What is a Covenant????

The Merriam-Webster dictionary (1988) definition of a "covenant"  is "an agreement or contract between two or more parties; a written agreement  or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action." Contracts are made everyday with terms and conditions that are mutually agreed upon by the parties entering into them. There are all types of contracts in every arena of life whether social, economic or political every culture on planet earth has adapted some method of legally binding each party to the terms and conditions of the contract. Usually, the parties entering into the contract will sign their name and in many cases a witness must also sign. The signature seals the agreement decreeing as an oath that each party will provide to the other what they have mutually agreed upon. The duration of the contract and the penalty for violation, are also written into its’ terms.  Ideally, if the contract is met, then both parties are happy and both will experience its blessing.

The covenants of God are like contracts except God establishes the terms and conditions and they are non-negotiable.    

There are two main Covenants in scripture, the first being the “Old Covenant” which contained five very important Covenants that were filled once and for all by the second and most important Covenant the “New Covenant.”  The Old Covenant embodied the conditions given by God to bring the nation of Israel into “right relationship” with himself.  God also used the Nation of Israel to demonstrate to all other nations that fallen man not only would not, but could not keep the terms and conditions in his fallen state without divine intervention.  From the foundations of the world God had another plan and sent his only begotten Son, The Lord Jesus Christ who completely fulfilled the terms of the agreement with his Father and became the perfect sacrifice paying the penalty for our sins sealed the Covenant with his own blood forever.   

Like with a contract, built into the language of the Covenants of God were the provision of God, the protection of God, and the penalty of God.  Jesus Christ met all the conditions, and if we believe on him we will experience all the benefits that were intended by God for us from the foundation of the world.  We will take a deeper look at the Old Covenant and the New Covenant and how God keeps Covenant and Covenant keeps us.

Father, I thank you that you are a Covenant keeping God. Thank you for assessing my need and providing a way back to you through your Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus paid it all- all to Him I owe- sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow! Amen.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.     Heb. 8:7

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:      Ex. 19:5

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.    Heb. 12:24

¹Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.    Malachi 3:1