November 12, 2017

17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets 17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. – Matthew 5:17-18

19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:19

39 You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. – John 5:39

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. …11 These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages* have come.  – 1 Corinthians 10:6,11

The Implication of These Passages The Bible has one main.. Message Goal Storyline

The Bible’s One Main Storyline Creation Fall Resurrection New Creation Genesis 1-2 Genesis 3 Revelation 20 Revelation 21-22

The Bible’s One Main Storyline Creation Fall Redemption Resurrection New Creation Genesis 1-2 Genesis 3 Revelation 20 Revelation 21-22 Redemptive History

The Bible’s One Main Storyline Creation Fall Redemption Salvation / Judgment Resurrection New Creation Genesis 1-2 Genesis 3 Revelation 20 Revelation 21-22 Salvation History

The Bible’s One Main Storyline Creation Fall Redemption Salvation / Judgment Covenant Resurrection New Creation Genesis 1-2 Genesis 3 Revelation 20 Revelation 21-22 Covenant Development

To understand the message of the Bible we need to look at it through the lens of covenant

To understand the message of the Bible we need to look at it through the lens of covenant Desired Outcomes Establish a covenantal view of the Bible Establish a covenantal view of the Christian life Outline a covenantal view of Mission Outline a covenantal view of the Future

To understand the message of the Bible we need to look at it through the lens of covenant Our Approach A Covenantal Approach to the Bible The Old Covenants: Development The New Covenant: Fulfillment Covenant Life & The Bible 12/03/2017 11/12/2017 11/19/2017 Our Tools Tracing the Bible’s storyline Outlining covenants and their contribution to the storyline Connecting our books summaries to covenant and the overall storyline 12/10/2017

Tonight’s Study – A Covenantal Approach to the Bible 1) Defining Biblical Covenants What is a covenant Biblical covenant structure Outline of covenants in OT and NT 2) How Covenant Structures Interpret Scripture Dispensationalism Covenant Theology 3) Covenant Implications for Spiritual Life

Defining Biblical Covenants

What is a Covenant? Definition: Hebrew is berit (1) Parties to a covenant Suzerain or great king Vassal or lesser king (2) Prologue or covenant context Historical situation, e.g. a great rescue or a vulnerable situation or need of some kind (3) Conditions or stipulations Obligations of the vassal to the suzerain (4a) Promises: Benefits or blessings Protection Privileges (4b) Promises: Consequences or curses Punishment for violation (5) Covenant Sign Witnesses or reminders of the covenant for the parties Definition: Hebrew is berit A solemn commitment of oneself to undertake an obligation

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace This is the covenant within the Trinity to redeem a people for God’s eternal purpose 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One…13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. – Eph. 1:3-6, 13

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace This is the eternal covenant within the Trinity to redeem a people for God’s eternal purpose 37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” – John 6:37-40

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace This is God’s covenant with Adam to have life, enjoy Eden & fulfill his vocation. 15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” – Genesis 2:15-17

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace This is God’s covenant with Adam to have life, enjoy Eden & fulfill his vocation. 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned…or if by the one man’s trespass the many died…because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation,…17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man,…18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone,…19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners,  – Romans 5:12, 15, 17, 18, 19

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace God’s promise to overcome the one who has deceived and solve mankind’s sin conviction. I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. – Genesis 3:15-17

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace God’s promise to overcome the one who has deceived and solve mankind’s sin conviction. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him. – Colossians 2:14-15

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace God’s promise to overcome the one who has deceived and solve mankind’s sin conviction. 20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. 21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. – Romans 3:20-21

Covenant of Works (Creation) Biblical Covenants Covenant of Works (Creation) Covenant with Noah Abrahamic Covenant Mosaic Covenant Davidic Covenant New Covenant

How Covenant Structures Interpret Scripture

Two Primary Views on How Covenant Interprets Scripture Dispensationalism Covenant Theology

Interpreting The Bible Dispensationally God shows himself in scripture through different administrations or dispensations Innocence (Eden) Conscience (Fall to Flood) Government (Noah to Babel) Promise (Abraham to Egypt) Law (Moses to John the Baptist) Grace (Church age) Kingdom (Millennial) Clear distinction between Israel and the Church Promises to Israel are still valid More discontinuity: ecclesiology, eschatology The primary purpose of the church as a heavenly people is to pursue spiritual and not earthly matters and concerns. Later developments group these into one “pre-church” age

Interpreting The Bible Dispensationally There are really good scriptural examples to support this: Circumcision (Acts 15:1-2, Galatians 5:1-4) Sabbath (Galatians 4:10, Colossians 2:16) Food (Acts 10:12-15, Romans 14-15) Sacrifice (Hebrews 7 – 10) Law leading to righteousness (Galatians, Romans 3)

Interpreting The Bible Covenantally God’s Covenant of Grace is one covenant and an evolution of actions and words Covenant is the framework that unites all of scripture All biblical covenants are subsets of the Covenant of Grace There is only one people of God (Israel + Church) so there is only one plan of salvation and one promise of fulfillment in Christ The new covenant is simply the power (and promise) of fulfilling the old The new covenant does not replace, it renews The covenant community has always been a mixed community The covenant of grace is both conditional and unconditional

Interpreting The Bible Covenantally Our approach for the rest of the study will be covenantal

Covenant Implications for Spiritual Life

Covenant Implications for Spiritual Life Assurance Prayer Provision Presence Power