Signs of the Everlasting Covenants

I have just completed the text of my fourth book in "The Faith" series. This one, that is now going out for proofreading, and endorsements, is entitled "Living the Faith", and is based on the Letter from James. There is, however, an Appendix on what is referred to as "Replacement Theology" or "Supersessionism". Preparing that, over recent weeks, has made me think a lot about Bible covenants and, in this post, I want to share on four of them.

The first mention of the key word "covenant" is in Genesis 6:18, where God promised to establish a covenant with Noah after the Flood. "I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you." 

This everlasting covenant was made with all the earth's future populations and is still in effect, symbolized continually by the beautiful rainbow arching through the sky after rain. "When the bow is in the clouds, I will look upon it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:16)

Almighty God also made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and Isaac. "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen. 17:7-8). This time, the symbol of God's everlasting covenant between them and their descendants, the people of Israel, was that of circumcision, "You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you." (Gen. 17:11).

There is still another everlasting covenant with the Children of Israel. "I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, that they may not turn from Me." (Jeremiah 32:40). These are just some of the covenants that Almighty God has made with the Children of Israel, and that confirm their right to the land that is now the State of Israel.

Finally, God has made this "new covenant" applicable to all of the saved and, this time, the sign of the covenant is nothing less than the precious blood of the Christ, shed on our behalf. "Now may the God of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. " (Hebrews 13:20-21). 

Are you in that covenant relationship? If not, why not? If I may be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me at the e-mail address at the top of the page.