Why
would one even want to do a detailed study of covenant in the Bible? Isn't
this type of study primarily for theologians? As discussed below, every
believer should have a firm grasp of the glorious Biblical truths
concerning covenant. And yet tragically much of the modern church has at
best only a surface understanding of the truths about covenant.Andrew Murray, the gifted
nineteen century writer in Two Covenants speaks to the importance
of studying covenant writing...:
Blessed is the man who truly knows God
as his God; who knows what the Covenant promises him; what unwavering
confidence of expectation it secures, that all its [covenant's] terms will
be fulfilled to him; what a claim and hold it gives him on the
Covenant-keeping God Himself. To many a man, who has never thought much of
the Covenant, a true and living faith in it would mean the transformation
of his whole life. The full knowledge of what God wants to do for him; the
assurance that it will be done by an Almighty Power; the being drawn to
God Himself in personal surrender, and dependence, and waiting to have it
done; all this would make the Covenant the very gate of heaven. May the
Holy Spirit give us some vision of its glory. (Murray,
Andrew: Two Covenants)
Many men and women who have studied
the Biblical truths about Covenant testify that it is one of the most life
changing truths they have ever encountered. In fact, God mightily used the truths unveiled in
the study of His covenants to supernaturally revive my marriage. My wife
and I experienced the truth recorded by the psalmist...
He sent His word and healed them, And
delivered them from their destructions (Psalm 107:20) (Comment: This
passage referring to rebellious Israel but is applicable to rebellious
believers such as myself).
Below are a few other reasons you
can benefit from studying God's covenants with man.
1) Deeper Understanding of the Bible
As a result of studying Covenant you will attain a grasp of the Word of
God that far exceeds anything that you have ever known or experienced
before. You will come to know God more intimately in the process, which is
the best gift of all. You will discover that the concept of covenant
saturates the entirety of Scripture, "the
crimson thread of covenant woven throughout the fabric of God's truth from
Genesis to Revelation." You will come to fully appreciate how the concept
of covenant saturates the Scriptures.
Lawrence Richards writes,
The notion of a covenant is unfamiliar
today. But the concept of covenant is utterly basic to our understanding
of Scripture. In Old Testament times this complex concept was the
foundation of social order and social relations, and it was particularly
the foundation for an understanding of humanity's relationship with God.
2) Everything God Does is Based
on Covenant
You will come to understand that all
God's interactions with mankind are based on covenant. You will to
discover a promise that has been there all the time, hidden in vague
shadows and blurred by the veil of ignorance.
3) Better Understanding of the
New Covenant
You will obtain a deeper appreciation of the New
Covenant with Jesus Christ and what has take place in your life when you
entered into His New Covenant. You will come to know
that because of His covenant of grace you can be assured that you will
always be the "beloved of God" in Christ Jesus Whose hands
eternally bear the marks of covenant.
4) Assurance, Freedom, Power
An understanding of Covenant will give
you assurance of who you are in Jesus Christ and conversely of Whose you are
in Him. It will
also give you freedom from what may have bound you in the past or
may be binding you right now, and awaken in you the power that is
yours in Christ Jesus, power based on your New Covenant life in
Christ.
5) An Attitude of Gratitude
An understanding of God's Covenants will give
you a deep sense of gratitude for what God has
accomplished for you in sending His Son to "cut" covenant.
6) Accountability and responsibility
You will
have a greater understanding of your responsibility as a result of having
entered the New Covenant as you begin to see your role in the
covenant relationship with Christ.
7) Understand missing piece of the puzzle
You will understand what it means to be
in covenant with God in Jesus Christ, and see as you have never
seen before that truly covenant is "the missing piece of the puzzle". You
will begin to see
how the entire word of God fits together as you grow in your understanding
of the Abrahamic
covenant, the old covenant (Mosaic, "the Law"), and the New Covenant.
8) You will never be the same again
Many have testified that as a result
of beginning to truly understand the meaning of covenant their spiritual
life has undergone a major transformation. This can also be your testimony
if you persevere and diligently pursue studying the Biblical truths about
covenant.
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Spurgeon adds that
Elohim,
as the Creator and Preserver, takes care of living things to
preserve them; but the Lord, even
Jehovah,
the covenanting God, interposes in great mercy to protect his
chosen servant. It was Jehovah Who entered into solemn
league and covenant with His servant Noah that he would
preserve him in the ark, and float him into the new world in
it; and as Jehovah the covenanting One He shut him in.
There is no security like that which is given us by the
covenant of grace. The hand which was lifted to swear our
safety has also been outstretched to effect it. The
everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure guarantees
salvation to all who are represented by the great Head and
Surety of that covenant, even our Lord Jesus. Love and power
cooperate with faithfulness and truth to keep the chosen from
all danger. Dwell much upon the
Covenant,
and note the immutable pledges by which it is secured and the
immortal principles upon which it is founded. Try to suck
out the delicious sweetness which is to be found in the hive
of the
Covenant; for
if you are an advanced child of God no form of truth can be
more nourishing or refreshing to your mind. The doctrines
which spring out of the covenant are peculiarly comforting to
believing minds (e.g., see
Exchange of Robes,
Exchange of Armor and Belts,
Oneness of Covenant,
etc). The promises
of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus, and can never fail
nor change, since the covenant standeth fast for ever and
ever. Its tenure is free and sovereign grace, and it cannot be
disannulled. Here is a line of it, “I will put my fear in
their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.” With such
a promise doth
Jehovah
shut us in with Christ
Jesus in matchless kindness and unspeakable love (See full
sermon
Shut in or Shut Out)
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Spurgeon in Morning and
Evening comments on God's covenant...
“He hath commanded his covenant for
ever.” — Psalms 111:9
The
Lord’s people delight in the covenant itself.
It is an unfailing source of
consolation to them so often as the Holy Spirit leads them into its
banqueting house and waves its banner of love.
They delight to contemplate the
antiquity of that covenant, remembering that before the
day-star knew its place, or planets ran their round, the interests of the
saints were made secure in Christ Jesus.
It is peculiarly pleasing to them to
remember the sureness of the covenant, while meditating upon “the
sure mercies of David.” They delight to celebrate it as “signed, and
sealed, and ratified, in all things ordered well.”
It often makes their hearts dilate
with joy to think of its immutability, as a covenant which
neither time nor eternity, life nor death, shall ever be able to violate—a
covenant as old as eternity and as everlasting as the Rock of ages.
They rejoice also to feast upon the
fulness of this covenant, for they see in it all things provided for
them.
God is their
Portion,
Christ their Companion,
The Spirit their Comforter,
Earth their lodge, and
Heaven their home.
They see in it an inheritance
reserved and entailed to every soul possessing an interest in its
ancient and eternal deed of gift.
Their eyes sparkled when they saw it
as a treasure-trove in the Bible; but oh! how their souls were gladdened
when they saw in the last will and testament of their divine Kinsman, that
it was bequeathed to them!
More especially it is the pleasure
of God’s people to contemplate the graciousness of this covenant.
They see that the law was made void because it was a covenant of works and
depended upon merit, but this they perceive to be enduring because grace
is the basis, grace the condition, grace the strain, grace the bulwark,
grace the foundation, grace the top stone.
The
covenant is...
a treasury of wealth,
a granary of food,
a fountain of life,
a store-house of salvation,
a charter of peace,
and a haven of joy.
