UNDERSTANDING GOD’S COVENANTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY (PART 3)

2 TIMOTHY 2:15

RECAP

▪With reference to our previous lesson, who are the people the Bible referred to as “God’s People” and why are they so referred?

▪Mention the three covenants we examined in our last lesson and briefly state their meaning to us today.

4. The Covenant of Abraham (Abrahamic Covenant)

God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham, containing seven covenant promises. Look up Gen. 12:1-3. God fulfilled all His promises to Abraham.

▪Take particular note of the 7th promise (Gen. 12:3c) “…in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

▪God fulfilled this promise by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth as the Saviour of the world, to be born in the flesh from the descendants of Abraham. Check Matt. 1:1-17; Gal. 3:16.

Meaning

▪Christ is the ultimate offspring of Abraham (Matt. 1:1).

▪All who received Christ as Saviour are the true heirs of Abraham and have all the rights and privileges thereof.

▪If you’re Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heir according to the promise. See Gal. 3:28-29.

5. The Covenant of Moses (Mosaic Covenant)

Mosaic Covenant was a conditional agreement between God and the people of Israel that was mediated by Moses. See Exod. 19:3-6, 8.

▪The people of Israel had to fulfil God’s stipulations in this covenant to stay and prosper in the land God had given them. Look up Exd. 20:3-4, 7-8,12-17; 23:28, 32-33; 24:3,7.

▪None of the Israelites were pure before God through the keeping of this covenant, because it was impossible for anyone to obey it perfectly. The command regarding Sabbath for example, attracts capital punishment if violated. See Exd. 31:14.

▪Also, to be guilty of one law is to be guilty of all! Check James 2:10-11.

Meaning

▪This covenant shows us the impossibility of keeping God’s law perfectly and the need for a Saviour who is a perfect Son of Israel, who would obey God’s law in all things and be the once-for-all sacrifice for sin. Check Rom. 5:19; Heb. 7:27. See Jesus’ obedience in Jn. 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 10:17-18; 12:49-50; 15:10.

▪It also shows that, because of indwelling sin, the law is a taskmaster that humans can never appease (Jn. 8:34; Rom. 3:20). Only through faith in Christ one is declared righteous before God (Rom. 3:22).

Reflection: Briefly explain how God sees a believer as being righteous before Him.

6. The Covenant of David (Davidic Covenant)

God promised unconditionally to put a son of David on the throne and establish his kingdom forever. See 2Sam. 7:12-13. ▪︎David’s son, Solomon, ruled over Israel but a condition was introduced to the covenant (see 1Kings 9:4-5) which he failed to keep (Check 1Kings 11:4,6).

▪Only David’s descendant, Jesus, was the true and faithful son deserving of the everlasting throne of David. See Matt. 1:1,6, 17. Compare Lk. 18:38.

Meaning

▪Unlike human rulers, who disappoint us with their failure to rule justly, Jesus obeyed God in all things and earned the right to rule in glory forever. Check Phil .2:8-9; Rev 11:15. ▪We can take comfort in knowing that the resurrected Christ is the One truly righteous King who has secured eternal life for believers and will also put an end to all injustice and evil one day (Rev. 21:3-4).