An Excursus: Jesus--the Fulfullment of the Promise

My next planned blogpost was to be on the third part of God's promise of blessing to Abram--that would be "and make your name great." We'll get there. Soon. Probably early next week.

You remember that promise, right? We previously explained that it was a heptad or seven-fold promise. Here it is:

1) I will make of you a great nation.
2) I will bless you.
3) And make your name great.
4) So that you will be a blessing.
5) I will bless those who bless you.
6) Him who dishonors you I will curse.
7) In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

All of these promises are wonderful and each were wonderfully fulfilled in Abram's life. As we come to those moments of promise fulfilled we will be sure to highlight them. But there is more. This promise of blessing pointed forward, also, to a fulfillment in a future nation we know as Israel--Abraham's promised offspring. They also, according to the New Testament writers, apply to you and to me. We are a part of that offspring through Christ.

Which brings us to the point of this post.

Let me state the case plainly. Every single one of these promises finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ and without Jesus Christ none of these promises would even be possible.

Don't believe me? Let's look at them one by one.

1) I will make of you a great nation.

Now read the words of the prophet Isaiah and see Jesus as fulfillment of this promise:

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given; 

and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

and his name shall be called 
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end, 

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6, 7 ESV)

Now the next part:

2) I will bless you

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:3 ESV)

All the blessing to the offspring comes through and because of Jesus Christ. Now the third:

3) and make your name great

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)

There is more to this "name" part of the promise than just Abram's reputation during his lifetime or having his name changed from "Abram" to "Abraham". Much more. Christ is in view. (We'll see that in my next post.) 

4) so that you will be a blessing

so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14 ESV)

It is "in Christ Jesus" that Abram has been a blessing--to the world and to us. Now check out the next two, which fit naturally together.

5) I will bless those who bless you
6) Him who dishonors you I will curse

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:35, 36 ESV)

Awesome, isn't it? And last but not least . . .

7) In you all families of the earth shall be blessed. 

Now witness the multitude before the throne singing their new song to the Lamb.

And they sang a new song, saying,  

"Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth."  

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:9-12 ESV)

So what did God promise Abram? A lot of stuff, right? Yeah, a lot of stuff. But when you break it all down here is what God promised Abram and here is what God promised the world through Abram. God promised him and us . . . Jesus Christ. Think on that.