The Covenant Relationship

I recently had an opportunity to study the covenants of the Bible and understand what they have to teach us today. Covenants are usually based on relationships only. The Bible is not a random collection of laws, moral principles, and stories. It is the story of a God who bound Himself to Man based on covenant-relationship. So, the Biblical covenants are the backbone of the storyline of the Bible. The story of the Bible unfolds and advances through the covenants God made with His people. We have to make an effort to understand the covenants in order to understand the Bible and the God of the Bible!

There are two types of covenants in the Bible: conditional and unconditional. A conditional covenant is a bilateral covenant. Under the conditional covenants, the blessings are secured by obedience. Man must meet his conditions before God meets His. An unconditional covenant is a unilateral covenant and is a sovereign act of God whereby God unconditionally obligates Himself to bring to pass definite blessings for His covenanted people. The Edenic and the Mosaic Covenants are conditional while the Adamic Covenant, the Noahic Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Palestinian or Land Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant are unconditional.

We first find the unconditional covenant of grace in Genesis 3:15, where God promises that a savior will come who will crush the head of the serpent. The provisions of the New covenant can be enjoyed by an immediate act of faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." We have a measure of that rest, which comes from forgiveness and confidence in Jesus. However, the real rest for our souls can come only when we take His yoke upon us through obedience and learn from Him (2 Corinthians 4:16). Many people are saved in one sense, but in another sense, they are still longing for 'rest in their souls.' It is time that we took possession of that inheritance of the New Covenant which the Lord has made our own, for in Christ Jesus, we have obtained an inheritance.

My friend, through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven, and we are declared righteous in God's sight. However, true rest for our soul can be enjoyed only when we obey the Word. May the Lord help us find true rest for our souls!

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 30th July 2019 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 31st July 2019

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