Abraham is a New Covenant Figure

It is also important to remember that not everything which was given before Jesus is eliminated in the New Covenant. The fact that our Bibles are divided into the Old and new Testaments, gives some believers the impression that everything which occurs before Jesus' birth is part of the Old Covenant. This is not accurate.

When the Bible uses the term "old covenant" it refers to the period of Moses until the beginning of the New Covenant. Not everything which happens in the Bible before Jesus-namely the period of Adam to Abraham-belongs in the old covenant proper.⁶⁹

Jesus said in John 7:22 that circumcision was not from Moses, but from the Patriarchs.⁷⁰ That means that circumcision does not belong, originally to the Old Covenant (Moses) but to Abraham.

Abraham has a very special relationship to New Covenant believers. In Romans 4:1-25, Paul says that Abraham is the "Father" of those who believe. Likewise, in Galatians 3:29 all believers are said to be "Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise." ⁷¹

In many ways, Abraham is a New Covenant figure. Believers are his spiritual descendants. ⁷² He is said to have looked forward to Jesus' first coming.⁷³ He is a model of faith for believers in Hebrews 11:8-19; Galatians chapters 3 and 4. So what is true of Abraham is usually true of New Covenant believers. Just as Abraham's faith in Jesus (John 8:56) sets the pattern for New Covenant believers, so also his circumcision, and that of Isaac, sets the pattern for New Covenant baptism.

⁶⁹ 2 Corinthians 3.14; Galatians 3.17; Hebrews 8.6; 9:15,16.

⁷⁰ That is, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

⁷¹ See Genesis 17. The word Patriarchs refers to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

⁷² Hebrews 2.16; Romans 4; 9.7,8; James 2.20-23.

⁷³ John 8:56.

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