The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-01-12
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
ABRAHAM's SEED.-Gal. iii: 1923.
BY REV. H. H. HALVES.

1t is thought by some that the covenan
was made with Abraham, only in order tina
provision might be made for the birth of Je
sus-that is, the covenant was to hold tht
descendants of Abraham together, and thu:
preserve the line of Messiah's ancestry
OF course all who hold this idea are opposed
to the baptism of infants. If the covenant
had no significance beyond the preservation
of the line of descent for the Messiah, il
must have gone out of force as soon as He
was born. Now the simple way of deciding
this matter is to appeal to the word of God.
l have often heard it said that the covenant
was intended only to secure the birth Of
Christ in the family Of Abraham; and that
when Christ was born, the covenant had full
filled its original purpose. If this is accord
ing to the word of God, it is true. If it
differs from the Divide teaching it is not
true. Nothing can be palmer or more SIM
pie and reasonable than this conclusion
There are many passages which touch this
subject, but l select Gal iii: 7-29 as suff-
cient, and l believe that inspired Paul knew
the real truth when he wrote this chapter
Here he expressly sets forth the idea that
Christ was the seed of Abraham. "And to
thy seed which is Christ" verse 16. If this
were all that he taught, we might suppose
that the covenant ended in the birth of
Christ. But it is not all. Through Jesus
Chris" (verse A. the blessing of Abraham
was to "come on the Gentiles." The gos.
pei preached to him was, Verse 8 Sin thee
shall all nations be blessed" All are blessed
in the birth of Jesus. But there is further
blessing than this,-a direct connection be-
tween Abraham and all who are Christ's ;
for (verSe 7, "Know ye therefore that they
which are of faith, the same are the children
of Abraham" The covenant extends to
them also, and "through Jesus Christ -
They are "jointheirs with Christ" not only
as children of God, but as children of
Abraham" also. Thought it be but
mans covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no
man disannulleth or addeth thereto" says
verse Is. Then, Rom. viii Is. "Now this
| say that Jesus Christ was minister of the
circumcision for the truth of God, to con-
firm the promises made unto the fathers"
e" To confirm the promises. Therefore Gal.
iii: II, "And this 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" {" The
fathers" had one promise about Christ's
coming. He confirmed it. They had an
other, 81 will be.a Ok uuts shoe, and to
thy seed after thee" Ard Christ confirmed
that too. So if the promises be confirmed,
"no man disannulleth Or addeth thereto"
The covenant was not il the least affected
nor disturbed by the giving and reign of the
law, verse II. God gave the law, and here
He expressly says that it did not in any way
affect the covenant made with Abraham
Therefore if (verse &C.. "Ye are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus"
So verse 30, "if ye be Christ's then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise" But what promise? Some say.
" the promise of eternal life through Christ"
And can that be all Is it at all necessary
that we be connected with Abraham, in order
to have eternal life? Christ, not Abraham
gives US eternal life. We are not dependent
upon Abraham for it. Therefore if this
promise concerns only eternal life by faith
in Christ, away with Abraham We don't
want him, and have no use for him in such a
case But you must not "away with Abra-
ham, says the inspired Apostle. Gods
covenant with him was Gods covenant with
you too. "Now to Abraham and his seed,
were the promises made" "The promises :"
more than one. And Christ confirmed
the promise" more than one here also.-
THE seed eristed IN only one line $50 he
saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as
of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. "
Yet Christ is not the only seed, says verse
90. He belonged to that one line of descent
which God recognized. And all who believe
belong to that same line now, again says
verse 80, and are "hers according to the
promise" We do not read "prOmises" in
this verse, or in verse 16. For after Christ
came, we were in possession of the complete
fufllment of the one promise which was tc
end in His coming There as still anOthe,
promise to which we have become heirs-tht
promise which belongs to the believing pa
rent and his children. 1t was given to be
lieving Abraham aud his children as per
petual covenant. The law did not set i
aside. Christ did not disannul it, but con
frmed it, verse IA, that a spiritual seeC
might be preserved on earth for God-"tha
we might receive the promise of the Spiri
through faith" What do we want with "th
promise of the Spirit?" Not to work faitl
in as, for we already have faith. He ha
done that work in our hearts, and will pre-
serve it from destruction. Butwe want ''th
, promise of the spirit" for our children, 70
. wAom, as Abraham did, we haze accepte
D Gods covenant. 81 will be God unit
thee" That is already fulfilled if we ar
Christ's. God is our God as soon as we az
. cept Christ. But that is not the whol
L. nnvt aaua0 And To thu gee