Bible Central | The Power of the Abrahamic Covenants | Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2 | Sunday School

The Power of the Abrahamic Covenants (Week 7 Part 2/7) Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2 | Feb 7 – Feb 13 – powered by Happy Scribe

Imagine a concept so powerful it could completely change your life. That’s what we find in the Abrahamic Covenant. In Genesis Twelve, we learn that the Lord promised Abraham land and posterity. In Abraham two we read that Jesus said to Abraham, I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seat after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this Ministry and priesthood unto all nations. So another part of the Abrahamic Covenant is the priesthood.

But perhaps more important than the blessings promised, Abraham and its descendants are the responsibilities they were given. Jesus gave Abraham and his posterity the responsibility to bear this Ministry unto all nations so that all the families of the Earth will be blessed. Nephi tells us that this will happen through the restoration of the gospel in the latter days. In other words, you and I have an important role to play in the Abrahamic Covenant. As we help take the gospel to all the nations of the Earth, our responsibility is emphasized.

It appears in the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the doctrine of covenants, and the pro of great Christ. Every book of scripture talks about our responsibility to take the gospel to the world as part of the Abrahamic Covenant. Now, to summarize this Covenant, we might say that Jesus Christ, Abraham and his descendants, posterity promised land and priesthood. And Jesus gave Abraham and his posterity the responsibility to take the gospel to all the nations of the Earth, so that all the families of the Earth will be blessed. This will happen through the restoration of the gospel in the latter days.

And you and I have an important role to play in taking the gospel to all the nations of the Earth. How could modern prophets help us learn more about the Abrahamic Covenant, the Scripture Citation Index app or the website Scriptures. Byu.edu can help us identify every time that a scripture has been quoted in General Conference. One of the places the Abrahamic Covenant appears is in Genesis 22. As you can see from the website, Genesis 20, 216 18 has been quoted six times.

I click on this and I can see different places where this passage has been quoted. If I click on the Elder Bennar talk, I can see what Elder Bennar has said about these verses. He said, we are the seed of Abraham. We were foreordained in the premortal existence and born into mortality to fulfill the Covenant and promise God made to Abraham. You and I today and always are to bless all Peoples and all the nations of the Earth.

That is who we are and that is why we are here today and always. First and foremost, we are spiritual beings. We are children of God and the seed of Abraham. This quote contains a life changing idea. Our lives are very different if we believe our key identity is not found in careers or hobbies, but who we are as children of God and descendants of Abraham.

We are part of a Covenant that has been going on for thousands of years. One principle that grows out of the doctrine of the Abrahamic Covenant is a principle that a core purpose of why we’re here is to share the gospel. I was born to do that. You were born to do that. So if that’s a principle, then what are possible applications for some of us, that might be I’m going to go on a full time mission or for some of us, it could be I’m going to find natural and normal ways to share the gospel in my everyday conversations.

Here’s another application. Suppose I wake up on Sunday and I think I don’t really feel like going to Church today. If the doctrine of the Abrahamic Covenant is deep in my heart, I’ll realize that the issue is not do I feel like going to Church today? It’s I’m part of the Covenant that’s been going on for 40 years to gather Israel and Israel is gathering today at Sacrament meeting. I’m a part of that.

So not only am I going to go I’m going to call a friend and bring a friend with me. It totally changes the way I look at things. Well, I’ve given a few different application ideas and you could come up with many more. As we ponder these principles I hope that the Holy Ghost will teach us specific applications and that will act on the promptings we’ve received and that these will help us draw closer to Jesus Christ.