Proposition 7
Christadelphian Unamended First Principles
PROPOSITION 7
By Bro. David Bryan
PROPOSITION 7 – That He inaugurated this plan by making promises to Adam, Abraham, and David, which were afterwards elaborated in greater detail through the prophets. Gen. 3:15; 22:18; Psa. 33:5; 89:34-37; Hosea 13:14; Isa. 25:7-9; 51:1-8; Jer. 23:5.
What It Means
As we start a discussion of this proposition, the key word in this statement is “promises”. So, we'd like to first ask – what is a promise? If you look up the word in a dictionary, you will read something like this:
a. A declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one.
b. Something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected.
When it comes to the promises of God, these are declarations that He has made regarding His plan and purpose for the Earth, and we in turn can have faith in them. What He has promised He is able to perform, and as Hebrews 6:18 says, "it is impossible for God to lie". And in Romans 4:21 we read that, "what He had promised, He was also able to perform".
Scriptural Testimony
So, let's dig into Proposition 7 a bit deeper. This proposition is both so important and exciting because it outlines God's promised plan of salvation for this Earth and His promises to fallen man that they would be redeemed and rebound to him. It is pretty amazing that in the midst of man's failures in the Garden of Eden and the subsequent curse of sin and death placed upon mankind in their fallen estate, that they were not left hopeless. Yahweh would provide a means of redemption. This would be a rebinding through a process of atonement. It wouldn't happen overnight, of course, but Adam was given promises to encourage him in faith to that end. Paradise had been lost, but paradise would be restored.
To Adam
If you open your Bible to Genesis 3:15, you will see a critical verse when we talk about the promises. This is a fundamental verse to our faith. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel". In order to understand this verse, it is important to get the pronouns right. Let's define each this way: the "I" here is God (Yahweh) who instituted this promise. The "thee" and "thy" spoken of here is the serpent. The "her" is the woman, Eve. And the "his" is the woman's future seed. Let's put that all together into the verse: "And I Yahweh will put enmity between the serpent and the woman, and between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman; the seed of the woman shall bruise the seed of the serpent's head, and the seed of the serpent shalt bruise the seed of the woman’s heel".
So, what do we learn from this verse? While the serpent and Eve would pass off the scene, their seed would carry on. The serpent's seed was the principle of sin itself as manifest in human nature through the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. All who live according to these principles could be said to be of the serpent's seed. The woman's descendants, on the other hand, were to live according to the principles and promises set forth by God, and one specific male seed in time would defeat the seed of the serpent. This seed of the woman would be bruised by sin, enduring and overcoming its painful bite, but he in turn would bruise, break or crush the seed of the serpent. This, of course, is both a promise and prophecy of Jesus Christ our Lord, who would endure sin nature and conquer sin nature, providing the atonement at his crucifixion. As we saw in the episode on Proposition 5, it’s important that just a few verses later, God provided a lamb as a covering for Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:21. This in and of itself was a prophecy – a promise – of the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world (as referenced in John 1:29). This was the promise made to Adam. Additionally, the Book of Revelation references the Lamb Slain as a symbol of Jesus. For instance, the listener is referred to Revelation 5:6, 5:12, and 13:8, though we will not turn there at this time.
Instead, we'd like to fast forward in time to the second man mentioned in Proposition 7, that being Abraham.
To Abraham
Yes, Abraham, the friend of God and father of the faithful. What promises were made to him? We could spend hours and hours talking about Abraham and the promises, but we would like to just do a brief review at this time. Let's start in Genesis 12:1-3 with the call of Abraham:
Genesis 12:1-3 – Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (3) And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
In these few verses, we see Abram called out from Ur of the Chaldees, no doubt for his faith, and Yahweh was to do great things with this man. Abram was promised that those who blessed him would be blessed, and those who cursed him would be cursed. God also promised him that he would be the forefather of a great nation, and in him not only that singular nation, but all families of the earth would be blessed! This showed that the promises to Abraham relate not just to Israel, but to the entire planet.
Yet as amazing as the promises found in Genesis 12 are, there was more to come. Let's turn now to Genesis 13:14-17:
Genesis 13:14-17 – And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: (15) For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. (16) And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (17) Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Here, after Lot was separated from Abram, Abram was shown all the land to the north, south, east, and west – this was land he and his seed were promised! Additionally, he was told that his seed would be as many as the sand of the seashore, a symbol for a multitude so big that it cannot be counted.
