Covenants
Covenants:
Text: Mostly Genesis 12, 15, 17
Objective: It is my objective to show that the covenants are essential for a proper foundation in life. I must trust in these truths and trust totally in God
1. Is the marriage a covenant or contract
2. Different kinds of covenants
Salt – We have bread and salt between us
Blood – break this and die
I Defined: The essence of covenant is to be found in a particular kind of relationship between persons. Mutual obligations characterize that kind of relationship. Thus a covenant relationship is not merely a mutual acquaintance but a commitment to responsibility and action. A key word in Scripture to describe that commitment is “faithfulness,” acted out in a context of abiding friendship.[1]
II. Conditional and unconditional
Unconditional—I will
Conditional—If you do this, I will do this
III. What are the main covenants in the Bible?
A. Adam Gen. 1:28; 2:15-16; 3:15-19
a. Before the Fall—that he could remain in Eden as long as he obeyed.
· This was conditional.
b. After the Fall—that God would someday send a Savior.
· This was unconditional.
B. Noah Gen. 8:21-22
a. That the earth would not be destroyed by water again
b. That the seasons would continue until the end.
· This was unconditional
C. The covenant with Abraham Gen. 12:2-3, 7; 13:14-17; 15:5, 18; 17:8
a. That God would make Abraham the founder of a great nation.
b. That God would someday give Palestine forever to Abraham’s seed.
· This was unconditional.
D. Moses and Israel Exod. 19:3-8; Lev. 26; Deut. 28
a. That Israel could have the land at that time to enjoy if they obeyed.
b. That Israel would forfeit all God’s blessings if they disobeyed.
· This was conditional.
E. David 2 Chron. 13:5; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; 23:5
a. That from David would come an everlasting throne.
b. That from David would come an everlasting kingdom
· This was unconditional
F. The new covenant with Israel Jer. 31:31-34; Isa. 42:6; 43:1-6; Deut. 1:1-9; Heb. 8:7-12
a. That God would bring Israel back to himself.
b. That he would forgive their iniquity and forget their sin.
c. That he would use them to reach and teach Gentiles.
d. That he would establish them in Palestine forever.
· This was unconditional
G. The covenant with the Church Matt. 16:18; 26:28; Luke 22:20; Heb. 13:20-21
a. That Christ would build
b. That all the fury of hell would not destroy it.his Church with his own blood.
c. That he would perfect all the members of his Church.
· This was unconditional.
H. The covenant with all repenting sinners to save them through Christ. See Titus 1:1-2; Heb. 13:20
· This covenant is unconditional (no strings attached).
·
IV. So what?
A. Foundations to all of God's Working
Must have a foundation in order to have a proper super structure.
Genesis is foundation of 65 Story building
Revelation is pent house
Plumb line‑‑All must be plumb‑‑proper foundation
Empire State building-1/4 inch off in the foundation-Topple at the 34 floor.
B. This will effect how we look at all of the rest of Scripture
V. Abrahamic Covenant: Start with Genesis 12:1-3
A. Genesis 12‑‑Abrahamic Covenant
‑‑v. 1‑3 3 most important verses in the Bible
Promise Land, Seed, Blessing
B. Nature of the covenant
1. Interpreted literally
2. Eternal in its expanse
3. Unconditional on Abraham's Part
Look at Illustration: Drawing
4. Covenant is made with Israel (Abraham's seed) and not Gentiles
‑‑Blessing of Abraham has fallen on Gentiles
Galatians 3:13-14 ESV 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
C. Four promises in Gen 12:2‑3
Genesis 12:2-3 ESV 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
1. Great nation‑‑Nation has land and people
2. "Make thy name great" ‑‑ What made their name great in those days‑‑Children or SEED
3. "and I will bless thee" ‑‑ Abraham was blessed materially and spiritually
4. "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" ‑‑ Abraham is the possessor and dispenser of blessing.
V. LAND
Genesis 13:14-17 ESV 14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.”
A. How long is the covenant? v. 15‑‑ for ever
B. Is the Land really land?
C. Given to Abraham as a gift ‑‑ on the basis of grace
D Palestinian Covenant
Genesis 15:18-21 ESV 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”
1. Everlasting ownership‑‑Eternal and unconditional
Genesis 17:8 ESV And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
2. Possession of the land is conditional upon obedience:
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 ESV 1 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 28:9 ESV The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.
Deuteronomy 28:13 ESV And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them,
Deuteronomy 28:15 ESV “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.
Deuteronomy 28:58 ESV “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God,
Deuteronomy 28:62 ESV Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
3. Illustration of ownership and occupancy
‑‑You want to buy a house and some land
==I will turn the title over to you
==One condition‑‑You always drive an Ford
Ford wears out
‑‑Better deal with a Chevy
‑‑I drive past ‑ Stop, is this your car?
‑‑All possessions out on the lawn
‑‑What are you doing?
‑‑Remember the contract?
‑‑Go back and trade the Chevy for a Ford
Ownership is never in question‑‑
Possession conditional upon obedience
VI. SEED
Genesis 15:1-3 ESV 1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”
1. Eliezer will not be the seed
2. Abraham was to old
Either God is telling the truth or lying
Genesis 15:4-6 ESV 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
A. Righteousness
1. What is righteousness
2. Two types of righteousness
+R‑‑
‑R‑‑
3. Good guy illustration
a. John is good (He spent some time in Prison)
b. Rich is better‑‑makes fruit cakes and gives them to poor children
c. Ken is better‑‑Spent all his life being good
d. GOD IS GOOD
‑‑Can you compare man's goodness to God's???
1) God's goodness +R
Man's goodness ‑R
2) Absolute or relative illustrations
a. Music Illustration
1) Guys from the Grand Ole Opry‑‑Pickin' and grinin'
2) Carnegie Hall‑‑Bethoven, Motzart
What is good music???
b. Cars
Ford is good F-150
Chevy is good Avalanche
Dodge is good Ram
Toyota is good-
3) God is good
God is righteous
God can only give out his righteousness
ABRAHAM RECEIVED GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS
B. Believing
1. Abraham received the +R righteousness
‑‑means "Amen"
‑‑Means‑‑I lean upon what you say is true
‑‑I trust the chair to hold me up
2. Frenchman walking across Niagara Falls on a tight‑rope
‑‑Can I do it in a wheel barrow YES
‑‑‑Can I do it with a man in YES
‑‑‑‑Get in
3. Abraham believed the Lord and lived accordingly
‑‑Acted upon what he believed
‑‑Took action based upon what he believed
Romans 4:1‑5 Abraham was righteous because he believed
C. Counted
1. Left Ur of the Chaldees
2. Counted‑‑bookkeeping term
Rom 3:23‑‑Short of glory of God
Isa 64:6‑‑All our righteousnesses are filthy rags
3. Abraham was in such debt, he could not work it out
4. Abraham was relieved of debt by Faith
III. Making it practical
Car Illustration again
Driving car and it stops
I make an inspection and find I am out of Gas
Man stops and cleans spark plugs
Washes and waxes car
Car looks beautiful, but still will not run
I can work my head off to get to heaven
Guy who stopped‑‑did good things
Needed Gas
I need righteousness
Working
Doing good things
living right
NO‑‑But by believing
I am a sinner
Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross
Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life?
Accepted Jesus Christ into your life
Communion:
Self-exam
Bread
Juice-Grace alone
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Offering for Gideon’s
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[1]Elwell, Walter A. ; Beitzel, Barry J.: Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Book House, 1988, S. 531