Protective

“A covenant made with God should be regarded not as restrictive but as protective.” (Russell M. Nelson)

A covenant is a holy contract between God and humanity. There can be signs, blessings, and curses that follow a covenant.

·        God’s Covenant with Noah

This is my promise to you: All life on the earth was destroyed by the flood. But that will never happen again. A flood will never again destroy all life on the earth. (Genesis 9:11, ERV)

Commitment requirement: A unilateral promise to us from God. (There was no responsibility on Noah’s part.)

Sign: A rainbow

·        God’s Covenant with Abraham

I have plans to make a great people from your descendants. And I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others.  (Genesis 12:2, VOICE)

Commitment requirement:  This was a bilateral promise between Abraham and God to trust and obey Him.

Sign: Male circumcision (on the eighth day of life)

·        God’s Covenant with Israel

Now if you will hear My voice, obey what I say, and keep My covenant, then you—out of all the nations of the world—will be My treasured people. After all, the earth belongs to Me. (Exodus 19:5, VOICE)

Commitment requirement:  Follow the law (Ten Commandments).

Sign: Fire, cloud, and dark mist from Mount Horeb

·        God’s Covenant with David

¹² When you come to the end of your days, and you leave this life to lie down with your fathers, I will raise up from you a descendant, your own flesh and blood, and I will make his kingdom and family sure. ¹³ He will be the one to build a temple honoring My name, and I will establish the leadership of his kingdom for all time. (2 Samuel 7:12-13, VOICE)

Commitment requirement:  Obedience to God’s law.

Sign: A son, Solomon

·        God’s Covenant (of Grace) with You

So Jesus is the One who has enacted a new covenant with a new relationship with God so that those who accept the invitation will receive the eternal inheritance he has promised to his heirs. For he died to release us from the guilt of the violations committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15, TPT)

Commitment requirement:  Follow Jesus, God’s Son, by faith (through His death on the cross).

Sign: Baptism and communion

 “Making covenants is an expression of a faithful heart. Keeping covenants is an expression of a willing heart.” (Bonnie D. Parkin)[i]

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[i] Inspired by the sermon “Promises: Threads” (installment two) Sunday March 8, 2020, Dave Jansen CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH