though!!

- Why was the covenant only meant for Isaac and then to Jacob, and from there on to the twelve tribes and so on!? How come Ishmael and the other children of Abraham didn't have that opportunity? I mean, alot of religious conflics could have been avoided in our time in the middle east if all the children of Abraham had access to these blessings. Or were they supposed to wait for Israel to preach to them as well?!

-What about the people that are righteou but don't marry in the temple or in this life of no fault of their own? Does the Covenant include eternal increase for them as well?

-Circumsicion was the 'token' or sign of this covenant, correct?

thank you guys so much for helping me out!

[Just_A_Guy]

I have a few other questions though!!

- Why was the covenant only meant for Isaac and then to Jacob, and from there on to the twelve tribes and so on!? How come Ishmael and the other children of Abraham didn't have that opportunity? I mean, alot of religious conflics could have been avoided in our time in the middle east if all the children of Abraham had access to these blessings. Or were they supposed to wait for Israel to preach to them as well?!

Today, they do have that opportunity--at least, theologically (even if politically their governments don't allow it).

Back then: We know, at least in Jacob and Esau's case, that Esau explicitly forfeited the blessing. So did Reuben, Jacob's firstborn (as I understand it, because he seduced one of Jacob's concubines). It may well be that there was some unrighteousness on Ishmael's part as well--certainly there was on his mother's (though Abraham's response seems unwarranted).

McConkie also had some interesting thoughts in this vein which he expressed in Mormon Doctrine under the heading of "Election of Grace". These views persisted even in later editions of the book published after the priesthood ban was removed. They're highly controversial, but you might want to take a look and see whether they work for you.

-What about the people that are righteou but don't marry in the temple or in this life of no fault of their own? Does the Covenant include eternal increase for them as well?

My understanding is, yes. I've always heard it taught that people who had no chance to marry in the here-and-now get the opportunity to select a mate prior to the resurrection.

-Circumsicion was the 'token' or sign of this covenant, correct?

It was then. It isn't now, and has not been since Christ's resurrection.