Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 18:2 (Fall 2014)
Article: The Fulfillment Of The Abrahamic Covenant
Author: Gary R. Gromacki

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JMAT 18:2 (Fall 2014) p. 77

The Fulfillment Of The Abrahamic Covenant

Gary Gromacki

Professor of Bible and Homiletics
Baptist Bible Seminary
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

Introduction: The Importance Of The Abrahamic Covenant

Dispensational premillennialists understand the importance of the Abrahamic covenant to premillennialism.1 John Walvoord, for example, wrote:

It is recognized by all serious students of the Bible that the covenant with Abraham is one of the important and determinative revelations of Scripture. It furnishes the key to the entire Old Testament and reaches for its fulfillment into the New. In the controversy between premillenarians and amillenarians, the interpretation of this covenant more or less settles the entire argument. The analysis of its provisions and the character of their fulfillment set the mold for the entire body of Scriptural truth.2

Charles Ryrie wrote,

The interpretation of the Abrahamic covenant is a watershed between premillennialism and amillennialism. The question concerns its fulfillment. All agree that certain aspects of it have

JMAT 18:2 (Fall 2014) p. 78

been fulfilled. But all do not agree on the fulfillment of other aspects of it, particularly the land promise.3

J. Dwight Pentecost wrote,

This covenant has a most important bearing on the doctrines of eschatology. The eternal aspects of this covenant, which guarantee Israel a permanent national existence, perpetual title to the land of promise, and the certainty of material and spiritual blessing through Christ, and guarantee Gentile nations a share in these blessings, determine the whole eschatological program of the Word of God. The covenant becomes the seed from which are bought forth the later covenants made with Israel. The essential areas of the Abrahamic Covenant: the land, the seed and the blessing are enlarged in the subsequent covenants made with Israel.4

The Abrahamic covenant is developed in these unconditional covenants: Land, Davidic, and New. The land promise of the Abrahamic covenant is developed in the Land covenant (Deut 30:1–10). The seed promise of the Abrahamic covenant is developed in the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:18–16). The blessing promise of the Abrahamic covenant is developed in the New covenant (Jer 31:31–40).

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