BIBLICAL COVENANTS
The covenants of God contained in Scripture fall into two classes, those that are conditional and those that are unconditional. A conditional covenant is one in which God’s action is in response to some action on the part of those to whom the covenant is addressed. An unconditional covenant, while it may include certain human unforeseen events, is a declaration of the certain purpose of God and the promises of an unconditional covenant will certainly be fulfilled in God’s time and way.
8 Covenants of The Bible (Lewis Sperry Chafer - Major Bible Themes)
The Edenic Covenant was the 1st Covenant that God made with man (Genesis 1:26 – 31 and 2:16 – 17) and it was a conditional covenant with Adam in which life and blessing or death and cursing were made to depend on the faithfulness of Adam.
The Adamic Covenant was made with man after The Fall (Genesis 3:16 – 19). This is an unconditional covenant in which God declares to man what his lot in life will be because of his sin.
The Noahic Covenant was made with Noah and his sons (Genesis 9:1 – 18). This covenant, while repeating some of the features of the Adamic Covenant, introduced a new principle of human government as a means to curb sin. Like The Adamic Covenant it was unconditional and it revealed God’s purpose for the race succeeding Noah.
The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1 – 4, 13:14 – 17, 15:1 – 7, and 17:1 – 8) is one of the great revelations of God concerning future history and in it profound promises were given along three lines.
1.) numerous posterity
2.) a great nation would emerge
3.) a blessing would come to the entire world ¨
Like The Adamic and Noahic Covenants, this to was unconditional.
Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1 – 3; 13:14 – 17; 15:18 – 21; 17:7 – 8; 22:17 – 18):
To the Nation Israel
The Land: the nation was unconditionally & unilaterally promised possession of the land (15:8 – 21)
The Ruling Seed (17:18 – 19)...The line of the seed is narrowed to one son of Abraham....In each generation there is a particular recipient of the promise.
The Natural Seed: the nation would be great & innumerable (12:2; 13:16; 15:5)
To the Nations: all families of the earth are promised blessing (12:3).
1.) numerous posterity
2.) a great nation would emerge
3.) a blessing would come to the entire world ¨
Like The Adamic and Noahic Covenants, this to was unconditional.
Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1 – 3; 13:14 – 17; 15:18 – 21; 17:7 – 8; 22:17 – 18):
To the Nation Israel
The Land: the nation was unconditionally & unilaterally promised possession of the land (15:8 – 21)
The Ruling Seed (17:18 – 19)...The line of the seed is narrowed to one son of Abraham....In each generation there is a particular recipient of the promise.
The Natural Seed: the nation would be great & innumerable (12:2; 13:16; 15:5)
To the Nations: all families of the earth are promised blessing (12:3).
The Mosaic Covenant was given through Moses for the children of Israel while they were journeying from Egypt to The Promised Land (Exodus 20 – 31:18). The Mosaic Covenant (or The Mosaic Law) was a conditional covenant and embodied the principle that if Israel was obedient, God would bless them; but, if Israel was disobedient, God would curse them and discipline them.
The Palestinian Covenant, also known as The Deuteronomic Covenant or The Land Covenant, (Deuteronomy 30:1 – 10) was an unconditional covenant regarding Israel’s final possession of The Land.
The Land Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1 – 10):
This unconditional covenant elaborates upon Israel’s relation to the land promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 17:1 – 18)
The land is the everlasting possession of the physical seed of Abraham (Israel, Genesis 13:5; 17:8; Ezekiel 16:60).
Fulfillment: the future, earthly millennium (Deuteronomy 30:3; Isaiah 11:11 – 12; Ezekiel 37:21; Amos 9:15).
The Land Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1 – 10):
This unconditional covenant elaborates upon Israel’s relation to the land promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 17:1 – 18)
The land is the everlasting possession of the physical seed of Abraham (Israel, Genesis 13:5; 17:8; Ezekiel 16:60).
Fulfillment: the future, earthly millennium (Deuteronomy 30:3; Isaiah 11:11 – 12; Ezekiel 37:21; Amos 9:15).
The Davidic Covenant (2nd Samuel 7:4 – 16 and 1st Chronicles 17:3 – 15) was an unconditional covenant in which God promised David an unending royal lineage, a throne, and a kingdom, all of them forever.
The promise of a ruling seed is made more specific in the Davidic Covenant.
The unconditional, unilateral covenant promises:
A Son (house): the line of David would always be the royal line.
A Throne: the right to rule would always belong to a Davidic heir.
A Kingdom: a political kingdom of Israel over which the Davidic heir would rule.
Fulfilled: In the Person of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31 – 33), during His reign on earth during the millennium (Isaiah 2:2 – 3, 11:10, 40:5, 66:23; Daniel 7:14; Zechariah 14:9; Acts 15:14 – 17; Revelations 20:2).
The promise of a ruling seed is made more specific in the Davidic Covenant.
The unconditional, unilateral covenant promises:
A Son (house): the line of David would always be the royal line.
A Throne: the right to rule would always belong to a Davidic heir.
A Kingdom: a political kingdom of Israel over which the Davidic heir would rule.
Fulfilled: In the Person of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31 – 33), during His reign on earth during the millennium (Isaiah 2:2 – 3, 11:10, 40:5, 66:23; Daniel 7:14; Zechariah 14:9; Acts 15:14 – 17; Revelations 20:2).
The New Covenant prophesied in The Old Testament and to have its primary fulfillment in The Millennial Kingdom is also an unconditional covenant (Jeremiah 31:31 – 33).
The Promise is the nation, to bring spiritual blessings on the people.
The unconditional, unilateral covenant promises: Forgiveness of sin, Spiritual blessing (a changed heart, the indwelling Holy Spirit, fellowship with God, knowledge of God).
The New Covenant was ratified by the death of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; 1st Corinthians 11:23 – 27; Hebrews 12:24).
Fulfilled: It will be fulfilled in the Millennium by Israel (Isaiah 54:10, 55:5, 59:20 – 21, 61:8; Jeremiah 31:33 – 34; Ezekiel 16:60 – 63; Romans 11:26 – 27; Hebrews 8:8 – 12). During the present (church age), Gentiles enter into the spiritual provisions of the New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ (its Mediator, 1st Corinthians 11:23 – 27; Hebrews 10:16 – 17; 12:24).
The Promise is the nation, to bring spiritual blessings on the people.
The unconditional, unilateral covenant promises: Forgiveness of sin, Spiritual blessing (a changed heart, the indwelling Holy Spirit, fellowship with God, knowledge of God).
The New Covenant was ratified by the death of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; 1st Corinthians 11:23 – 27; Hebrews 12:24).
Fulfilled: It will be fulfilled in the Millennium by Israel (Isaiah 54:10, 55:5, 59:20 – 21, 61:8; Jeremiah 31:33 – 34; Ezekiel 16:60 – 63; Romans 11:26 – 27; Hebrews 8:8 – 12). During the present (church age), Gentiles enter into the spiritual provisions of the New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ (its Mediator, 1st Corinthians 11:23 – 27; Hebrews 10:16 – 17; 12:24).