COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Introduction
What is Covenant?
Covenant is a binding agreement between two or more parties with a clause and a promise both attached to it.
It is an agreement between a covenanter (in this case God) and a covenantee (man) with a promise to be accrued by the covenantee provided he is obedient to the stipulations attached to it.
Covenant is a binding agreement between two or more persons expressly for the performance of some action.
In any covenant, there is a shed of blood ad a token of the covenant. (Genesis 9:9-13, 15;8-18, 17:7-11)
God always keeps His covenant. (Psalm 89:34)
Covenant cannot be held by just one person. It takes both sides, living up to their end of the bargain.
What is relationship?
Relationship is the way in which two or more people behave towards and deal with each other.
What is Covenant Relationship?
It is therefore, the way man behaves towards God and how God deals with man from the standpoint of His covenant with man.
It is our right involvement with God.
In a covenant relationship with God, if you do your part, he will do His part. (Genesis 6:22)
The power and purpose of the covenant relationship with God is to enable us walk in the fullness of our salvation.
God’s will for us is covenant relationship. He wants us to be as committed to the covenant relationship as He is.
Covenant relationship is the intimate partnership with God. It allows the believer to walk in the fullness of salvation and the fullness of the covenant is revealed by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.
ORIGINAL INTENTION WHY GOD CREATED MAN
For Fellowship and Relationship. (Genesis 1:26a and Genesis 3:8)
God’s original intention was to fellowship and have a relationship with man. This He showed by coming down every evening to commune with man.
God created his image bearers and placed them in a close relationship with Himself and had them reflect and represent him on the earth. There were given stipulations or mandates and as image bearers, they were to maintain intimate and obedient fellowship with God.
THE FALL (Genesis 3)
God covenanted when he created Adam and Adam broke the covenant. (Hosea 6:7)
Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan. They doubted God’s word and accepted a lie. They fell. They broke the covenantal relationship with God but God did not break His covenant.
God Almighty by His mercy, sought for a way to restore this covenant relationship. He came to the fallen and humiliated image bearers and set about restoring humanity to fellowship with Him and service for Him.
RESTORATION (PART A)
Noah
God decided to destroy the earth and everything in it because of the rate at which wickedness grew. However, unto Noah, He decided to establish His covenant with him. (Genesis 6:18)
Abraham
The covenanting process continued with Abraham to Isaac and Jacob (Israel) -Genesis 15:1-21
Moses
God through Moses, handed the Children of Israel a new set of His obligations for the covenant. (Exodus 20:1-21)
Israel was blessed when they kept the Law and punished when they broke it.
Prophets
God continued the restoration journey to restore man to the good old ways. He raised Prophets from amongst the people but man rejected them and even persecuted them (Matt. 5:12)
Samuel (1 Sam. 3:11)
Elijah (1 kings 17 & 18:30)
Elisha (1 King 19:19-21)
RESTORATION (PART 2)
God decided to come down this time to restore man Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. (John 3:16, Romans 5:19, Romans 3:23-25)
God by His Prophets spoke about the New covenant and the restoration. (Isaiah 55:3, Jeremiah 31:31, 32:40, Ezekiel 37:26-27)
Jesus died for man and all that believe Him and confess Him are saved and become candidate of the new covenant. (Romans 10:10)
Jesus is the mediator of this new covenant (Hebrews 8:6-8) and any man that wants an involvement with God, that accords to His grace and will must comply with the covenant Jesus has mediated to us.
If we are not compliant with this new covenant by Jesus, then we are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3,11-12) but if we obey the covenant, then we are fellow citizens. (Ephesians 2:4-10,18-22)
The covenant is mediated to all men and it applies to all for whom His blood was shed (1 Tim. 2:4-6, Matthew 26:28, 1 John 2:2)
THE LAW AND GRACE.
The Law was handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai for the children of Israel as they were delivered from Egypt. But grace came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17.
Grace has the objective of seeing holiness in our lives
The mission to restore man continued as well as the covenanting process.
God need end to restore every man but he started with a man called Abraham. (Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 17;5-6)
This covenant movement continued with Isaac (Genesis 17:19) but God was looking for the whole world.
