Sermon Title: The Covenant of God
Big Idea: The word “Covenant” appears specifically 313 times in the Word of God. This word is defined as an agreement between God and man. It is often referred to as a contract a covenant is much more than a contract. A contract is an agreement between two or more parties that is dependent on the participants of the contract to preform or keep the provisions of the contract. A contract has a limited time specification which will end or become null and void on a predetermined future date. It also provides penalties for violation of the provisions of the contract.
Strong’s Concordance define the Hebrew Word “Covenant”
OT:1285- beriyth (ber-eeth'); from OT:1262 (in the sense of cutting [like OT:1254]); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh): -confederacy, [con-] feder [-ate], covenant, league. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
The first use of this word “beriyth” is seen in Gen 6:18 when God tells Noah of His intentions to destroy the world by flood and that Noah and his family has found favor in the sight of God and will be saved. It is important to note in the definition a “covenant” is made by passing between pieces of flesh. Hebrews 9:22 that it is only in the blood can forgiveness can be found.
A “Covenant” is not limited by date, time, or actions as the contract. However, there are two types of “covenants” in the Bible. First it the “conditional” covenant and second is the “unconditional”. The “conditional” covenant can be seen in:
• Psalms 89:34 My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. NKJV
There are two types of “Covenant’s”
The “Conditional” Covenant
• EDENIC covenant (conditional), Gen. 1:26-31;2:16-17
The “Unconditional” covenants are evident in:
• ADAMIC covenant (unconditional), Gen. 3:16-19
• NOAHIC covenant (unconditional), Gen 9:1-18 –
• ABRAHAMIC covenant (unconditional), Gen. 12:1-4;13:14-17; 15:1-7; 17:1-8
• LAND covenant (unconditional), Deut. 30:1-10
• DAVIDIC covenant (unconditional), 2Sam. 7:4-16; 1Chron. 17:3-15 –
• NEW COVENANT (unconditional), Jer. 31:31-40
The God’s Word expressly use the word “covenant” 313 times and provides us insight into the nature and character of God from Genesis to Revelation.
The concept of “Covenant” is clearly seen in creation as God speaks in the existence the creation of the world. In Genesis 1:26 God forms man out of the dust of the earth and give Adam charge over His (God) creation it is a conditional covenant which limited Adam and Eve to living in the garden and having access to everything in the garden with the exception of the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” (Gen. 2:8). Which is the only condition of God’s covenant placed on Adam while they are living in the garden.
Genesis 22:16 God has promised to Abraham to make him a great nation (Israel) establish Himself as the basis for keeping the provisions of the “Covenant”. That standard is God Himself where there is on other. Something even more beautiful is the Hebrew translation of ‘word’ as used here, which is ‘omer’ (o-mer) meaning “promise” (Strong’s). As children of the Most Holy Father, we are not only in covenant with Him, but we have His unalterable, unchanging, immovable, unbendable, unbreakable, eternal promise. When God entered into covenant with Abraham, promising him that God would make Abraham the “father of many nations”, the Bible said that God had to “swear by His own Name” (Genesis 22:16) because there was no other name that God could swear by that would be able to bring the promise to pass!
Genesis 22:16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son — NKJV
Text Illustration: THE COVENANT OF FAITHFULNESS
In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts.
These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, helps to specify failure in these relationships.
The Lord did not establish a contract with Israel or with the church. He created a covenant. There is a difference. Contracts are broken when one of the parties fails to keep his promise. If, let us say, a patient does not keep an appointment with a doctor, the doctor is not obligated to call the house and inquire, "Where were you? Why didn’t you show up for your appointment?" He simply goes on to his next patient and has his appointment secretary take note of the patient who failed to keep the appointment. The patient may find it harder the next time to see the doctor. He broke an informal contract.
According to the Bible, however, the Lord asks: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isaiah 49:15) The Bible indicates the covenant is more like the ties of a parent to her child than it is a doctor’s appointment.
If a child fails to show up for dinner, the parent’s obligation, unlike the doctor’s, isn’t canceled. The parent finds out where the child is and makes sure he’s cared for. One member’s failure does not destroy the relationship.
A covenant places no conditions on faithfulness. It is the unconditional commitment to love and serve.
SOURCE: Bruce Shelley
In our sermon text today God has established Adam and Eve in the garden and God has told them that they were able to live and eat of everything in the garden. He also warned Adam not to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and made them aware of the consequences of their disobedience, which would be death. Yet, for whatever reason Eve disobeyed God’s Word and then convinced Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit also (this is first sin is disobedience) and now God must keep His Word and He outlines the penalty for their disobedience.
Sermon Text: Genesis 3:16-19 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." NKJV
1. Covenant Violated (vs.17)
Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. NKJV
1. God’s love for His people is evident in the opening verses of the Book of Genesis as a covenant of His creation. He speaks in to existence a place where man can live in perfect harmony with God and His creation. Sun, moon, (daylight and dark), trees, plants (herbs) and grass, birds and animals all were created to live in a symphonic relationship with God’s crowing creation Adam and Eve. God did all this in order to live and have fellowship and relationship with us. What a tragedy when the relationship with God is broken by the disobedience of God’s command not to eat of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen 2:16-17). God had warned Adam of the consequences of disobeying God’s command to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. To eat of the forbidden tree brought death to man. And there was another tree which resided within the confines of the garden was, the tree of life (Gen. 2:9). Had Adam and Eve chose to eat of it the would be able to live forever (Gen 3:22).
