7.1 The Everlasting Covenant
March 2008
References and Notes:
1. The Dispensational view
pictures God as requiring obedience to the law and observation of ceremonies as the means of salvation for the Jews under the old covenant; and requiring faith as the means of salvation for the Christian Church under the new covenant. This is illustrated as follows.
Old Covenant New Covenant
Ten Commandments Love for others
Saved by law Saved by grace
Sacrifices and Ceremonies Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary
There are problems with this view. The Covenant is repeatedly described in the Bible as “Everlasting”. Everlasting to the past, and everlasting to the future. This includes all aspects of the plan of salvation and is more in harmony with the character of God.
2. The term “covenant” is found 272 times in the Bible (King James Version), 254 times in the Old Testament and 18 times in the New. There is no discussion in the Old Testament of more than one covenant.
3. “New Covenant” is found four times in the Bible, three of these in Hebrews. “New Testament” means essentially the same as “new covenant.” It is found six times in the New Testament, four referring to the last supper. The other two times in 2 Cor 3:6 and Heb 9:15.
The historical new covenant prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 refers to the renewal of the covenant when Israel was restored to their land after 70 years captivity. There is also the “new covenant” experience whereby in a faith relationship God will write His law on the heart and will change the life. This is the experience that God desired all through history at every presentation of the covenant.
4. “Old Covenant” is not found anywhere in the Bible, though words like “first, faulty, and old” are used in Hebrews eight and nine. “Old Testament” is found just once in the Bible, 2 Cor 3:14 – discussing the vail over the face when reading the “old testament.”
There are several points that need to be kept in mind:
a) God does not do anything faulty, ever. He would never give a faulty covenant.
b) A faulty covenant was made at Sinai that lasted just a short time. This was based on human promises.
c) The context in the writings of Paul and especially in Hebrews is that there were Jewish Christians who could not let go of their dependence on rote keeping of the moral law, meticulous keeping of the ceremonial law, and their dependence on lineage from Abraham as their means of salvation. These things has become to them a covenant of works, analagous to the old covenant. To continue to depend on these things was to deny the efficacy of the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. Where these terms are used in Hebrews they are describing perceptions, not facts. One might even use the term “dispensation of sacrifices” for the worship form before Calvary, and a “dispensation of fact” after Calvary. Both dispensations required faith and offered grace.
(These definitions are extracted from Warren T: What is the difference between Covenant Theology and New Covenant Theology?)
http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/faq/covenant_theol.html
5. “I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people (18x).” This is the underlying and repeated covenant promise, the promise of what God will do for His people. (See Genesis 17:8; Exodus 6:7; 33:14-17; Leviticus 26:12; Deut 29:13; Jeremiah 11:4; 24:7; 30:22; 32:38; Ezekiel 11:20; 14:11; 36:28; 37:23, 27; Zechariah 8:8; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 8:10; Rev. 21:3).
6. Everlasting Covenant Verses (16)
Gen 9:16 And
the bow shall be in the
cloud;... that I may
remember the everlasting
covenant
Gen 17:7 I
will establish my covenant
(with Abraham) .... for an
everlasting covenant
Gen 17:13 He
that is born in thy
house,... be circumcised:
...for an everlasting
covenant.
Gen 17:9 I
will establish my
covenant... with him (Isaac)
for an everlasting covenant
Lev. 24:8 Every
sabbath he shall set it
(shewbread) in order... by
an everlasting covenant.
Num. 25:13 And
he (Phinehas) shall have
it,... even the covenant of
an everlasting priesthood;
2 Sam 23:5 he
hath made with me (David) an
everlasting covenant,
ordered in all things, and
1 Chron 16:17 hath confirmed
the same to Jacob for a
law,... to Israel for an
everlasting covenant
Psalm 105:10 confirmed the
same unto Jacob for a law,
and to Israel for an
everlasting covenant:
Isaiah 24:5 The
earth also is defiled....
because they have.... broken
the everlasting covenant.
Isaiah 55:3 Incline
your ear, and come unto me:.
I will make an everlasting
covenant with you
Isaiah 61:8 I
will direct their work in
truth, and I will make an
everlasting covenant with
them
Jer. 32:40 I
will make an everlasting
covenant with them, that I
will not turn away from them
Eze 16:60 I
will remember my
covenant.... I will
establish unto thee an
everlasting covenant.
Eze 37:26 I
will make a covenant of
peace with them; it shall be
an everlasting covenant
Heb 13:20,21 through
the blood of the everlasting
covenant,.. Make you perfect
in every good
7. Definition of a Covenant
with God, adapted
from the SDA Bible
Dictionary, p. 229:
The term "covenant"
describes the formal
relationship between God and
Israel as the chosen people.
This was not a covenant
between equals, but between
the infinite God and finite
man. God Himself determined
the provisions of the
covenant, made them known to
His people, and gave them
the choice of accepting or
rejecting the covenant. Once
ratified, it was considered
binding upon both God and
His people. . . .
The covenant included all
that was needed to make the
plan of salvation effective.
God promised to bless His
people, to give them the
land of Canaan, to make
known His will, to send them
the Messiah, and to make
them His chosen instrument
for the conversion of the
world. On their part, the
people were to obey and to
cooperate with all of God's
requirements. The people
were to be enabled to do
this through grace and the
power of God to deliver them
from Egypt.
8. God works through His
Creation
God is closely involved with
His Creation with a bond
which He will not break. He
has staked His reputation on
the success of His Creation
and in the lives of His
people. His basic promise
found throughout Scripture
is: “I will be to them a
God, and they shall be to me
a people”(9) (Heb 8:10).
These following verses show
that the everlasting
covenant is forever:
Deut. 7:9 LORD
thy God, ...
keepeth covenant and mercy
...
to a thousand generations
Isaiah 54:10 my
kindness shall not depart
from thee, neither ...
covenant of my peace be
9. The Everlasting Covenant
cannot be broken
In this same line of
thought, the covenant cannot
be broken. Since it is God
who made the covenant, and
God who performs the
covenant, what can humans
do? We can accept the
gracious provisions of the
covenant, or reject it, but
we cannot break it.
Ps. 89:34 My
covenant will I not break,
nor alter the thing that is
gone out of my lips.
Psalm 105:8 He
hath
remembered his covenant for
ever,... to a
thousand generations.
Psalm 105:10 made
with Abraham, .. unto Isaac;
.. and
to Israel for an everlasting
covenant
Gal. 3:15 but
a man's covenant, .. if it
be confirmed, no man
disannulleth, or addeth
thereto