Then it went down to Jacob, who later became Israel. (Genesis 28:3-4)
Israel went into captivity into Egypt for 430 years as God declared unto Abraham (Genesis 15;13-21) but God remembered his covenant and delivered His people through a man called Moses. (Exodus 3:8-11)
God handed Moses a new set of obligations for his people and this was called the Law. (Mosaic Law)
The Law of the Mind/Moral Law/Law of the Conscience/Law of God/Law of Nature
Prior before the giving of the Mosaic law, there was sin and the Israelis’ antecedents and men before the foundation of Israel obeyed God. They obeyed the moral laws. (Genesis 39:9, Gen 5:24, Job 1: 8)
What was governing them?
It was the moral Law.
MORAL LAW
It is one which contains natural revelation of God’s eternal power and divine nature. (Romans 1:20) and it is sufficient to condemn those who reject this revelation but not sufficient to save.
This Law is an aspect of the eternal law of God. For the law of God did not begin with Sinai but are as eternal and immutable as the very holy character of God himself. (1 Peter 1:16)
These laws are written in the heart or conscience of man. (Exodus 39:9, Romans 2:14-16)
They are the laws of the before the Mosaic law. It was given to the old testament believers. God’s instructions to them represented His laws, principles and rules designed to direct their lives and checked by their conscience. (Genesis 26:5)
Moral laws have been written in our hearts. We become aware of it and when we violate it , our conscience bothers us. It tells us what is right from wrong. It is the law of God and the law of love. It is the law of the mind. (1 Cor. 9:20, Romans 7:21-25)
Just like Abraham’s salvation was an adumberation of Jesus salvation, the moral law of the Partriaachs is also a shadow of the new testament law of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the administrator of Grace and Morality. When we yield to Him, He teaches us to do what is right.
MOSAIC LAW
Adam lost the image and righteousness due to sin and as such God could not relate with him (Genesis 3)
God is a righteous God and needed to deal with a righteous people. (Psalm 45:7)
God therefore propounded laws and gave His people so that any who could fulfill the demands of the laws acquired the righteousness by law.
Mosaic law is the law given to the children of Israel by God through Moses to govern their lives as a nation to experience God’s blessings under the Abrahamic covenant.
Characteristics of the Mosaic law
- The foundation and basis of the covenant God made with the Patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 19:4-6, Deuteronomy 4:4-8, 1 Chronicles 16:15-19)
God has promised to bless the descendants of Abraham and through them, the world. ( Genesis 12:1, 15, 17, 26:24, 28:13)
- In the Mosaic law, before the children of Israel were able to experience the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, their obedience to the law is required.
- The Mosaic law is holy, good and spiritual (Romans 7:12-14) and temporary (Hebrews 8:13)
The laws were perfect and holy as God is. No man could perform them ad it required one in the position of God to perform the requirements of the law and not to be found wanting.
The law was never designed to be a permanent rule of life. It was like a guide to Israel in all areas of her life until Christ. (2 Cor 3:7, 11, Gal. 3:23-24, Romans 10:4)
- Mosaic law is weak with respect to the new law of the Spirit. This is because it is dependent on man’s ability. It is especially weak when adopted as a system of merit for righteousness. (Romans 8:3)
- Only the doers of all the laws are just before God and are justified. (Romans 2:13)
- The Law did not come to make people holy but it came t condemn them and make them guilty by God. (Romans 3:19)
- The Law is the strength of Sin (1 Cor 15:56)
PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF MOSAIC LAW
Though given to govern the children of Israel in the promise land, there was an attendant purpose that still stands today – the purpose is to show a man in total helpless and hopeless condition before a righteous God. (1 Timothy 1:8-10).
- To provide standard for righteousness (Deut 4:8, Psalm 19:7-9) and reveal the righteousness, holiness and goodness of God (Deut 4:8, Lev. 11:44-45, 19:2, Romans 7;12-14)
- To identify sin and reveal man’s sin and bankrupt condition as guilty before God. (Romans 3:19, 7:7-8, 5:20, Gal 3:19)
It separated man from God and showed how unable he was to bridge the gap by his own human strength.
- To shut man up to faith. That is to exclude the works of the law (or any system of work) as a system of merit for salvation and sanctification, thereby leading him to Christ as the only means of righteousness (Gal 3:19-20, 20-24, 1 Tim 1:8-9, Romans 3:21-25, Hebrews 8:7, 9:22)
THREE ASPECTS OF MOSAIC LAW
The Mosaic Law consists of 365 negative commands and 248 positive for a total of 613 commands and are divided into three parts.
- Moral Law (Ten Commandments)
- Ceremonial Laws (Ritual laws)
- Social (Judicial and Civic) Laws.
