The Most Ancient Covenant:
Covenant of Redemption
This covenant was made in eternity past, by God Himself, with Himself, (as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in which the triune God agreed to provide redemption for His erring children through faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ, His Son.
Covenant of Works
The Covenant of Works, although not mentioned specifically in the Old Testament, is implied.
According to covenant theologians, God entered into a covenant with Adam prior to the Fall. In this covenant He promised eternal life for obedience during a probationary period, and death if Adam disobeyed.
In this test Adam stood as the federal head of all humanity; had he obeyed, he would have been confirmed in righteousness, with the benefits passing to all humanity.
Conversely, because he failed and fell, Adam's act of disobedience was transmitted to all humanity -- all are born in sin and under sin's authority.
This Covenant finds its basis in the original Covenant of Redemption, where God proclaimed before Creation that He would provide for man's redemption.
Covenant of Grace
After Adam's fall, God entered into another covenant with Adam (who was representing the human race) in which God, in His abundant mercy, promised eternal life to all who would believe in Jesus Christ.
Essentially, this Covenant, too, is based on the Covenant of Redemption, made in eternity past by the triune God.
There are no conditions for us under this Covenant. It is an unconditional covenant. The only requirement is faith in Jesus Christ.
God is faithful to keep His Word.
I will be God to you and to your descendants after you
(Genesis 17:7).
(Genesis 17:7).
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:9).
We are now living under the Covenant of Grace....
that amazing grace we praise and thank God for each day!
And it all looks back to that ancient, original Covenant of Redemption - God's covenant, not with us, His unfaithful ones, but with Himself, the always Faithful One!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ.
(Ephesians 1:3-9)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ.
(Ephesians 1:3-9)
No comments:
Post a Comment