Our Covenant God
To truly understand the Bible, we need to first understand what the word covenant means. Basically, it is a formal agreement. It may be an agreement between two or more people, nations or between God and man. A covenant is more than just a contract, because it involves loyalty and allegiance. A contract says: “I’ll meet you half way”, or, “What do I get out of it?”, or, “I have to”. A covenant says: “I’ll give you 100%”, or, “What can I give?”, or, “I want to”. It is a bonding of two or more parties. Though in the Hebrew, covenant is used over 300 times, it has also been translated as testimony or testament. The New and Old Testaments refer to the New and Old Covenants. In the Bible, there are eight foundational covenants and these set the basis for man’s relationship with God and one another.
There are two types of covenants in the Bible; conditional and unconditional. The conditional covenants are characterized by the formula: if you will, then I will. If the conditions are not fulfilled, it can result in punishment or even the cancelling of the covenant. Thus, one’s response brings either blessings or curses. The unconditional covenants are unilateral in that the maker of the covenant places no conditions on the recipient. This covenant is characterized by the formula: I will. Two of the eight covenants in the Bible are conditional. These are the Edenic and Mosaic covenants. The other six covenants, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Land of Israel, Davidic and the New Covenant are unconditional. These are covenants based on grace and God’s determination to fulfill His Word. There may be conditions placed in these unconditional covenants, that determine the quality of life and the degree to which one experiences the blessings, but they are not the basis of God fulfilling His promises.
To show the importance and sanctity of a covenant, each one was to be sealed by blood, which is the essence of life. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were used to seal a covenant, whereas in the New Testament, it was the blood of Jesus that was shed. Each time the church partakes of the Lord’s Supper it is a visible and tangible reminder of this covenant. The New Covenant is based on better promises than the Old and is eternal. Under the Old Covenant, or Mosaic covenant, the promises were conditional to man’s response and man’s sin kept him from meeting it’s righteous demands. Animals had to be sacrificed repeatedly to atone for man’s continual sinful condition, for the covenant to remain in effect. Under the New Covenant, man was made righteous by the Blood of Jesus. It was an act of mercy and grace. The sinless, innocent Blood of Jesus fulfilled the conditions of the Old Covenant and established a New, unconditional, Covenant, freely accessible to all.
God considers the breaking of human agreements as serious as the breaking of His covenant. People can negotiate out of a contract, but not a covenant. He requires His people to be faithful to their agreements. That there yes be yes and their no, no. When one enters a covenant of marriage, it is intended to be a lifelong relationship, exemplifying unconditional love, sexual purity and forgiveness. It is not a 50/50 agreement, but 100%. Because so many have not understood the covenantal nature of God and the central message of the Bible, they have substituted covenant for contract, thus diluting their ability to be faithful. Because of His faithfulness to his Covenant, God is calling us to be covenant people; faithful to Him and to others.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Acts 3.25; Mat. 26.28; Deut. 4.23; 33.9; Heb. 8.6; Mal. 2.10, 14-15; Is. 56.4-6