Kingdom Perspective · FAITH
The Abrahamic Covenant: is God's promise to Abraham still valid today?
What is the Abrahamic covenant? God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12, 15 and 17 explained — the promises of land, descendants and blessing — and why Romans 11:29 says it still stands.
9 October 2026 at 15:15 GMT+3 · 3 min read · Jerusalem (IDT)
The Perspective
**What is the Abrahamic covenant?** It is the covenant God made with Abraham, recorded in Genesis 12, 15 and 17. It is the foundation of God's plan with Israel — and with all nations. Here is what God promised, how it was sealed, and whether it is still valid today.
**God's promise to Abraham: three parts**
In Genesis 12:1-3 God promises Abram:
- **a land** — "to a land that I will show you"
- **a people** — "I will make you a great nation"
- **a blessing** — "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed"
**Genesis 15: the covenant between the pieces**
In Genesis 15 Abram asks how he can know. God tells him to cut animals in two — an ancient way of making a covenant. Then, while Abram sleeps, only God passes between the pieces as "a smoking oven and a burning torch" (Genesis 15:17). God binds Himself alone. Verse 6 adds the key to the whole Bible: "He believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness." Verse 18 marks the land "from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates."
**Genesis 17: an everlasting covenant**
God renames Abram as Abraham, "father of many nations," and calls the covenant "an everlasting covenant" with "all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession" (Genesis 17:7-8). Circumcision is given as its sign (17:10-11). The covenant is confirmed to Isaac (26:3-4) and Jacob (28:13-14), and Psalm 105:8-11 repeats it as "an everlasting covenant" to Israel.
**Is the Abrahamic covenant still valid today?**
The New Testament answers clearly:
- God swore by Himself, so that "by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie," we may have hope (Hebrews 6:13-18).
- About Israel Paul writes: "concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:28-29).
- The blessing for the nations is fulfilled in Jesus: "Scripture … preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed'" (Galatians 3:8). "If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed" (Galatians 3:29).
That last verse does not cancel God's promises to Israel. Gentiles are added to the blessing; they do not take over Israel's calling (Romans 11:17-18). GOD News rejects replacement theology.
**Quick answers**
- *What did God promise Abraham?* Land, descendants and blessing for all nations.
- *Was it conditional?* In Genesis 15 God alone passed through — the promise rests on His faithfulness. Obedience brings blessing in the land, but God does not revoke the covenant (Leviticus 26:44-45).
- *How does it connect to Jesus?* Jesus is the promised Seed through whom the nations are blessed (Galatians 3:16).
Read the overview: Israel in the Bible: a clear guide for Filipino believers.
Trust & Transparency
The Emet Standard →Sources & Documents
Primary sources
Corrections, Clarifications & Updates
No corrections, clarifications or updates recorded for this story.
Spotted an error? Corrections & Updates →
Reader conversation
Comments
Checking your sign-in…
Read next
Israel in the Bible: what Scripture says about the land and the people
What does the Bible teach about Israel? From the promise to Abraham to the prophecies of return and Israel’s place in the New Testament — a Scripture-faithful overview of the key texts.
Iran in the Bible: what Scripture actually says about Persia
Iran is not named in the Bible, but the land is. Persia, Elam and Media run through Isaiah, Ezra, Esther, Daniel and Ezekiel — and the way those texts are read still shapes how Christians talk about Iran today.
The 12 Tribes of Israel explained: names, order and meaning
Who are the 12 tribes of Israel? The names of the 12 sons of Jacob in order, what each tribe received, why Levi had no land, and what Revelation 7 teaches — explained from the Bible.
No approved comments yet.