God's Covenant (2)

Intro: If I were to ask you for a unifying theme of the Bible, what would be your answer?

Many believers wold land on Covenant. In a sense, seeing the covenant as a unifying theme of scripture is distinguishing mark of being Reformed.

Covenant is important word in Scripture

Heb (berit): 287X in OT *most uses refer to covenants God make with his people (Heb verb Karat— “to make a covenant”, occurs 289X)

Gk (diatheke) 33X in NT

Definition: Covenant is a chosen relationship in which two parties make binding promises to each other (Tom Schreiner Covenant and God’s Purposes for the World)—

it’s a sworn, or oath-bound promise—a legal biding is involved

E.G. Marriage (Mal 2:14); Gibeonite deception (Josh 9:3-7)l

Ps 110:4

Why: Why is a covenant necessary?

Confessing the Faith: The 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century VII. God’s Covenant

Though rational creatures are responsible to obey God as their Creator, the distance between God and these creatures is so great that they could never have attained the reward of life except by God’s voluntary condescension. He has been pleased to express this through a covenant framework

This first point speaks to the necessity. Why? Why is a covenant necessary?

**Because God is not indebted to us! (Lk 17:5-10)

What is the nature of the covenant?

Confessing the Faith: The 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century VII. God’s Covenant

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,3 and promises to give His Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe

Covenant of Grace

A few things

Some object to the wording since it’s not found in scripture. But neither is Trinity, Inerrancy, or Providence.

Note that it is centered on the blessings of the New Covenant

Note in the last sentence that that the Covenant of Grace is effective (ordained, willing, and able)

It needs to be noted that when a Reformed baptist says “Covenant of Grace” it carries a different meaning than our Presbyterian brothers.

How does the covenant of grace come to us?

Confessing the Faith: The 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century VII. God’s Covenant

This covenant is revealed in the gospel. It was revealed first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation through the seed of the woman. After that, it was revealed step by step until the full revelation of it was completed in the New Testament.6 This covenant is based on the eternal covenant transaction between the Father and the Son concerning the redemption of the elect. Only through the grace of this covenant have those saved from among the descendants of fallen Adam obtained life and blessed immortality. Humanity is now utterly incapable of being accepted by God on the same terms on which Adam was accepted in his state of innocence.

Promised (Gen 3:15)

Revealed “step by step” (This is progressive revelation through the various covenants in the OT—Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosiac, David)—all make advances and progress.

**There is an organic unity in how all the covenant build on each other; they are not “self-contained entities” (Sam Waldron)

Thematic unity — “covenants of promise” (Eph 2:12) The promise? Gen 3:15;

Salvation always comes through promise

3. Full revelation in the NT

Matthew 5:17 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Luke 22:20 ESV

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Covenant Theology holds to a “Covenant of Redemption”

What this essentially means is that within the eternal counsel or decree of God, he planned our redemption. The plan, purpose, and promise to save actually took place before anything existed.

Louis Berkhof: “The agreement between the Father, giving the Son as Head and Redeemer of the elect, and the Son, voluntarily taking the place of those whom the Father had given him”

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Titus 1:2 ESV

in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

Application/Responses

Thankful—gratitude

Worshipful—especially, Christ Exalting Worship. We worship Christ

Humble—knowing that all is of grace

Faithful—trusting, abiding, obeying, and faithful in our promises