Covenants in the Bible

Covenants in the Bible

 

1. The Covenant with Adam: This is often seen as an implicit covenant between God and humanity, establishing the relationship between God and mankind. Genesis 2:16-17 & 3:15

 

2. The Noahic Covenant: Found in Genesis 9, this covenant was made between God and Noah after the flood, promising never to destroy the earth again with a flood and establishing certain guidelines for human behavior. Genesis 9:8-17

 

3. The Abrahamic Covenant: God made a covenant with Abraham (Abram) in Genesis 15 and Genesis 17, promising him descendants, land, and blessings. Genesis 15:18-21 and Genesis 17:1-14

 

4. The Mosaic Covenant: Also known as the Old Covenant, it was established between God and the Israelites through Moses on Mount Sinai. It includes the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the various laws and regulations found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Exodus 19-24

 

5. The Davidic Covenant: God made a covenant with King David in 2 Samuel 7, promising that his descendants would rule over Israel forever. 2 Samuel 7:8-16

 

6. The New Covenant: Foretold in the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah 31:31–34), the New Covenant is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ. It is the covenant of grace and forgiveness, establishing a new relationship between God and humanity. See also Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

 

These are the main covenants often discussed in biblical studies. Some interpretations may include additional covenants or subdivide these further, but these are the primary ones referenced in theological discussions.

 

*An agreement between two parties that specifies requirements for at least one party and includes blessing and curses for obedience or failure.

Journey Through Acts

Journey Through Acts

Lesson 9

Acts 2:22-28

God’s Promise to Abraham

  1. God makes a promise.
    1. All nations will be blessed.
      1. Genesis 12:2–3 (NLT) — 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
      2. Acts 2:16-21 claim just that.
      3. In these last days is the days of the Messiah
      4. Jesus is that Messiah and the days of the Messiah has begun.
      5. This is the Jews long awaited promise.
    2. Messiah was the central figure in Jewish thought.
      1. Part of their DNA.
      2. Life centered around it.
        1. Genesis 49:10 (NLT) — 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.
      3. He was the great descendant of David.
      4. This is what God said about the coming of the Messiah.
        1. 2 Samuel 7:13 (ESV) — 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
      5. The impact of Peter’s word about Jesus on the Jewish would have profound.
      6. They crucified Jesus for the same assertion.
    3. Proof in the pudding
      1. In this sermon Peter will lay out the proof that Jesus is the Messiah.
      2. Peter will present Jesus’s credentials by demonstrating how His life, death, resurrection, and exaltation prove Him to be the Messiah.
      3. It is a four-part sermon. Life of Jesus, Death of Jesus, Resurrection of Jesus (the main theme), and the Exaltation of Jesus.
  2. The Life of Jesus.
    1. Jesus the Nazarene
      1. Acts 2:22 (NLT) — 22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.
      2. Listen to what I’m saying.
      3. Two points on this.
        1. Jesus preformed miracles, wonders and signs.
        2. And that you saw them.
    2. What’s in a name.
      1. Jesus the Nazarene was the name by which our Lord was commonly known during His earthly ministry (Matt. 21:11; Mark 10:47; 14:67; 16:6; Luke 24:19; John 18:5, 7).
      2. It identified Him with His hometown of Nazareth.
        1. John 19:19 (NLT) — 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
        2. John 1:46 (NLT) — 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
      3. This name for our Lord reflects His wonderful condescension in leaving the glory of heaven to live in a humble Galilean village.
    3. Accredited by God
      1. Acts 2:22 (NIV) — 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
      2. ‘To demonstrate, to show, to make clearly known.’
      3. John 8:18 (NIV) — 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
      4. See also John 5:32-37
      5. Philippians 2:9 (NIV) — 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
      6. There is no higher office than that of Messiah, God’s anointed King.
    4. Miracles and wonders and signs.
      1. The many miracles performed by our Lord provide overwhelming evidence that He is who He claimed to be.
      2. Virgin birth, Resurrection, Ascension.
      3. Then all the healing
        1. One of my favorites is the forgiving the man’s sins and the Pharisee asking what does he thinks he is doing.
      4. John 3:2 (NIV) — 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
      5. These miracles often pointed to a spiritual truth.
        1. Jesus feeds the 5000 then later says this:
        2. John 6:35 (NIV) — 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
        3. The resurrection of Lazarus
        4. John 11:25 (NIV) — 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
      6. Peter drives home the point that ample evidence reveals that Jesus Christ was no impostor but was indeed God’s chosen Messiah.
    5. “Which God did among you through him.”
      1. This statement is more proof of Jesus deity but also that the Father and Son worked together.
    6. “As you yourselves know.”
      1. It wasn’t ignorance.
      2. It was love of sin and hatred.
      3. The same reason people reject Jesus today.
      4. There is no greater sin than rejecting Jesus.