THE COVENANT OF GRACE

INTRODUCTION - Our last time together we saw that there is one predominant focus in all of Scripture (the Lord Jesus Christ), one predominant promise ("I will be your God and you will be My people") and one predominant way that this focus and promise are communicated to us (through the Covenant of Grace). This great Covenant is repeated throughout the Word of God, binding all of God's people together in both Old and New Testaments. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David were all given various revelations of the same covenantal focus and promise. God did not communicate different messages to these men, but simply built on the preceding revelation, as He spoke to each one in turn. God has progressively revealed Himself, His Son, and His promises, throughout the unfolding of the Old and New Testaments. Tonight we shall continue with our study as we endeavor to define the word "covenant" from Scripture. O Palmer Robertson, in his book "Christ of the Covenants," has provided a helpful definition here. He has defined a covenant as: "A bond in blood, sovereignly administered." This is a useful explanation which we will illustrate from Scripture.

1) A COVENANT IS A BOND - Genesis 21:22-34 - The Bible is filled with different types of covenants, some between God and men, between men and God, or between men and men. Even for ourselves, it is impossible to live one's life without involvement in covenantal relationships. We have marriage covenants, covenants when we see ourselves as citizens of a country, covenants when we make promises to individuals, covenants when we join a church. Each promise and bond brings order and direction to our lives. In Genesis 21, we have a good example of a covenant made between two men, Abraham and Abimelech. A dispute arises over the ownership of a well, and Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech, agreeing that the well is Abraham's. In this passage we see a declaration of the covenantal agreement, Abimelech is asked to witness that this was indeed Abraham's well. We also see a sign given for the covenant, seven ewe lambs. Again, throughout Scripture, a variety of signs are used as a witness in covenants. Circumcision, baptism, certain stones or places all become signs of covenantal promises and relationships. The promise which God speaks to His people is, "I will be your God and you will be My people." Here are the words of the Covenant of Grace, as God establishes a bond with mankind. This is the first part of the definition of covenant.

2) A COVENANT IS A BOND IN BLOOD - Genesis 15:1-21 - By this we mean that the breaking of a covenant has serious ramifications. The only way out of the covenant is through death. Consider, as an example, the marriage covenant. Though marriage is often treated frivolously today, the words "till death do us part" puts this covenant into the realm of life and death. The only way out of marriage is through death. The Scriptures tell us that death and adultery end the marital relationship. In the Old Testament, when adultery was committed, the penalty would be death. This is what made marriage a "bond in blood" to be broken only through death. The marriage partner is stating, "death be upon me if I break this vow." So it is with God. He does not enter into covenants carelessly. In Genesis 15, we read of that strange ceremony between God and Abraham. The Lord has just confirmed the covenant of grace with Abraham. Yet the patriarch asks for a sign from God. The Lord tells Abraham to divide several animals in half. That evening, the Lord walks between the torn animals. What is the significance of this action? Abraham has asked God for a sign of the truthfulness of His promises. Here we see God passing through the animals, and by this action, He is declaring to Abraham, "May I become like these torn animals if I do not uphold My pledge and covenant to you, Abraham!" This is a covenant in blood, a covenant leading to death if the promises were not kept by God. (Note Jeremiah 34:18-20, where the leaders of God's people had passed through the animals, but they broke covenant with God. They would reap the curses of the broken covenant by being killed like the animals they had walked through in promise.) God was making a vow of blood to Abraham. One might ask here: Why did Christ shed His blood? Why is His blood called the blood of the new covenant? Christ has shed His blood for covenant breakers. As we have broken covenant with God, the wages of our sin is death. Yet here we have the Savior taking our place. He takes the curse (death) of our broken covenant with God.

3) A COVENANT IS A BOND IN BLOOD, SOVEREIGNLY ADMINISTERED - Genesis 17:1-16 - In this passage in Genesis, we once again see God confirming the Covenant of Grace with Abraham. Yet as we read the passage we should listen carefully to the way in which the covenant is presented. Abraham is the passive bystander. He is not given options to choose from. Instead, we heard God declaring the terms and conditions of His covenant. He does not ask Abraham if the terms are acceptable or too difficult. God does not bargain with people nor does He coax them into a relationship. Sadly, Christians today present Him as some sort of deity tied up in heaven and bound to the will and whims of men. Our Gospel preaching has lost its strength when we present it as something men can pick and choose as they please. Instead, Paul tells us that "God commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). The Gospel is a sovereign decree from heaven, demanding repentance and faith, commanding men to bow to Christ, ordering sinners under the full sovereignty of the Savior. It dictates that Christ and Christ alone is the means of salvation. Yes, it is full of grace, promise, blessing and forgiveness. However, should a man reject this royal decree, he will reap all the curses and punishments from a broken covenant. The Gospel is the law of God, dictated from His throne, as God declares, demands, orders and condemns. Let us not treat the Gospel as anything less than this. When God speaks sovereignly, man must listen and obey. So we see with God's relationship to Abraham. God sovereignly declares to the patriarch that He will be his God, and that the descendants of Abraham will be His people. He commands Abraham and his people to walk before Him. He declares that He will bless those who remain in this covenant of grace and curse those who reject it. This is the Gospel and it is to never lose its sovereign authority in its declaration. It is God's covenant from beginning to end! A covenant is a bond in blood, sovereignly administered. Let us bow in thanksgiving before a God who has been so gracious to stoop to conquer such sinners as we are!