LIMITATIONS OF MOSAIC LAW
- When approached as meritorious system, the law cannot justify. (Gal2:16)
- It cannot give life (Gal 3:21)
- It cannot give the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:2,14)
- It cannot save and sanctify (Gal. 3:21, 5:5, Romans 8:3, Romans 5:10, 6:14, 2 Cor. 3:6-18)
- It cannot make perfect or permanently deal with sin (Hebrews 7:19).
It was designed to be a temporary guide until the coming of Christ (Grace)
EFFECTS OF THE LAW WHEN APPROACHED AS. SYSTEM OF MERIT
(shifting from faith basis to work basis)
(Exodus 19:8, Romans. 10:3)
- It brings curse (Gal 3:10-12)
- It brings death and it kills (2 Cor 3::6-7 Romans 7:9-10)
- It brings condemnation (2 Cor3:9, John 8:11)
- It makes offenses abound (Romans 5:10, 7:7-13)
- It declares all men guilty (Rom. 3:19)
- Hold men in bondage to sins and death ( Gal 4:3-5,9,24, Romans 7;10-11)
No one could fulfil the requirements of the Law but God. Out of His mercies and love decided to come by Himself to restore man by fulfilling the law. (Romans 5:8-10)
GRACE
Grace is God’s unmerited favour, that he bestows upon all who repent and trust in Christ.
It is God’s riches at Christ’s expense.
It is Christ Himself. Jesus is grace personified and came to ultimately manifest God’s grace (Titus 2:11-12) and bring salvation to all people. Christ is this grace personified. (John 1:1-5, 14, 16-17)
GRACE HAS THE OBJECTIVES OF SEEING HOLINESS IN OUR LIVES.
- Grace is not a license to sin but a license to work more in righteousness. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
In the coming of Christ and the death on the criss, the Mosaic law as a rule of life was terminated. The believer is now to live in the liberty of the Spirit and not the rule of law.
However, the new liberty must never be used as an occasion to indulge the flesh on sinful appetites. (Gal. 5:13)
- The Grace (Christ) did not make void the moral laws (Romans 6:1-2, 15-16)
Being under grace does not mean we are free to break the law?
The truth is that we should desire to obey God because we love Him (John 14:15)
The Ten commandments have never been voided. When Paul spoke about the law, he referred to the Ten commandments.
CAN WE SIN?
The answer is yes but we are not allowed to continue in Sin. That is to constantly practise sin as a pattern or lifestyle. (Romans 6:1)
We are not meant to be slaves of sin (Romans 6: 12,14)
We have the sin nature in us (the carnal man) undergoing transformation and renewal (Romans 12:1-3)
Sin doesn’t make us sinners but is a proof that we are sinners. Sin is a response to our Old carnal and sinful nature.
Each time we fall into sin, the Lord expects we dust ourselves and continue the race.
CHRIST (GRACE) THE FULFILMENT OF THE LAW
Christ, when he came to the world fulfilled all that the law required, that man will be righteousness of God in Him.
God fulfilled this righteousness that the righteousness of man will be of Grace through faith and not by the works of the law. (Romans 4:16)
Christ became the end of law for righteousness (Romans 10:4)
Christ fulfilled the Three parts of the Mosaic law.
- MORAL LAW
As the law demanded that man must be holy as the Lord God is holy, (Matt 5:48, Lev 11:44, 45) Christ came, Living a perfect and sinless life, this when man trust in Christ, His righteousness is imputed to him this he has justification. (Romans 8:1, 7:1-6, Romans 5:1, 4:4-8)
These moral laws which are the Ten Commandments are held to be fully in effect now. (Matthew 5:17)
Jesus even summarized it into two laws of love – love God and love your neighbour. (Luke 12:28-31) and Paul said that the fulfillment of the Law is love.(Romans 13:8)
We must not misunderstand grace and think that under grace, morality is no longer important to God. It is and there are laws under grace.
But God has empowered us to fulfil them by the help of the Holy Spirit. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
- CEREMONIAL LAWS
God’s people no longer sacrifice in the temple because Christ’s sacrifice has been offered once and for all. (Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 10:10) Christ died for us and in or place. He was judged of God. The penalty which is of the law is death and was paid. (Romans 6:23, Lev.19:2, Ezekiel 18:4) No restrictions of again. (Acts 10:15)
- SOCIAL LAW
Christ also resurrected and made provision for the inner man -Holy Spirit who enables man experience true sanctification and experience the righteousness of the law. (Romans 8:24) and to help us in our daily lives.
