The Everlasting Covenant - 1.1 References CEx

1.1 References CEx

by Hubert F. Sturges, www.everlastingcovenant.com, September 1, 2010

Topics:

1. The Law is a Transcript of God’s Character
2. In the Image of God
3. Law and Dominion
4. Minimum Requirements
5. Sabbath: A Day of Rest
6. Mystery Hidden from the Foundation of the World
7. The Covenant of God Cannot be Broken
8. Who Is the Lamb of God?
9. I will be to Them a God
10. Law and Free Will

1. See article #9.1, References TTC, Topics #3 and #4.

“The Law of God is as sacred as God Himself. It is a revelation of His will, a transcript of His character, the expression of divine love and wisdom. The harmony of creation depends upon the perfect conformity of all beings, of everything, animate and inanimate, to the law of the Creator. God has ordained laws for the government, not only of living beings, but of all the operations of nature. Everything is under fixed laws, which cannot be disregarded. But while everything in nature is governed by natural laws, man alone, of all that inhabits the earth is amenable to moral law. To man, the crowning work of creation, God has given power to understand His requirements, to comprehend the justice and beneficence of His law, and its sacred claims upon him; and of man unswerving obedience is required.” White EG: Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 52

2. In the Image of God

Human beings were created in the image of God and thus possess personality, self-transcendence, intelligence, morality, sociability and creativity.

The key phrase here is "in the image of God," a conception highlighted by the fact that it occurs three times in the short space of two verses in Genesis:

“Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26-27)

We are personal because God is personal. That is, we know ourselves to be (we are self-conscious), and we make decisions uncoerced (we possess self-determination). We are capable of acting on our own. We do not merely react to our environment but can act according to our own character, our own nature.

No two people are alike, we say. And this is not just because no two people have shared exactly the same heredity and environment but because each of us possesses a unique character out of which we think, desire, weigh consequences, refuse to weigh consequences, indulge, refuse to indulge – in short, choose to act.

In this each person reflects (as an image) the transcendence of God over his universe. God is totally unconstrained by His environment. God is limited (we might say) only by His character. God, being good, cannot lie, be deceived, act with evil intent and so forth. But nothing external to God can possibly constrain Him. If He chooses to restore a broken universe, it is because He "wants" to, because, for example, He loves it and wants the best for it. But He is free to do as He wills, and His will is in control of His character (Who He Is).

So we participate in part in a transcendence over our environment. Except at the very extremities of existence – in sickness or physical deprivation (utter starvation, imprisonment, for example) – a person is not forced to any necessary reaction. What I do will reflect my character, but it is "I" who will act and not just react like a bell ringing when a button is pushed.

In short, people have self awareness, intelligence, creativity, and free will. Mankind is capable of transcending the cosmos in that he can act significantly to change the course of both human and cosmic events. This is another way of saying that the cosmic system God made is open to reordering by human beings.

Sire, James W.: The Universe Next Door. IVP Academic, Downers . 2004, p. 31,32.

3. Law and Dominion. Adam and Eve were given definite instructions as to how to live:

Dominion over all of creation on the earth.
Be fruitful and multiply. Have families and raise children.
A diet of fruit, nuts, and grains. No flesh food in Eden (Genesis 1:26-29).
Seventh-day set aside for rest and worship of God (Genesis 2:1-3).
Take care of the Garden (Genesis 2:8, 15).
Mine the gold and precious stones (Genesis 2:11,12).
Avoid the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16,17).
Name (and take care of) all the animals (see dominion above) (Genesis 2:19,20).
Cleave to his wife, Eve ( see fruitful above) (Genesis 2:23,24)

They were instructed to avoid just one tree in the garden. It was a test of their obedience and loyalty. It was an easy test. The fruit was as good as any in the garden, and not different in character from any of the others. They were not ot eat of it for only one reason: That God had forbidden it.

4. Minimum requirements. If a person keeps the minimum requirements of the law, he will stay out of jail. This is what many will do with the law of God. This is the trap that many will fall into with a law that is written in stone. It is the will and purpose of God, however, that the law be kept from a heart filled with love for God and for fellow man. When Jesus came to earth, He introduced the “kingdom of grace.” In the sermon on the mount, He emphasized keeping the law from the motives and attitudes of the heart.

5. Sabbath, a day of rest.
On the sixth day of Creation, “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Creation was now finished, and everything was in order. However, man was a different kind of being. He was intelligent, but untaught. He had an almost infinite capacity to learn. He was aware of himself and of God, but he knew very little of either. He had free will and creativity. God set aside a day to rest -- not because he was tired, but because He wanted to take time with Adam, the crowning act of His creation on this earth. They would talk together, and fellowship together. Adam would learn of the love and mercy of God. And God would observe the creativity of man in his conversation and in his actions. It would be a wonderful, holy time.

6. Mystery Hidden from the foundation of the World

The Covenant of God was formulated before Creation, “before the foundation of the world” and held in confidence as a mystery, to be revealed to men and to the whole universe after sin occurred. A careful study of the following verses will be instructive. Space does not allow a full discussion of this topic here. If there are questions, please email the author using the “Contact Us” feature:

Romans 16:25-26 NIV
1 Corinthians 2:6-9 NIV
Ephesians 3:9-11, 17-19 NIV
Colossians 1:26-28 NIV

7. The covenant of God cannot be broken by man.

Deut 7:9 God, which keepeth covenant .. with them that love him .. to a thousand generations
Psalm 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.
Isaiah 54:10 my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
Genesis 22:16 said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, (covenant repeated to Abraham)
Hebrews 6:17 God, willing .. to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

8. Who is the Lamb of God? Only Jesus is the “Lamb of God” who was slain.

12 "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 "And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever" (Revelation 5:12-14).

9. “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).

10. See article #3.1 References for Adam and Eve; Topics #1 and #8 “Law” and “Free Will” and article #9.1 References TTC; Topics #3 and #4, Characteristics of God and His Law.

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Articles In this section:

1.0 Covenants Explained
   1.1 References CEx
   1.5 General Terms
   1.6 Covenant Terms
   1.7 Theological Terms
2.0 Council from Eternity
   2.1 References CFE
3.0 Adam and Eve in Eden
   3.1 References AEE