A covenant is a ratified, unalterable agreement. God has made many covenants with man. (Gen 6:18; Jer 33:20 and etc.)  Three, however, stand out very prominently, as in them have been bound up all the best interests of mankind.

FIRST: The Covenant of God to Abraham. This covenant seems to comprehend and include a blessing on the natural fleshly descendants, as well as upon the higher, spiritual, seed, “which seed is Christ; and if ye be Christ’s (body), then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to (this covenant or) promise.” If this thought be borne in mind, it will assist us in grasping the full meaning of this covenant.

The spiritual seed is called the “blessing seed” and “stars of heaven.” It is prophesied that “They that turn many (the world) to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever.” (Dan 12:3). And Jesus calls himself “the bright and morning star.” This thought seems to have had more weight and meaning with the ancients, who looked up the stars with superstitious reverence, believing that they controlled the destinies both of nations and of men. So probably this portion of the covenant represented by stars signifies heavenly rulers – Christ and His Bride.

The natural descendants are probably meant when mention is made of “a great nation” possessing “this land” – Canaan – said to be as the “sand of the sea.” This represents an earthly people as plainly as the stars do the heavenly. Let us read the covenant and see that it contains these two elements, and recognizes both natural and spiritual Israel. (Gen 12:2,3; 13:14-16; 15:18 and 22:16-18). Paul assures us that “the seed” referred to in this covenant is Christ (Gal 3:16). Fleshly Israel lost this, the cream or choicest part of the covenant – the spiritual. As Paul says (Rom 11:7): “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeks for, but the election hath obtained it.” But the loss of this better part does not cut them off entirely from having a part in that covenant. “For brethren, that you may not be conceited with yourselves” (thinking that all of God’s favor and covenant are taken from them and given to you), “I wish you not to be ignorant of this secret: that hardness in some measure has happened to Israel till the fullness of the Gentiles may come in (i.e.,) until the bride selected from the Gentiles has been completed). “And then all Israel will be saved, as it has been written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob,” and “This is THE COVENANT WITH THEM FROM ME, when I shall take away their sins.” (Rom 11:25 – “Diaglott“).

Though for over 2000 years they have been counted as enemies, and blinded to the gospel, yet they are still beloved for the father’s sake; for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Verse 29); i.e., these earthly blessings are just as sure to them as our spiritual ones are to us, because God so promised or covenanted, and never changes. Thus, we see the breadth and grandeur of God’s plan and arrangement – how the natural seed was cast aside for the time that the spiritual might be developed, who, in their turn, are to be made the instruments for blessing the natural; when “they shall obtain mercy through your mercy;” when “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion (spiritual Israel – the church) and turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (fleshly Israel). When we see this, we see the fullness of this covenant to Abraham. It shows us what God meant when he promised that Abraham’s seed should be mighty, possessing the gates of their enemies (the place of power and control), and be so far above others as to be able to “bless all the families of the earth.” “O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways; for who hath known the mind of the Lord?”

THE COVENANT OF THE LAW, is the second covenant we wish to consider. It was unlike the Abrahamic, in that it was conditional and two-sided, i.e., it was made between God and Israel and by its arrangements, God was bound to do certain things, if Israel did certain other things. The one with Abraham was unconditional. God said: “I will, and etc.” It was not so, with the Abrahamic covenant, Abraham was in no way obligated. (Circumcision was instituted after the covenant. Rom 4:10.)

It was not Abraham’s covenant, but God’s entirely; and for this reason, it had no mediator. (A mediator is one who stands between the parties to an agreement or contract, whose duty it is to see that both parties fulfill their parts of the covenant.) Instead, God swore by himself that he would keep His covenant [See form of oath Gen 15:8-18 and Jer 34: 18-20.]

“The Law,” is called a covenant. [Compare Gal 3:17 and 4:24.] It was ordained in the hands of a mediator (Moses. Deut 5:5) which proves that it contained conditions for its fulfillment; for “a mediator is not of one,” (Gal 3:20.) or, not necessary where there was only one party contracting as in the case of the Abrahamic Covenant.

This (the Law) was not a part of the first covenant, neither was it made with the people of the world, but only with fleshly Israel – “And Moses called all Israel and said unto them: Hear O Israel….The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, BUT WITH US, even us who are all of us here alive this day.” Deut 5:1-5. Thus, contradicting those who say we Gentiles are under this covenant.

That the Ten commandments, particularly, AND the ceremonial law, incidentally, constituted this covenant, is clear from the reading of the remainder of this chapter. A difference between moral and ceremonial law is now recognized, but it is of men. God called them one – “The Law.” This Law Covenant was seemingly designed as a blessing to Israel, yet really by coming under it, they condemned themselves; for it is written “cursed [condemned] is every one that abides not in all the words of the Law to do them.” God never intended therefore, that they should be benefited by this covenant since, “By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight.”

What then was the object of this covenant?

It had two objects: first, it demonstrated that the natural man as a fallen creature, could not live in harmony with God – could not do right or be righteous. And finally, it was proved and illustrated that a perfect man could keep God’s perfect law, when Jesus did keep it and thereby became heir legally as well as by grace, to all the provisions of both covenants.

Secondly: The law “was appointed on account of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise related.” (Gal 3:19). God knew the best time, and “in due time sent forth His Son.” The law was introduced because the proper time had not come for the development of “the seed” referred to in the covenant to Abraham, and was intended to prevent Israel’s becoming degraded like other nations, and to act as a restraint on their fleshly nature, and an educator of self-control, and etc. It thus was a “schoolmaster,” which, by showing them their own weakness, prepared them to receive Jesus Christ as their justifier from the things which the law condemned. (Gal 3:24) And it did this very work. By the time the seed was due, it had prepared some to receive Jesus.

Thirdly: It was used as a type, not of the Abrahamic, but of the new covenant, to illustrate the operations and conditions of that covenant, as we shall soon see.

Continued with next post.