Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Faithfulness is Revealed Through Covenants

What is a covenant?

Covenant: an enduring agreement which defines a relationship between two parties involving a solemn, binding obligation(s) specified on the part of at least one of the parties toward the other, made by oath under threat of divine curse, and ratified by a visual ritual.

A covenant is an enduring agreement which defines a relationship between two parties involving a solemn, binding obligation(s) specified on the part of at least one of the parties toward the other, made by oath under threat of divine curse, and ratified by a visual ritual.

Covenant is all about relationship between the Creator and his creation.

Gentry, P. J., & Wellum, S. J. (2015).

God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology (p.

49).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Covenant is all about relationship between the Creator and his creation.

Covenant is all about relationship between the Creator and his creation.

Michael Horton nicely captures this point when he writes that the biblical covenants are “the architectural structure that we believe the Scriptures themselves to yield.…

It is not simply the concept of the covenant, but the concrete existence of God’s covenantal dealings in our history that provides the context within which we recognize the unity of Scripture amid its remarkable variety.”

Our triune God has only one plan of redemption, yet we discover what that plan is as we trace his salvation work through the biblical covenants.

At the heart of covenant, then, is a relationship between parties characterized by faithfulness and loyalty in love.

Gentry, P. J., & Wellum, S. J. (2015).

God’s Kingdom through God’s Covenants: A Concise Biblical Theology (p.

17).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

Covenant

Main Scripture Texts

1.

The Covenant with Creation

Genesis 1–3

2. The Covenant with Noah

Genesis 6–9

3. The Covenant with Abraham

Genesis 12/15/17/22

4. The Covenant at Sinai

Exodus 19–24

5.

The Covenant with David

2 Samuel 7/Psalm 89

6.

The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31–34/Isaiah 54/Ezekiel 33–39

Covenant of Redemption

Covenant of Redemption: involves the parties who work together to effect human redemption: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This covenant is rooted in eternity past.

God’s plan for redemption was not an afterthought or response to the fall of man, but part of His eternal plan to reveal His faithfulness to His people.

The covenant of redemption defines the roles of each member of the trinity in the act of redemption: the Father sends the Son and the Spirit, the Son accomplishes the mediatorial work of redemption on our behalf, and the Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to us.

Covenant of Works

Covenant of Works: God created humanity upright and perfect.

He gave them a righteous law that would have led to life if they had kept it but threatened death if they broke it [1689 Baptist Confession of Faith].

This covenant contains a condition - the obedience of man.

Genesis 2:15-

Covenant of Grace

Covenant of Grace: Since humanity brought itself under the curse of the law by its fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace.

In this covenant he freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ.

On their part he requires faith in him, that they may be saved, and promises to give his Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe [ 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith].

Though the covenant of grace is different from the covenant of works, it cannot be totally separated from it.

In one important sense, the covenant of works still remains intact.

God still exercises his just judgement on lawbreakers.

The second covenant is in addition to the first.

We are all under the sanctions of the covenant of works and in desperate need for the covenant of grace.

Covenant with Noah

**

Parties:

Promise:

Sign:

Result:

Covenant with Abraham

Parties:

Promise:

**

Sign:

Result:

Covenant with Moses

**

Parties:

Promise:

Sign:

Result:

Covenant with David

**

Parties:

Promise:

Sign:

Result:

Covenant Fulfilled in Christ

New Covenant Prophesied:

Jeremiah 31:31-

New Covenant Instituted:

Luke 22:14-

2:13-20

Hebrews 9:15-

Summary

God reveals His faithfulness through His role as covenant maker and covenant keeper.

All three covenants are fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.