Since the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the law by His and work, believers are under a new covenant and law with the obligation to walk by the Spirit of life through faith. ( Romans 8:2-4, Gal 5:18)
TRANSITION FROM LAW TO GRACE (ROMANS 7:1-6)
Analogy of Marriage
- The first husband (Law): The husband is the law (the old man that tries to be saved by obeying the law). As long as we are married to the law, we are under its demands.
- Death of the First Husband: This happens when we are crucified with Christ. The old self dies and we are free from the demands and the control of sin and law.
- A new marriage: We ate born from the Holy Spirit when we join the resurrected saviour. Thenceforth, we no longer serve God because of the Law and fear but because we have a new spirit of freedom (2 Cor. 3:17)
- The final result is carrying fruits for God, the fruit of a reformed life. (Gal 5:22-23, Phil 1:11, Eph. 5:9, John 15:1)
SUMMARY
- Law is not sin. Sin is within man and the law points to it. (Romans 7:7-11)
- The Spiritual nature of law is that the knowledge of law accuses man of transgression and produces in him evil desires (Romans 7:8)
- The Law is Spiritual. It is the revelation of the character of its author and expression of His thoughts and will and was given for our own benefits.
- Man has a sin nature. Sin is carnal. We surrender ourselves to sin when we live according to the flesh. Even the holiest man is carnal in comparison to the spirituality of the law.
- The primary purpose of the law is to reveal righteousness, to convict of sin and the need of a saviour.
- The Law can be fulfilled by the help of the Holy Spirit. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
BENEFITS OF COVENANT OF GRACE
There are many benefits lavished on the Christian by the work and ministry of Jesus Christ through His life, death, resurrection and present intercession. They are:
- JUSTIFICATION
Justification is an act of God’s grace wherein He pardoned all our sins and accepted us as righteous in His sight by imputing Christ’s righteousness unto us which is received by faith.
(Romans 5: 16/18-19, Galatians 3:6-9,24, Romans 4:1-5, 9-25, Psalm 32:1-2, Galatians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 1:30)
- SANCTIFICATION
It is the work of God’s grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die and live unto righteousness.
Whereas Justification is the imputing of Christ’s righteousness, sanctification is the grace to exercise our own righteousness.
(Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Ephesians 4:23,1Pet.1:2, Romans 6:4, 8:1,13)
- ADOPTION
(Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5-6, Ephesians 1:5)
Adoption is the act of God’s free grace whereby we are received into the fold and number and have the privilege s of the sons of God.
What adoption does in the life of a Christian.
- Have Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15)
- Have access to God in prayers (Matthew 6:9, Romans 5:2, Ephesians 3:12)
- Can call God Father (Matthew 6:9, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6)
- Are protected (Prov. 14:26)
- Are provided for (Matt. 6:30-32, 1 Peter 5:7)
- Are chastened as children (Prov. 3:11-12, Heb. 12:7-10)
- Are secured as children and never cast off. (Lam. 3:21, John 10:27-30, Heb. 13:5)
- Are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)
- Are heirs to inherit the promise. (Heb. 1:14, 10:36, 11:39-40, 1 Pet. 1:3-4, 1 John 3:2)
RESURRECTION AND GLORIFICATION
(Romans 8:17,30)
- RIGHTEOUSNESS
(2 Cor. 5:21, Rom. 3:21-22/25, 1 Cor. 1:30, Rom. 5:19)
- WISDOM
(1 Cor. 1: 24/30)
- SALVATION OR REDEMPTION
It has a complete package of salvation or redemption which includes the whole of our deliverance from sin, Satan and broken law. (Ephesians 1:7, Heb. 9:12, Col. 1:14, Rom. 3:23-24, 1 Cor. 1:30, Gal. 3:13, Romans 8:2)
- GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
(1 Cor. 12:4/28, Ephesians 4:8, Rom. 12:6-8)
- BLESSED INHERITANCE
(Galatians 3:14, Rom. 4:16)
- PERFECT LOVE
(1 John 3:11, 1 John 4:10)
- IT IMPART SPIRITUAL LIFE
(Gal 3:21, 2 Cor. 3:6)
- FREEDOM
(Matt. 11:28-30, Rom. 6:18/22, Rom. 8:2)
- FULL AND COMPLETE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
(Heb. 9:9/14, Heb. 10:1-4, 10-14)
- IT GRANTS ACCESS FOR US TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD.
(Heb. 4:16, 7:19, 10:22, Rom. 3:25)