Have you ever considered the importance of a seed? A seed is the bridge between today and tomorrow, for there would be no tomorrows without seed. Whether in the field of plants, animals or man, the only hope for continuity lies in a seed. Without seed to continue the species, plant life would die and man also could not survive. A seedless society, then, would soon die and go out of existence. The importance of a seed, therefore. cannot be overemphasized! This is not only true in the natural order of things, but is true in a metaphorical sense in spiritual things as well. The Apostle Paul drew deeply from nature to explain spiritual concepts, writing thus to the brotherhood in Corinth (1st Corinthians 15:46): “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward, that which is spiritual.” This principle certainly has an application to the metaphor of thc seed.
It figures prominently in the plan of salvation that God has freely offered to all mankind God’s plan revolves around the promises that he has made to Adam, Abraham and David; and the cohesive force that binds this three-fold promise together is the hope of a seed. In the last issue of the “Tidings”, the promises made to Adam, Abraham and David were examined. Briefly, the main points were these:
- To Adam, through Eve, the promise was given that sin (which they had brought upon the world through disobedience) would be removed, and that this would be accomplished by the seed of the woman.
- To Abraham, eternal inheritance in the land was promised, an inheritance that would bring blessings to all nations. This also was to be accomplished through the agency of a sced.
- To David, a continuing kingdom and a perpetual throne were promised. Again, this was to be made possible through a iced who would set up the throne of David and establish a kingdom which would have no ending. Notice how the idea of a seed is woven throughout these promises, binding them all together in one hope of the Gospel.
Of the patriarchs of old (including Adam, Abraham and David) the writer to the Hebrews has this to say (Hebrews 11 :13 ) : ”These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having see’ them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” According to that it is plain that even death itself could not extinguish the hope and faith that were generated by their confidence in God’s promise of a seed, through whom their expectations would be realized.
That brings us to Article VIII of the Christadelphian Statement of Faith which reads as follows:
“That these promises had reference to Jesus Christ, who was to be raised up in the condemned line of Abraham and David, and who, though wearing their condemned nature, was to obtain a title to resurrection by perfect obedience, and by dying, abrogate the law of condemnation for himself and all who should believe and obey him.”
For clarity, this can be outlined in two main propositions:
- That the promises to Abraham and David refer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
- That Christ:
- Was born of their condemned line.
- Wore their condemned nature.
- Was raised through perfect obedience.
- Died to save himself and others who would believe and obey him.
The above propositions serve as an introduction to a fuller development of each segment in Articles IX, X and XI of the Statement of Faith which will be examined in later issues. For now, the first part will be considered, that the promises to Abraham and David refer to the Lord Jesus. This is probably a universally accepted concept by all professed Christians. The testimony of Scripture is too clear to permit of any other interpretation. It is undoubtedly no coincidence that the New Testament begins with a genealogy of Jesus. It is as though God is saying in effect, that everything that has gone before has been working toward the development of God’s purpose as it centers in Jesus, the Christ. He draws this to a sharp focus in Matthew 1:1: “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
It would appear to be very significant that these two ancestors of Christ (i.e., Abraham and David) were singled out of all the rest to introduce the Saviour in New Testament writings. By this means, God focuses immediate attention to the important role they played in God’s plan of salvation for all mankind through Christ.
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary to tell her that she was chosen to bear the Christ-child, he brought this wonderful message (Luke 1:30-33): “Fear not Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” This divine announcement left no doubt that Jesus was to be the promised seed of David. It is couched in very similar language to the promise that was made to David and fortified and verified the hope of an everlasting kingdom.
Christ’s identity as Abraham’s seed is also clearly defined in 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.” Words could not be plainer to show the relationship of Christ to both the Davidic and Abrahamic promises. He was the focal point, he was the center toward which the promises of God converge.
And herein lies the hope of mankind. You see, Abraham was the father of the nation of Israel and David, its most illustrious king, and so the seed of such ancestry is strictly Jewish. Jesus who is destined to be their king was of Jewish birth, a fact recognized by Pilate who had written on Jesus’ cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.” Jesus himself told the woman of Samaria that “salvation is of the Jews”.
Where then do all other peoples stand in relation to the promises of God ? Were it not for Christ, there would be no salvation for the Gentiles. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul explained to the people in Ephesus. He said that they had been aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But the apostle had also told them how they could change that sordid condition into one of hope by believing in the promised seed (Christ) and by being baptized into his name. After baptism, what a transformation had occurred “Now therefore”, the apostle adds, “ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).
The Apostle Paul’s instruction to the Galatians is even more explicit (Galatians 3: 26-29): “For ye are all (Jews and Gentiles) the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free. there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed. and heirs according to the promise.”
It is only through Christ then that one may become a part of the seed of Abraham and David, and thus become related, as heirs, to the promised blessings of God to mankind.
Therefore, for those who desire to share the wonders of God’s grace; for those who would be blessed with faithful Abraham and to reign with Christ on David’s throne; the call is to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith: for in him is found salvation, in him all the promises of God are yea, and in him “Amen” unto the glory of the Father.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One