2. In the world today people believe that if they live a certain way and do certain things it will determine destination. However, it is not what we do but who we accept and follow that determines where we will spend eternity. Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s word by the act of eating the forbidden fruit this was an act of disobedience which brought judgement. If we would only understand our actions come out of the heart and if the heart is tainted, it will produce tainted actions and if the heart is pure we will a different life.
3. Five times in the Book of Genesis we see the word covenant used by God and each time it refers to God love for us. In Gen 9:9 God express His love for Noah and his descendants, and in that love God promises to never to destroy the world by water again and as a reminder of this promise He places a “rainbow (Gen 3:13 in the heavens as a reminder of the covenant God has mad with man. Not a reminder to God but for man and all the generations. Not only can this reminder be seen in the heavens and around the throne of God (Rev 4:3, 10:1).
Gen 9:9 Gen 9:11 Gen17:4 Gen 17:7, Gen 7:21
4. God’s love for is clearly seen in the covenant which He established and set in place for all eternity. While there are no conditions which limits the keeping of the covenant for God, it is clear that God expects us to be people of the covenant.
Deuteronomy 30:14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. NKJV
Text Illustration: GREEK WORDS FOR GOD'S LOVE-The Hebrew words for love are more meaningful than the Greek ones, especially two of them.
• aheb, "...The intensity of the meaning ranges from God's infinite affection for his people to the carnal appetites of a lazy glutton..." (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Volume 1, p. 14).
• hesed, "Lovingkindness ... is the idea of faithful love in action and often in the OT refers to God's lovingkindness expressed in His covenant relationship with Israel (His "loyal love" to His "Wife" Israel [cp Hos 2:18, 19, 20-see note, Is 54:5, Je 31:32] = His "loyalty to covenant"). God's hesed His denotes persistent and unconditional tenderness, kindness, and mercy ... Hesed expresses both God's loyalty to His covenant and His love for His people along with a faithfulness to keep His promises.
• "...'In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness (hesed) I will have compassion (racham) on you," Says the LORD your Redeemer.' (Isa 54:8)
• "'For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness (hesed) will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the LORD who has compassion (racham) on you.' (Isa 54:10)
• "'The LORD'S lovingkindnesses (hesed) indeed never cease, For His compassions (racham) never fail.' (Lam 3:22)"
2. Covenant Punished (vs. 16-19)
Genesis 3:16-19 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." NKJV
1. God’s love and grace is clearly seen in that the sentence of death was given to Adan and Eve, for it eternal death to which God referred yet even in our disobedience God’s commitment to “covenant” is clearly seen. God provided us a way of commuting our punishment from death to life and the condition of our escape are clearly seen. In Numbers 21:8-9 God’s people had disobeyed His Word so God judgment was applied to this “stiff neck people” so He told Moses to palace a “fiery serpent” on a pole and all who looked up to the serpent would live but, refusal to obey God’s Word will die. As it is today, refuse to look to Jesus Christ will die in their disobedience. It was not the action of looking up but it was the obedience to God that brings life eternal.
2. Actions don’t bring the wrath of God on us actions demonstrate spiritual condition and spiritual condition indicates heart condition and heart condition determines spiritual condition. Just like a thermostat reading don’t determine whether it is hot, cold or just right. The thermometer is indicator of the weather.
Num 21:8-9 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. NKJV
3. Covenant of Grace (vs. 3:14-19)
Genesis 3:14-19 So the Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." 16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return." NKJV
1. In my mind’s eye I envision seeing God as He confronted Adam and Eve for their disobedience. I see tears of sadness on the face of God as He must now pronounce the judgement as a result of their and our disobedience. In Gen 3:14-9 we observe the far reaching effect of disobedience (sin) as God pronounces Judgement.
1st God’s judgement upon satan,
2nd God’s judgement on Eve then comes the judgement of Adam
3rd His judgement extends to creation itself. People have the mistaken idea that they can live as they want and it only effects themselves. But, clearly sin has a far reaching effect.
Illustration: I remember after 9-11 how that tragic event not only took the lives of more than 3000 people it also crippled the Airline industry and other business which effected millions of lives, the attack causes tremendous economic losses for both governmental and private industry and the ripple effect spread around the world.
2. The sin of Adam and Eve brought death into the world because of their selfish actions and desires. Yet God in His everlasting love provided a way for us to escape our failure to keep His covenant by providing us a way of escape (Gen 3”15) “… And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”. That is to say That God would provide a perfect sacrifice for the payment of our sin and thus provide us with a way of escape. The way which God provided is Jesus His Only Son. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant and has met the condition of both the old and new covenant so that you and I are to once again have the personal relationship with our creator.
Heb 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. NKJV
Text Illustration: Quest Study Bible notes this about the question,” What changed at this pivotal point in history?” The resurrection vindicated Jesus’ claims about himself, that he was the Son of God in the flesh, the fulfillment of God’s dealings with humankind. No longer would people have to follow rules and traditions to find salvation (Col. 2:20-23). The old covenant had been superseded by the new and the proof was in the resurrection. Because Jesus lives, he is the Messiah, the one to trust. Another way to look at this question is to ask what would be different if Jesus had not risen from the dead. If there had been no resurrection, Christianity as we know it would not exist. At most, Christians would be following the teachings of just another popular rabbi. His words merely would have joined the countless words of other religious writings. People would be left with no other option for salvation then to strive for absolute obedience. But the resurrection changed everything. People follow Christ’s teachings, not to BECOME saved, but because they ARE saved. They’ve discovered something even better than knowing WORDS; they’ve found what it means to know HIM! Because he was raised from the dead, we can be too. We can live-really live- both now and through all eternity (1463).
