God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

PART IV. THE 7 COVENANTS OF GOD LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE COVENANTS 1. WHAT IS A COVENANT?

A covenant is a contract or agreement drawn up between two parties. As we will use the term, "covenant" refers to the binding agreements drawn up between God and His people. 2. IS A COVENANT AND A TESTAMENT THE SAME THING? In the Bible, the term "testament" refers to a covenant. 3. WHAT IS THE OLD TESTAMENT OR COVENANT? When someone refers to the "Old Testament," generally they mean the first thirty-nine books the Bible, from Genesis through Malachi. Actually, during the 4,000 years of the Old Testament period, God a number of covenants with men. We have chosen six of the great covenants of the Old Testament period for our study. Strictly speaking, the Old Covenant or Testament is the SUM TOTAL of all the covenants made during the period from Adam to Christ. 4. WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT? When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He brought a New Covenant agreement between God and man. This NEW Testament fulfills, absorbs and supersedes all of God's previous agreements with mankind. This New Testament is described in the last twenty-seven books of the Bible. Hebrews 8:6-13; Jeremiah 31:31-34. 5. HOW DOES THE BIBLE ILLUSTRATE THE OLD COVENANT? The Old Covenant is likened unto the law of marriage, which can only be dissolved by death or unfaithfulness. Romans 7:1-4; Jeremiah 3; Isaiah 54; Galatians 4:26-28. 6. HOW DOES THE BIBLE ILLUSTRATE THE NEW COVENANT? In two ways: [1] The New Covenant is the new marriage; Jesus Christ the bridegroom and the Church is the bride. The Old Covenant relationship between God and His people died with Christ on the cross; now, God's people are free to be joined to a new husband and covenant. [2] The Bible likens the New Covenant to an inheritance will or testament. Just as a will goes into effect when the maker (or, testator)

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