Monday: Covenant Promises
Covenants are based on promises. In fact, it is possible to use the two terms interchangeably. Of course, when a covenant is made, it is expected that the person who makes the promise (covenant) has the ability to deliver what is promised (covenanted).
In the Old Testament, some covenants were local and limited affairs (see, for instance, Gen. 31:43-54).
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The incident with Jacob and Laban demonstrates that covenants can be transactions made within and between societies. The monument at Mizpah was to serve as the sign of a treaty that would only apply to the two clans. When those to whom the treaty applied had died, the terms of the treaty would be irrelevant. Unlike this covenant made between humans, the covenants that Yahweh instituted with Noah and Abraham have everlasting implications.
How does Galatians 3:15-28 help to explain the broader implications of the Abrahamic covenant?
Throughout the Bible, God has made several universal covenants in which He makes promises that are relevant to all humanity. Recognizing that the entire earth had been affected by the Flood, Yahweh promised not to allow His creation to be devastated by water again. In the case with Abraham, God saw humanity’s need for righteousness and so He promised to provide a blessing for all nations through Abraham’s seed (Gen. 22:18).
Though God made the Sinai covenant with a specific nation it also has universal significance. God was very clear that any foreigner could be a part of the chosen people (for example, Exod. 12:48-49), and Israel’s mission was to be an evangelistic light to the world (Exod. 19:5-6).
What is your own personal understanding of your covenantal relationship with God? That is, what has God promised you, and what has He asked of you in return for those promises?
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It is a great honour to read and understand that a GREAT GOD, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS is interested to make a covenant with a sinful person, not a descendant 0f Abraham as I. HIS assurance of promise that he will deliver his part if I obey his command makes my life meaningful.
...so correct what you comment, and we become a blessing to others.
Though sinful i may be, God has promised me eternal life, i must therefor live in obedience with faith in Jesus Christ to His commandments so i may recieve His promise. Thanks God for the plan of salvation.
We make covenant everyday with people e.g. we promise to work, if our boss promise to pay us, or we will rent a house and pay the rent/mortgage, or we will use things for the house and pay our bills at the end of the month. A covenant might seem easy to keep, but no one can keep a covenant if Christ is not dwelling in them whether it is a covenant with man or God. How many times the children of Israel said "all you say to (Moses,Joshua, or to the prophets) we will do, just to break the promise a few days later. We read about the children of Israel leaving Egypt, the men of war was counted 603,050. In 40 years all of them died, check to see if it was not because of broken promises/covenant with God. So it is with us today, we make and break.
this lesson is so interesting, the promises made between us and the Lord may be meaningless if we fail to acknowledge the love of God. covenants between man are usually win win deals but thanks be to the Lord who seek not to benefit from mankind. He loved us even if we were sinners.
Wow, Paul is so deep; he goes right over my head. I had to go to the Message Bible to understand what he wanted to tell me (lol). Now, that I get it, I can say, "Wow! This is so cool.” The covenant with Abraham was like a will and the Law was like an addendum to the will but Paul then says it has nothing to do with the original will. The addendum (Law) is to make sure we're in compliance, showing us when we're "out of right relationship with God..." I like how the Message Bible goes on to say that the law was there “Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God…” and now I’m dressed “in an adult faith wardrobe – Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.” Hallelujah Amen!
My question is, if righteouness is not of the law, why should we spend too much time taliking the law, but not the faith in Jesus. Imam not saying the law is bad, but we will be justified by faith, therefore we should build our faith in Jesus instesd of boasting of keeping the law. If we open our mind as students of the bible, not dwelling on our past teaching, Paul is trying to encourage usnto have faith in Jesus.