A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

Ses s i on 7: Gent i l e I nc l us i on i n Ol d Tes tament Mes s i an i c Prophecy 121

I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. [6] I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.

2. It is given for the sake of all humankind (i.e, through Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed), Gen. 22.17-18 – I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, [18] and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.

3. It will touch all creation in its impact (i.e., all of heaven and earth are involved in the implications of this salvation).

D. Through the promise, the one true God shows us that Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of his promise to Abraham

1. Gal. 3.27-29 – For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. 2. The Gospel of God is prefigured in the promise to Abraham, Gal. 3.8 – And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

3. The Abrahamic promise referred to the person of Jesus, Gal. 3.16 – Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,”