A few chapters later in Genesis, the promises were expanded again. Genesis 15 details the cutting of a covenant between Abram and God, but for purposes of our discussion on Proposition 7, let's look specifically at Genesis 15:18:
Genesis 15:18 – In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
While Genesis 13 was fairly generic in its description of the land promised to Abram in all four cardinal directions, here God gave him more details. The land promised to him, which some have termed the "Abrahamic Land Grant", was from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River.
Let's move forward to Genesis 17 now. Let's read Genesis 17:3-9 together:
Genesis 17:3-9 – And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, (4) As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. (5) Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. (6) And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (8) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. (9) And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
In these verses we see even more detail given regarding these promises. First, it is important to note that Abram's name, meaning "father", was changed to Abraham, meaning, "father of a multitude". While Abram would indeed become a father, as the birth of Isaac was foretold later in the chapter, he was more importantly to be the father of a multitude, or father of many nations. Think about the sand of the sea we previously mentioned. It is also interesting to note that Yahweh added the Hebrew letter 'hey' to Abram's name – this is the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. And as the number five is consistently found to be associated with the principle of grace in the Bible, this was an extension of grace to this faithful servant of God.
Another important point we would like to make about Genesis 17 is that we see the phrase "everlasting covenant" show up in Verse 7. This is a critical phrase when discussing our hope, and you might call it an umbrella phrase that encompasses God's promises to the faithful throughout the ages – including Adam, Abraham, and David, but also many more. One example of this can be found in Genesis 9:16 where God promised Noah that He would remember the everlasting covenant that He had made with all creatures upon the Earth. For now, we will move forward, but keep this phrase in the back of the mind as it will come up again in this discussion of Proposition 7.
Finally on Abraham, let's look at Genesis 22:17-18:
Genesis 22:17-18 – That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (18) And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Here we see the great promises to Abraham after he passed the ultimate test of his faith in the episode of the sacrifice of Isaac, a symbolic incident foreshadowing Yahweh's giving of His own son as a sacrifice once and for all. In this confirmation of the covenant, once again we see that all nations of the earth will be blessed due to faithful Abraham. However, additional clues of the covenant are given here as well. Note here that the stars of heaven are mentioned in addition to the sand of the seashore. Why both? The sand is a representation of a numberless earthly seed that we Christadelphians call Natural Israel, whereas the stars are a representation of a numberless heavenly seed that we call Spiritual Israel. Remember that Jesus himself was referred to as "the bright and morning star" in Revelation 22:6, and the faithful are referred to as stars in Daniel 12:3, where it says, "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
Returning to Genesis 22, there is one last key point we'd like to look at in this confirmation of the covenant promises to Abraham. Back in Verse 17 we read that: "thy [Abraham's] seed shall possess the gate of his enemies". Notice that this seed is in the singular here. It’s "his" enemies, not "their" enemies. A specific individual is mentioned instead of a group. So, who is this seed? Thankfully we don't have to guess, because the Apostle Paul answers for us in Galatians 3:16:
Galatians 3:16 – Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Paul makes it clear that the seed spoken of in Genesis is Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus, that seed of the woman that was promised to Adam, is also the singular seed that would possess the gate of his enemies. He would crush the seed of the serpent and provide a way for natural and spiritual Israel to multiple as sand and stars, and possess the Abrahamic Land Grant promised to their forefathers. All of these are additional details to the everlasting covenant that all the faithful look to.
To David
While the promises were also confirmed to Isaac and Jacob, we would like to skip ahead in time to the next name mentioned in Proposition 7, that being David. Let's turn over to 2 Samuel 7:12-17:
2 Samuel 7:12-17 – And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. (13) He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. (14) I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: (15) But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. (16) And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. (17) According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
Here we read a beautiful extension of the everlasting covenant, with more details shown to David. The man after God's own heart was told that one of his descendants would sit upon his throne. Some might say, “Well, obviously Solomon and others sat on the throne of David.” That may be true, but it is not the full outworking of the prophecy. No, there are several conditions of this prophecy that haven't happened yet. First of all, this Son is referred to as Yahweh's Son in Verse 14; hence, the Son of God. Also, in Verse 13 and Verse 16 we see the phrase "for ever" used. The Kingdom of David's greater son, the son that is prophesied here, is to be forever. No mortal king can reign forever! Of course, in the Hebrew this is the word "olahm", meaning a "hidden period" or "concealed period". It is a period that the everlasting covenant points to, which we as Christadelphians refer to as The Kingdom of God. It is this hidden period, this Kingdom Age, that is spoken of here. This is the time when David's Greater Son will build the Temple of Yahweh and establish the Throne of His Kingdom for the Age.
