The Real New Testament Church
  • Home
  • Contents
  • Preface
  • Eternal Plan
    • Chapter 1 - Motive for the Eternal Church
    • Chapter 2 - Eternal Kingdom
    • Chapter 3 - Eternal Kingdom on Earth
    • Chapter 4 - Covenant
    • Chapter 5 - Eternal Covenant
    • Chapter 6 - Renovation Covenant
    • Chapter 7 - Covenants for Israel
  • Eternal Church
    • Foundation of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 8 - Covenant for the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 9 - Calling of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 10 - Parables for the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 11 - Description of the Eternal Church
    • Composition of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 12 - Headship of the Eternal Church - Doctrinal
      • Chapter 13 - Body of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 14 - Women of the Eternal Church
    • Legality of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 15 - Justification of the Eternal Church
    • Life of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 16 - Birth of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 17 - Life of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 18 - Sanctification of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 19 - Law of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 20 - Return to Law for the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 21 - Faith of the Eternal Church
    • Incarnation of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 20 - Function and Form of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 21 - Purpose and Mission of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 22 - Manifestation of the Eternal Church
    • Doctrine and Practice of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 23 - Teaching of the Eternal Church (Apostolic)
      • Chapter 24 - Tradition of the Eternal Church (Apostolic)
    • Teaching of the Eternal Church (Apostolic) >
      • Chapter 25 - Values of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 26 - Prayer of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 27 - Works of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 28 - Giving of the Eternal Church
    • Tradition of the Eternal Church (Apostolic) >
      • Chapter 29 - Headship of the Eternal Church - Practical
      • Chapter 30 - Governance of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 31 - Simplicity of the Eternal Church on Earth
      • Chapter 32 - Assembly of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 33 - Supper of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 34 - Practice of the Eternal Church
    • Growth of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 35 - Growth of the Eternal Church
    • Warfare of the Eternal Church >
      • Chapter 36 - Temporal Simulation of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 37 - Warfare of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 38 - Power for the Warfare of the Eternal Church
      • Chapter 39 - Armor for the Warfare of the Eternal Church
  • Eternal Reformation
    • Chapter 40 - From Law to Life
  • Real New Testament Church
    • Chapter 41 - Real New Testament Church
  • Endnotes
  • About
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Chapter 4 - Covenant 
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God established the real New Testament church on earth as a chosen instrument to vindicate His nature from angelic challenge and accusation. He designed it to fulfill its purpose by contributing to the repopulation of His kingdom with willing citizens. Relative to its importance in fulfilling His eternal plan, God secured the church before the foundation of the world by unconditional covenant promise.  
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The concept of covenant is a vital theme of the Bible. Therefore, without a foundational knowledge of the concept of covenant, it is impossible to accurately interpret the whole counsel of the “word of truth.”
 
The Holy Bible is one cohesive covenant document. It is filled with covenant language from beginning to end.

Fundamentally, a covenant is a binding agreement between two parties. It is mutually beneficial.

The Bible speaks of covenants that have originated both in heaven and on earth. Although it originated from God in eternity, the concept of covenant rapidly became a common tradition among men.
 
                                   Earthly Covenants
 
Covenant was a familiar and understandable concept in the ancient world. “… ancient cultures adopted the concept of a covenant to express a range of interpersonal and social relationships. A covenant between nations was a treaty (Genesis 14:13; 31:44-55). Between persons, a covenant might express a business contract or a pledge of friendship (1 Samuel 18:3; 23:18). A covenant between a ruler and the subjects served as the constitution of states, spelling out the responsibilities of both the ruler and the ruled (2 Samuel 3:21; 5:3).”[1]

​The Bible reveals several different kinds of earthly covenants established between men. For example, hand covenants (Ezra 10:19; Ezekiel 17:18), shoe covenants (Ruth 4:8), and salt covenants (Numbers 18:19; Leviticus 2:13; 2 Chronicles 13:5). 
 
                                  Heavenly Covenants
 
In contrast to covenants derived from an earthly source, there are also heavenly covenants revealed in the Bible. Initiated by God, each one is critical to His covenantal plan for humanity. The satisfaction of each covenantal stipulation precisely as stated beforehand serves to defend His integrity.
 

In agreement with His covenantal plan, God clarifies what He intends to do before He does it. His ensuing fulfillment of previously revealed covenantal stipulation serves to demonstrate His truthfulness and trustworthiness. It provides irrefutable evidence that the work of God is always consistent with the word of God. Therefore, the integrity of His nature is indisputable.
 
                                      Law or Promise
 
There are two types of heavenly covenants that originate from God for the benefit of His creation. They include covenants of law and promise.

Heavenly covenants of law are conditional. Under the rule of divine law, obedience to covenant stipulation leads to blessing and disobedience to cursing. Human cooperation occurs by the works of law.

In contrast, heavenly covenants of promise are unconditional. Under the gracious rule of divine life (zoe), God promises to both initiate and fulfill the unconditional stipulations of the covenant regardless of the performance of His covenant partner or chosen beneficiary. Thus, human cooperation occurs through the obedience of faith (Romans 6:15; 16:26).
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                                     Essential Elements
 
While some variation may occur, there are at least four essential elements associated with divine, heavenly covenants.  They include:   
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Elements
Definition
Preamble
Identification of the covenant participant(s).  
Background
Relationship of covenant participant(s) clarified.  
Stipulations
Obligation of covenant participant(s) explained through means of law or promise.  
Ratification
Obligation of covenant participant(s) validated by oath, blessing, or sacrifice, generally accompanied by a sign.   
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                           Major Covenants of the Bible

While the Bible contains the 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 an interrelated series of formal agreements between God and His creation. They benefit His creation and ensure that He will perform as indicated.

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 and 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. 

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 for the benefit of the nation of Israel. In the future, God will initiate the New Covenant. It will also 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 before the foundation of the world. It was fulfilled in time. Redemptive in nature, its stipulations included the willing death of the Son, His subsequent resurrection by the Father, and its application to fallen humanity by the Spirit. The fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant provided the basis for the 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. Concordant 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
General 
Covenant 
Description
References
Noahic Covenant
The Noahic Covenant was an unconditional covenant of promise whereby 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; Deut. 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 the nation of 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 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. They either have been or will be initiated by God on earth exclusively to benefit the nation of Israel. The series of covenants are inclusive of both law and promise. Through covenantal law and promise, Israel is privileged to enjoy covenant partnership with God.   
 
In contrast, the distinct church of the New Testament is not a covenant partner with God. Instead, it is an unconditional beneficiary of the heavenly promise of the Eternal Covenant; union of life with God.



© 2018 James Hiatt

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