The astonishing purpose of the Covenants is they progressively reveal God’s relationship with the created, culminating in Calvary. They show His purpose to restore humanity back into communion, identity, authority and life through the Son of God.

Covenant

A covenant is a legally binding, formal agreement between two parties. It is an unbreakable promise to perform a particular action concerning the recipients of the covenant.

It stands alone from all other law in that it always carried a seal, representing enduring commitment to the covenant.

Edenic Covenant – Genesis 1, 2

This covenant established God’s eternal plan for humanity. Adam and Eve were to be fruitful and multiply, with total freedom within God’s order, and access to the tree of life. They had no necessity to die. The only restriction was they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God created man in His image, Genesis 1:27. They were to fellowship with God, as God’s own possession, 1 Peter 2:9. The Tree of Life and Sabbath rest being the seals.

This covenant revealed humanity’s origin, for true identity begins in God. God had an eternal purpose in all this, for He knew the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10. He knew what Adam would do before He created him, for God’s eternal Kingdom would be established through Christ.

Adamic Covenant – Genesis 3

Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought:

• Sin to all mankind
• Separation from God
• Death – physical and spiritual
• Corruption to all creation.

The seal being the coats of skin, Genesis 3:20, requiring the death of innocent animals. Christ being the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8. This covenant was given to them in their sinful state, just as we are seated in heavenly places when we were dead in our transgressions, Ephesians 2:5.

The covenant shows the consequences of sin but also gave the promise of eternal redemption through the seed of the woman, Genesis 3:15. God would buy fallen man back from the usurper, Satan, and a new creature would be created in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Fallen State

Man in his fallen state, would know pain, toil, and struggle. Satan’s end was foretold and man was expelled from the perfect garden of Eden. God revealed His judgement and mercy that never ceases. – it is new every morning, Lamentations 2:22.

However, eternal redemption would come through the seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent. God revealed His judgement and mercy that never ceases. – it is new every morning, Lamentations 2:22.

Noahic Covenant – Genesis 8, 9

This covenant was made with Noah, his descendants and all living creatures, establishing earthly order. Man was again commanded to multiply. This covenant established human government and justice, plus the sanctity of life. The rainbow being the seal.

Following the flood God promised to never again destroy the earth by water, Genesis 9:11. The next time it will be by fire, 2 Peter 3:11,12, when Christ will be the great Judge, Matthew 35:31-46.

Abrahamic Covenant – Genesis 12,15, 17

It was a promise to Abraham and his descendants. A covenant of faith and blessing for the the covenantal family. It was the promise of:

• Land
• Descendants as the stars in the sky and as the sand of the seashore, Genesis 22:17
• A blessing and witness to all nations
• A relationship based on faith.

The covenant was sealed with the rite of circumcision. Israel was to be God’s covenantal people, revealing salvation by faith. It held all the promise of God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Palestinian – Land – Covenant Deuteronomy 29, 30

This covenant described Israel’s future scattering and restoration to the land. The Promised Land being the seal of this covenant.

They would know blessing for obedience and exile for disobedience. There were the promises to the individual of renewal of heart. Always based on relationship with God through His faithfulness – despite man’s failure.

Mosaic Covenant – Exodus 19-24

This covenant was with Moses concerning

• Law
• Holiness
• Covenantal relationship.

It established Israel as a holy nation, worshipping the One True God. It set them apart from all the surrounding, idol-worshipping peoples.

The key elements were:

• The ten commandments
• Civil law
• Moral law
• Ceremonial law.

God’s Dwelling

Again, there were blessings for obedience, plus a sacrificial system, tabernacle worship and priestly classification. The Sabbath was the seal.  

It revealed God’s holiness, exposed sin and man’s inability to redeem himself. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin, Hebrews 9:22, which could only be fulfilled through the death and resurrection of the sinless Son of God – Jesus Christ.

Davidic Covenant – 2 Samuel 7

This covenant was all about a throne and a kingdom. The throne and Kingship of David being the seal.

It established David’s lineage through which God’s Messiah would come, Romans 1:3. The covenant also promised the everlasting kingdom and the King of Kings, Revelation 17:14.

Jesus alone fulfills the Davidic Covenant, as the eternal King whose kingdom never ends, Isaiah 9:7.

Astonishing Purpose of the Old Testament Covenants

The astonishing purpose of the seven Old Testament covenants was the gradual revelation of God’s eternal purpose and plan. They were the shadow of the reality that was to come and find their fulfillment in the 8^th covenant, the New Covenant, established through Jesus Christ. A covenant God made with God.

Seven being the biblical number of completion and eight being the number of resurrection.

• Edenic Covenant – restored union through Christ
• Adamic Covenant – redemption through the Cross of Calvary
• Noahic Covenant – eternal salvation
• Abrahamic Covenant – faith in God
• Palestinian Covenant – Promised Land fulfilled in the Kingdom of God
• Mosaic Covenant – Christ as our High Priest fulfilling the Law, Hebrews 6,7,8,9
• Davidic Covenant – the Eternal King, Jesus Christ.
• New Covenant – Believers sealed with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13.

New Covenant

The seal of the New Covenant is the Holy Spirit, plus the emblems of bread and wine in the commemorative service. The New Covenant is all about restored relationship with the great I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:14, through God’s grace and righteousness and man’s spiritual rebirth as a new creature, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, fulfills:

• The innocence lost in the Edenic/Adamic Covenant – internal transformation for the believer
• The preservation and mercy revealed in the Noahic Covenant – from striving to abiding
• The promise and inheritance of the Abrahamic Covenant – separation to union
• Dwelling in the Promised Land – eternal stability in the kingdom
• The holiness and order of the Mosaic Covenant – sacrifice to sonship where fear becomes love
• The kingship and authority of the Davidic Covenant – from performance to identity.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, sinful man is able to receive complete redemption. God no longer writes His law on tablets of stone, but on the human heart, Jeremiah 31:33.

Eternal Covenant

Some of the Old Testament Covenants had eternal components, but the New Covenant is an eternal covenant that cannot be broken. Christ Himself is the mediator and the fulfillment. He is, was and is to come, Revelation 1:4, the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8.

Recipients of the New Covenant:

• Are spiritually reborn
• True identity is restored
• They are the dwelling place of God, John 14:23
• Have direct access to the Father
• Live from grace instead of condemnation
• Empowered y the Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness
• Carry the authority and nature of Christ.

The New Covenant results in:

• Presence over distance
• Reality over shadow
• Spirit over law
• Sonship over slavery
• Internal transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The amazing purpose of the covenants is that sinful man can be restored into an eternal relationship with the Creator. Believers will live forever as spiritually reborn sons and daughter in the holy and glorious presence of the Almighty God, as tried and tested overcomers.

Photo Source

Dr. Wendy is a servant of the Lord who lives to share words of encouragement from the Word of God in these end of time days.

Check out our other posts at Whispering Encouragement. We are here to inform and encourage. Subscribe for free so you can keep up to date with what interests you.

________________________Whispering Encouragement_______________________