THE COVENANT OF GOD
Text: Genesis 15-17
THE COVENANT GIVEN
The Promise of Land Genesis 12:1; 13:14-15, 17; 15:18 The Promise of Descendants
Genesis 12:2; 15:4-5; 17:6
The Promise of Blessing
Genesis 12:3; 14:19; 17:15-16
THE COVENANT BELIEVED
GOD: “I am a shield to you, your reward shall be very great.” (15:1
Abram: “What will you give me?” (15:2 - 3)
GOD: You will have numerous descendants. (15:4 - 5)
Abram: Believed in the Lord (15:6)
THE PROMISE GUARANTEED
God: I will give you This land (15:7)
Abram: How may I know that I will posses it? (15:8)
GOD: “Lay out a sacrifice before Me.” (15:9)
Abram killed the animals, and placed them on display (15:10)
GOD: “Know for certain…” (15:13-16)
Fire passed through the sacrifice (15:17
THE SIGN OF COVENANT PEOPLE
GOD: “I am God Almighty, I will…” (17: 1 - 8
God to Abraham: This will be the sign that you are my covenant people – CIRCUMCISION (17: 9 - 10)
(regarding signs, see also: Exodus 3 – the burning bush, Exodus 13 – led by pillar, Exodus 19 – Lord descended in fire,
Numbers 9 – a pillar of fire over tabernacle, Daniel 7 – His
Throne ablaze with fire, Duet. 4 – God spoke from midst of fire,
Isaiah 66 – the Lord will come in fire, Rev. 19 - His eyes are like blazing fire, 2 Thess. 1 – the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire, Luke 3 – He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire, also Acts 2:3)
COVENANT TRUTHS
GOD’S covenant with ABRAM Was UNCONDITIONAL
It required no action on Abram’s part
GOD PROMISED WHAT HE WILL DO
“Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.” Psalm 68:20
COVENANT REALITIES FOR TODAY
MADE BY GOD’s UNCONDITIONAL GRACE
Abram did nothing to earn God’s blessing
We have done nothing to earn God’s forgiveness
MADE THROUGH BLOOD SACRIFICE
The sacrifice of animals was God expressing His love toward Abram
The sacrifice of Jesus is God expressing His love toward us
SUSTAINED BY HIS FAITHFULNESS
The promises to Abram have been fulfilled with future implications
The promises to us have been fulfilled with future implications
COVENANT APPLICATION
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. Deuteronomy 30:6