What's amazing is that David will be there! He didn't get to see the full reign of Solomon or any of his descendants, and yet in Verse 16, God promised David that his house and kingdom would be established before him, i.e. in his presence. This is a profound statement, because it means that David – who we know from Acts 2 is dead and buried – must be alive. He must rise from the grave. Like Adam and Abraham, they can only inherit the promises if they are brought back to life. This is resurrection. Resurrection is discussed in Proposition 25 of our Statement of Faith, but it is a critical part of our faith in the promises explained in Proposition 7.
Elsewhere through the Bible, the promises to David play a major part. We are told about how certain they are in Psalm 89:3, 34-37:
Psalms 89:3, 34-37 – I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant… (34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. (35) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. (36) His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. (37) It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
We see in these verses that just like the sun and moon are established in the heavens, so too are these promises established. God does not lie! Similarly, let us turn together to Jeremiah 33:20-22:
Jeremiah 33:20-22 – Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; (21) Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers. (22) As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
So Psalm 89 and Jeremiah 33 show us that these promises to David are certain, they are sure, and thus we can put our faith in them. They are so sure that they are called Yahweh's “sure mercies”. Let's look at what Isaiah says as he issues an invitation to us all:
Isaiah 55:1-3 – Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (2) Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (3) Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Even in New Testament times, we find the faithful referencing these sure mercies. For example, please turn with me to Paul’s words in Acts 13:33-35:
Acts 13:33-35 – God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (34) And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. (35) Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
We see here that Paul mixes this reference to the sure mercies of David in with other Old Testament quotes about Christ's sacrifice and resurrection which sealed the covenants and made them sure. Jesus is alive, and God's plan of salvation, based in the covenant promises, is on track!
Through the prophets
Going back now to the original proposition, it also references how the promises are elaborated further by the prophets. We think about the wealth of information given to us in the books of Isaiah through Malachi, as well as prophetic messages found in other books such as the Psalms and the Songs of Solomon. We don't have time to do a detailed dive into the prophets today, which would really involve a series of podcasts or classes, but one thing is for certain: the prophets were focused on the gospel message. They desired to look into the good news of the Kingdom of God promised to Abraham and David, as well as the seed of the woman, promised to Adam and Eve, who would one day come as the Man Jesus Christ. This is the day that they looked for, and the day that we look for. Let's look at a few verses to wrap this discussion up as we get just a taste of how the prophets also highlighted God’s promises for this Earth:
Jeremiah 23:5-6 – Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Isaiah 51:1-8 – Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. (2) Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. (3) For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (4) Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. (5) My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. (6) Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. (7) Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. (8) For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
Isaiah 25:7-9 – And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. (8) He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. (9) And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Why This a First Principle
As we've discussed in this episode, the promises to Adam, Abraham, David and the prophets are a first principle of the truth that must be believed for salvation. The salvation God has offered man is bound up in the promises He has made, and unless we can understand, believe, and become an heir of these promises, man remains without hope. A correct understanding of them is essential.
Yahweh did not promise mankind some mysterious heavenly bliss in the clouds, with the faithful floating around and strumming harps and so forth. To believe and hope in this is to believe and hope for something that God has not promised. No, He created the Earth to be inhabited. He promised a Kingdom that would start with the Abrahamic Land Grant and fill the planet with righteousness and truth. He promised a natural seed of Israel as many as the sand of the seashore, a spiritual seed of the faithful who will shine like the stars. He promised a literal throne – the throne of David – and that David's descendant would sit upon it "before him" - meaning that David will have to be resurrected to see that wonderful day when the Olahm, or hidden period of God's promises, comes into effect. And who will sit on that throne? The Lord Jesus Christ, the long-promised seed of the woman, the son of God, and our Saviour, High Priest, and future King.
When Jesus ascended to heaven some 2000 years ago, the angels promised in Acts 1 that he would return in like manner, and this is what we believe. He will come again to the Earth and establish his Kingdom, fulfilling the promises so longed for by the faithful like Abraham, David, the prophets and hopefully us as well. Truly, these first principle promises provide us hope in a dark age, a strong consolation, an anchor to our lives, and so we continually pray - "even so, come, Lord Jesus!".
Proposition 7 summarized God’s promises which had direct relation to Jesus. The next proposition – Proposition 8 – explains how these promises dictated the nature and form in which Jesus would come, and what he would need to accomplish in order to make these promises sure. This subject will be taken up in the next episode.
