This paper is written in an attempt to explain two things; Christianity existed before Christ was born and therefore the new covenant existed before Christ was born.. the covenant needed confirmed, it already existed but needed confirmation. Romans 15:8
This new covenant was confirmed, that Abraham already was given and Abraham understood, by the sacrifice of Christ. Christ fulfilled ALL righteousness, both of Abraham and us by his sacrifice. Matthew 3:15 Jesus died for Abraham and us. The law of Moses did not annul the covenant of Abraham when the law was given nor at any time after. Galatians 3:17 The scriptures reveal that in the time of Abraham, Abraham foresaw that GOD would justify the Gentiles by faith in Christ thus showing us that the sacrifice of Christ would cover all of time. This was the gospel that was preached to Abraham . Galatians 3:8 It is scripturally impossible to limit the sacrifice of Christ to time.
To see the truth about any spiritual thing one must use the spirit and perceive things spiritually . We must consider the evidence by comparing Abraham to us.
Abraham believed in YAHWEH. So do Christians.
Abraham was a man of faith. So are Christians and of the same faith Abraham had.
Abraham was given promises. Christians are given the same promises.
Christians are called saints. So according to Matthew 27:52,53 there were saints before Jesus. Psalm 34:9 Psalm 145:10 Psalm 50:5 Psalm 52:9
Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith. So are Christians.
Abraham obeyed YAHWEH. So do Christians.
If Christians are called the children of Abraham and Abraham called our father then how are we not spiritually related ? John 1:13 Romans 9:6,7,8
Abraham believed in a future messiah. Christians believe in the same messiah and have the record of his work recorded just as Abraham saw them beforehand afar off. Seeing the same messiah but at different times. John 8:56,58 John 17:24
Abraham demonstrated his faith by his works just as James explained in his letter. James 2:17 The works James is speaking of are GODS works in and through the Christian by HIS agape that fulfills the intent of the law without the carnal works of the law.
Abraham was not under the law and neither are Christians. We and Abraham, before our conversion, were both Gentiles.
Abraham will be in the first resurrection and so will Christians. All our names , theirs and ours, are in the book of life.
Abraham was justified. Christians are justified. James 2:21,23,23
Abraham inherits the world and so will Christians. Romans 4:13 Matthew 5:5
Abraham understood about and sought the city whose builder and maker is GOD, the new Jerusalem, and so do Christians. Hebrews 11:8,9,10
Abraham was a stranger and pilgrim on earth, Hebrews 11:13 Christians are not of this earth, are ambassadors and citizens of heaven. Philippians 3:20 John 17:16 2 Corinthians 5:20
With all these indicators present it is a shame that Abraham wasn’t a Christian ?
What ever happened to the duck test. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it’s a duck. If a man walks like a Christian, talks like a Christian, lives like a Christian and has the same hope , faith and promise of a Christian then he is a Christian.
The things I have listed here that show the bond of Abraham to Christians is undeniable and is scriptural fact. Two groups of people living at different times yet believing the exact same things cannot have the same label, Christian ?? Abraham was a YAHWEH worshipper and so are Christians. Yahweh worshippers and Christians are synonymous; different labels but exactly the same beliefs. If I call the messiah Jesus instead of Yeshua does that mean I am not a Christian ? If I call the most high YAHWEH instead of GOD am I a Christian ? I am just like Abraham, a YAHWEH worshipper and I am also a Christian. Abraham was just like me, a Christian who was also a YAHWEH worshipper. Should we be offended by the word Christian applied to Abraham ?
Then if you can see that Abraham was indeed a Christian then it follows the Abraham was under the new covenant because the very principles of our faith and beliefs are the same as those of Abraham.
The Abrahamic covenant is the new covenant. The message of the gospel, the new covenant, was preached to Abraham. Galatians 3:8 Do Christians have a different gospel than Abraham had ? If Abraham understood the gospel then he understood the new covenant. The law, Paul tells us, was added because of transgressions, to define good and evil for the carnal mind because the law is not for a righteous man but for the unGODLY . To be under the law you have to be carnal and unGODLY. David was not carnal or unGODLY. David had the Holy Spirit , Psalm 51:11 , so did all the ancient saints. The Apostles and Jesus preached the gospel using the scriptures of the old covenant because the new covenant scriptures did not yet exist. The light of GOD and Christ shines on the shadows of this old covenant to bring out the truth, the substance, of what was only ritual and symbolism. Abraham and all the ancient saints before Jesus understood the truth of GOD just like Christians do. David said, “sacrifice and offerings thou do not want else would I giveth thee” . David understood repentance was, “a broken spirit, a broken contrite heart, a circumcised heart”. David understood the things that we who call ourselves Christians should understand. Gentiles are branches grafted into the church, the olive tree, the Israel of GOD, to replace the unbelieving Israelites, but the root of of the olive tree or church are the ancient saints and this root supports us not we it. Should we deny the roots that support us the name we happen to bear today ?? To say the ancient saints are not Christians is to boast against the root. Romans 12:18 king David said, Psalm 52:1-9 amazing things that has the potential with the spirit to teach the truths I have been giving here. So does Psalm 149:1-9 David consider himself a saint , part of the GODLY people, rules along with Christians as a king and priest in the kingdom of GOD. David was not carnal or unGODLY and even though he administered the law to carnal Israel was not under the law himself anymore than Christians are. David, like Abraham and all Christians, was a YAHWEH worshipper, a believer in messiah. Romans 7:22 What Paul said here is what David also said in the psalms. I can say the same thing because I was before my conversion under the curse of the law thinking that doing its works pleased GOD and secured my salvation. When I was converted I realized the only way to fulfill the law was by agape working in me and not me working in the law. Agape only comes by the Holy Spirit, human do not have it naturally. Romans 5:5
Without the holy spirit no one can understand spiritual things, 1 Corinthians 2:13,14 Abraham, Moses, King David and many more ancient saints understood spiritual things.
Even today in 1 John 4:1 we Christians are to “try the spirits” , to see if they are from GOD. Try the spirit of Abraham against your own spirit and what will you find ? Try the spirit of Enoch who walked with GOD, of Noah who was a preacher of righteousness, of Abraham who was a friend of GOD, of Moses who found favor in GODS sight, of David a man after GODS own heart, of Daniel a man greatly loved by GOD and many others recorded in scripture that Hebrews describes in Hebrews 11:32,33,34,35,36,37,38 After all of this tremendous display of faith none of these ancient saint’s received the promise……WHY ???
Hebrews 11:40