The Real New Testament Church
  • Home
  • Contents
  • Preface
  • Real Plan
    • Chapter 1 - In the Beginning
    • Chapter-2-After the Beginning
    • Chapter 3 - Kingdom
    • Chapter 4 - Earth in the Kingdom or Kingdom on Earth
    • Chapter 5 - Original Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 6 - Renovated Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 7 - Kingdom on the Degenerated Earth
    • Chapter 8 - Tribulation
    • Chapter 9 - Kingdom on the Regenerated Earth
    • Chapter 10 - New Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 11 - Covenant
    • Chapter 12 - Major Covenants of the Bible
    • Chapter 13 - Eternal Covenant
    • Chapter 14 - Renovation Covenant
    • Chapter 15 - Covenants for Israel
  • Real Church
    • Real Fundamentals >
      • Chapter 16 - Real Church
      • Chapter 17 - Church Covenant
      • Chapter 18 - Calling
      • Chapter 19 - Parables
      • Chapter 20 - Kingdom of Heaven Parables
      • Chapter 21 - Description
    • Real Legality >
      • Chapter 22 - Law
      • Chapter 23 - Transgression
      • Chapter 24 - Justification
    • Real Life (zoe) >
      • Chapter 25 - Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 26 - Progression of Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 27 - Birth
      • Chapter 28 - Dependent Life
      • Chapter 29 - Sanctification
      • Chapter 30 - Rule of Life
      • Chapter 31 - Return to Law
      • Chapter 32 - Faith
    • Real Composition >
      • Chapter 33 - Headship
      • Chapter 34 - Body
      • Chapter 35 - Women
    • Real Incarnation >
      • Chapter 36 - Function and Form
      • Chapter 37 - Purpose and Mission
      • Chapter 38 - Manifestation
    • Real Doctrine and Practice >
      • Chapter 39 - Apostolic Teaching
      • Chapter 40 - Apostolic Tradition
    • Real Apostolic Teaching >
      • Chapter 41 - Values
      • Chapter 42 - Prayer
      • Chapter 43 - Works
      • Chapter 44 - Giving
    • Real Apostolic Tradition >
      • Chapter 45 - Governance
      • Chapter 46 - Simplicity
      • Chapter 47 - Gatherings
      • Chapter 48 - Supper: Celebration and Sign
      • Chapter 49 - Supper: Apostolic Tradition
      • Chapter 50 - Practice
    • Real Growth >
      • Chapter 51 - Growth
      • Chapter 52 - Exponential Growth
    • Real Warfare >
      • Chapter 53 - Temporal Simulation
      • Chapter 54 - Confirmation of Scripture
      • Chapter 55 - Sovereignty of God
      • Chapter 56 - Warfare
      • Chapter 57 - Utter Defeat
      • Chapter 58 - Freedom
      • Chapter 59 - Incomparable Power
      • Chapter 60 - Armor
      • Chapter 61 - Full Armor
  • Real Reformation
    • Chapter 62 - Law and Life
    • Chapter 63 - From Law to Life
    • Chapter 64 - Divine Reformation
  • Conclusion
    • Chapter 65 - Real New Testament Church
  • Endnotes
  • About
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Chapter 12 - Major Covenants of the Bible
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While the Bible provides record of covenants originating from both heaven and earth, those initiated by the “God of heaven” are most significant. Therefore, they are considered the major covenants of the Bible. 

The major covenants of the Bible constitute a series of formal agreements between God and His creation. They benefit His creation and ensure that He will perform as indicated.

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                    Initiated in Eternity and Fulfilled in Time
 
Congruent with God’s eternal purpose and plan, two of the major covenants of the Bible were initiated in eternity and fulfilled in time. They include the redemptive Eternal Covenant and the Renovation Covenant.

The Eternal Covenant was initiated by the members of the Godhead in eternity. It was  fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the fullness of time.
    
The Renovation Covenant was also initiated in eternity. It was fulfilled in time when God covenanted with the first man, Adam. 
    
                            Initiated in Time from Eternity
 
In contrast to the covenants initiated in eternity, five major covenants were initiated in time from eternity. Within the confines of time, God first covenanted with Noah (Noahic Covenant). It was a covenant for the benefit of mankind in general. In addition, God covenanted with Abram (Abrahamic Covenant), Moses (Mosaic Covenant), and David (Davidic Covenant). They were covenants inaugurated specifically for the benefit of the nation of Israel. In the future, God will initiate the New Covenant. It will also serve to benefit the nation of Israel.
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Each contributing to the vindication of the divine nature, the seven major covenants of the Bible can be categorized as foundational; general and specific:

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Foundational Covenants
Description
References
Eternal Covenant
  • The Eternal Covenant was initiated between the members of the Godhead in eternity and fulfilled in time. Redemptive in nature, its stipulations included the willing death of the Son, His subsequent resurrection by the Father, and the application of its benefit to fallen humanity by the Spirit. The fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant provided the basis for relationship between God and man after the Fall.
Isaiah 53:10; Acts 2:23-24; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:20-21
Renovation Covenant
  • The Renovation Covenant was also initiated in eternity and fulfilled in time. It was a conditional covenant of law whereby God renovated the heavens and the earth to make them suitable for a new type of creature; mankind. He then provided the first man, Adam, with a solitary, conditional covenantal stipulation. Congruent with His purpose to vindicate His nature, the continuation of mankind in a state of holiness and the corresponding suitability of the earth were conditioned on the human choice whether to obey the stipulation.  
Genesis 1:2-3:13; Job 38:4-7; Isaiah 24:4-6; Jeremiah 33:19-26
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General Covenant
Description
References
Noahic Covenant
  • The Noahic Covenant was an unconditional covenant of promise through which God ensured the preservation of human life after the flood. First, the Noahic Covenant revised man’s relationship with the animal kingdom (Genesis 9:2-4). Second, it established human self-government (Genesis 9:5-6). Third, the Noahic Covenant was accompanied by a divine promise that there would never again be a worldwide flood (Genesis 9:8-11).
Genesis 8:20-9:11
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Specific Covenants
Description
References
Abrahamic Covenant
  • The Abrahamic Covenant was an unconditional covenant of promise between God and Abram (the progenitor of the nation of Israel) by which God ensured He would produce a great nation from Abram’s descendants and, thereby, bless all the nations of the earth.
Genesis 12:1-3; 7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 
17:1-8; 18:18; 22:18; Deuteronomy 29:1-30:10

Mosaic Covenant
  • The Mosaic Covenant was a conditional covenant of law between God and Moses (representing the nation of Israel) that provided a constitutional body of law for the formation and development of national Israel.
Exodus 20:1-31:18

Davidic Covenant
  • The Davidic Covenant was an unconditional covenant of promise between God and David (representing the nation of Israel) that ensured leadership for the nation of Israel. 
2 Samuel 7:4-17; 1 Chronicles 17:4-15; 2 Chronicles 6:16; Psalm 89:3-4
New Covenant
  • The New Covenant is an unconditional covenant of promise for the nation of Israel. In the future, it will ensure the fulfillment of the stipulations and promises of the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants.
Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 36:26,27;
Hebrews 8:8-12

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The Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants comprise a series of interrelated covenants. Inclusive of both law and promise, they either have been or will be initiated by God on earth exclusively for the benefit of the nation of Israel. The Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants present the means by which national Israel is privileged to enjoy covenant partnership with God.    
    
In contrast, the real New Testament church is not a covenant partner with God. Instead, it is an unconditional beneficiary of the heavenly promise of the Eternal Covenant; legal justification from all transgression of law and organic union of life with God.



© 2022 James Hiatt
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