God’s Covenants

Introduction: The Law of Sanctions

Jeremiah 31:31–34

Government Sanctions: Economic sanctions are penalties levied against a country, its officials, or private citizens. They serve as punishment or disincentives for targeted policies. These range from travel bans and export restrictions to trade embargos and asset seizures.

As of late February 2026, the U.S. has maintained active, ongoing sanctions against nations like Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Syria, along with specific, recent, and often updated designations for cyber-related threats, narcotics trafficking, and terrorism. 

Government sanctions are ; they are unilateral, coercive, and restrictive legal or policy measures imposed by states or international bodies to change the behavior of target entities. While they carry the force of law, they are not a mutual, voluntary agreement (covenant) between parties, but rather a punishment or deterrent strategy.

God has made a covenant with Himself!

God has made a covenant with you!

This is the is m

The Illustration (Asset Seizure): Under the Law, our "spiritual accounts" are frozen because of sin. We have a debt we cannot pay and no access to the "wealth" of God’s presence.

The Question: What will your role in this covenant relationship be?

I. What is a Covenant?

A commitment with divine sanctions.

An abiding agreement or compact between two or more parties.

A formal sealed agreement or contract.

The way God communicates with man.

The Covenant

II. Why are Covenants Important and Used?

Importance:

Covenants reveal our obligations to God.

Covenants set our expectations from God.

Covenants bind partaking parties to an agreement.

Usage:

To establish distinctions in parties (Who is "In" and who is "Out").

To set regulations and requirements.

To create guidelines in reference points.

The Law Gospel Distinction Two opposite paths to a right standing with God

Law- Obedience Do this and live

Gospel - Faith - Now that you live do this.

Owen once wrote that the Law says, "Pay me what thou owest," while the Gospel says, "Thy debt is forgiven; go and sin no more."

In the ancient world (which Owen often referenced in his scholarly work), a solemn agreement of peace was sometimes called a "Covenant of Salt." Salt represented preservation and endurance. To eat salt together was to enter a "solemn agreement of peace" that could never be violated.

III. The Mapping of the Kingdom

The Kingdom of Creation

Adam- Works

Noahic

Earthly Kingdom

Old Covenant

The Kingdom of Israel

Abrahamic

Mosaic

Davidic

The Kingdom of Christ

Redemption

Grace

Heavenly Kingdom

New Covenant

IV. The Eternal and Early Covenants

1. The Covenant of Redemption (The "Pactum Salutis")

Established in eternity past (The "Counsel of Peace" – 1689 7.3).

2 Timothy 1:9 “9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

Titus 1:2 “2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.”

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-7, 49:8-9, 50:4-9.

The Goal: Eternal Life of Believers.

When Owen defines a solemn agreement of peace between two parties, he isn't just talking about a ceasefire; he’s talking about a judicial reconciliation—a formal contract that legally establishes a state of shalom (wholeness and harmony) where there was once hostility.

Here is how Owen breaks down that "solemn agreement" specifically:

1. The Two Parties

In a covenant of peace, there must be distinct parties. For Owen, the ultimate "Agreement of Peace" occurs between:

God the Father: Representing the Justice and Holiness of the Law.

God the Son: Acting as the "Surety" (the legal guarantor) for humanity.

2. The "Solemn" Nature (The Blood)

Owen emphasizes that a covenant is only a "solemn agreement" when it is ratified. He draws heavily from Hebrews 9:18, noting that "even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood."

The Sacrifice: The peace isn't just a handshake; it is "cut" (the Hebrew term karat berit).

The Seal: The death of the victim (Christ) makes the agreement unchangeable and legally binding.

3. The Condition of Peace

Owen argues that for this agreement to be "solemn" and "sure," it cannot depend on the flickering will of man.

The Terms: The Son fulfills the conditions (obedience and suffering).

The Result: The Father provides the reward (the peace and salvation of the people).

Because the two "parties" (Father and Son) are both perfectly faithful, the Peace is eternal and cannot be broken.

The Structure: The Father sends the Son; the Son obeys; the Son accomplishes the work; The Spirt make us willing and able to belive and the Son receives the Reward, The Father and Spirt are Glorified and God is Worshiped.

"The Lord Christ, as the undertaker for the covenant of grace, hath so ordered all things... that there should be an eternal agreement between the justice of God and the salvation of the sinner." John Owen

2. The Covenant of Works

Established in Genesis 2:16-17.

Stipulations/Sanctions: The Command of the Tree.

Consequences: "Surely Die" (The first "Divine Sanction").

The Hope: Eternal Life was possible through perfect obedience.

3. The Covenant of Grace

Promised (not established) in Gen 3:15.

The Mercy: Man did not die immediately.

The Definition: The historical outworking of the Covenant of Redemption.

The Culmination: Only reached its completion/establishment in Christ.

4. The Covenant with Noah

The Context: Adam set the world on fire; the flood put it out.

Scripture: Genesis 9.

The Promise: Never again flood the earth.

The Sign: Rainbow in the sky.

V. The Kingdom of Israel (Types and Shadows)

5. The Covenant with Abraham

Genesis 12, 17:4-5.

Threefold Promise: A people, a king, and land.

Markers: Nation of Israel (Circumcision), the line of Judah (Promised Seed), and the land of Canaan.

The Function: Points back (to Eden) and points forward (to Christ).

6. The Covenant with Moses

Exodus 20, Deut 11:26.

The Law: Moral law, ceremonial laws, and civic laws.

Sanctions: Blessings and Curses (Leviticus 26).

The Function: Points back and points forward.

7. The Covenant with the Priesthood

Established with the Levites.

Nature: Resembles Eden (The Priest-King office).

The Function: Points back and points forward.

8. The Covenant with David

Establishes Godly Kingdom.

Sanctions: Blessings for good kings; curses for evil kings.

The Duty: Oversees the worship.

VI. The New Covenant (The Kingdom of Christ)

The Transition: Steps to the fulfillment of the Covenant of Grace. Previous covenants had aspects of grace but were not fully functional for salvation until the Cross.

Prophecy: Jeremiah 31:31 and Ezekiel 36:24–27: "I will give you a new heart... I will remove your heart of stone."

The 400 Years: God is silent (Malachi). John the Baptist is the forerunner.

The Establishment: Established in Jesus.

The Reformed Baptist Key: Jesus had the same requirements as Adam. He was under the Covenant of Works to earn the Covenant of Grace for us.

Illustration (The Amnesty of the King): The King (Father) sends the Prince (Jesus) into the rebel province to obey every law the rebels broke. Because the Prince succeeds, the "Embargo" is lifted for all who join his side.

 5   The new covenant, is not founded on works at all, it is a covenant of pure unmingled grace. Charles Spurgeon “God in the Covenant” sermon (1856)

Charles Spurgeon

VII. The Contrast: Israel vs. The Church

Israel

The early covenants of promise

The children of Abrahams Flesh

Those circumcised in the flesh

Those born according to the flesh

The outward Jew

Church

The Heavenly Covenant

The children of Abrahams Faith

Those circumcised in the heart

Those born according to the Spirit

The inward Jew

Applications

1. Assurance

The Reality: If you are in Christ, the trade embargo between you and God is permanently lifted.

The Struggle: Many believers live in fear that one bad day will result in a "sanction" or an "asset seizure" (losing their salvation).

The Truth: Because Jesus fulfilled the Covenant of Works on your behalf, your "standing" before God is not based on your performance, but His.

Practice: When you sin, you do not run from God to hide; you run to God, knowing your Advocate has already paid the fine.

2. Heart Circumcision (Internal vs. External)

The Focus: The New Covenant is made only with believers who have been granted a new heart.

The Trap: It is easy to rely on "outward" markers—church attendance, Christian family lineage, or a moral lifestyle.

The Reality: The New Covenant sanction is Regeneration.

Practice: Do not check your "flesh" (genealogy or rituals); check your "spirit." Do you have a new heart that desires to obey God’s statutes (Ezekiel 36:27)? If the heart remains stone, the sanctions of the Law still apply.

3. Corporate Worship

The Foundation: The Covenants with the Priesthood and David established how God is to be worshipped.

The Shadow: In the Old Covenant, worship was tied to a physical temple and a specific tribe (Levites).

The Substance: In the New Covenant, the local church is a "royal priesthood."

Practice: We do not come to church to watch a performance; we come as covenant members to offer "spiritual sacrifices." Your role in the covenant is active, vital participation in the body of Christ.

4. The Divine Audit

Government sanctions involve an audit of books to ensure compliance with the law.

Every person will eventually stand before the King for a final audit of their life.

: ou will either be judged by the "Book of the Law" (Covenant of Works) or the "Lamb’s Book of Life" (Covenant of Grace).

Practice: If you present your own books, you will be found bankrupt. Repentance is closing your own books and handing them over to Christ. Faith is trusting that His "assets" are credited to your name.

5. Covenant Evangelism

We must warn those outside of Christ that they are currently under "Divine Sanction."

Without the Mediator, they are personally liable for the debt of the Covenant of Works.

Evangelism is announcing that the King has provided a way for the sanctions to be removed through the blood of the New Covenant.

What will your role in this covenant relationship be?

Are you a member of the New Covenant? You cannot be "born" into this by your parents; you must be born from above.

Have you been born again? The Final Sanction: God has put sanctions on us. We are called to repent and put our faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior and King.

The Benefit: If you repent, you receive the inheritance of the Son.

The Penalty: If you do not, you remain under the Sanction of Works and will suffer in this life and the next.

Conclusion: The Audit of Your Soul

When a country is under sanction, their citizens' passports are no longer recognized at the border. They are stuck. By nature, we are citizens of the 'Kingdom of Adam,' and our passports are void at the gates of Heaven. But when you are born again, you are given a new citizenship. You are handed a passport signed in the blood of Jesus. When you reach the border, the Father doesn't look at your record; He looks at the Signature on your passport. The sanction is lifted, and the gates swing open."