Providence Presbyterian

How Does God Normally Deal with People?

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Lessson 3

Through His Word

Based on His Righteousness

[in consideration of their sin]

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Looking, for example, at Abram (later Abraham): Genesis 12.1-3; Chpt 15; 17.1-14; & 22.16-18.

First, notice, the covenant is Unilateral; God Initiates.

He doesn't ask permission, nor does He invite a decision.
He simply says - I'm making a covenant with you.

Then, He makes it with the individual, but not with an individual in & of himself: But He makes it with a view to the Group' he represents.

Pay close attention to Gen. 12.1-3, & then 17.1-14. I will be your God & the God of your descendents after you. He doesn't wait for each generation to arise & then to make a covenant. He doesn't make an individualized covenant with each individual person (though it ends up being personal because God is personal).

You can see this very pattern in regard to the covenant God made with Noah (Genesis 9, esp. verses 9-17). & it's a good thing He made it, because we all - without our permission or decision, benefit from it immensely!

God initiates covenant (based on His own righteousness)

Abraham: Representative of his descendents (& a sinner, who is unable to make God Want him)

It is Signed & Visibly Sealed (circumcision).
This is the guarantee that God is faithful

Descendents receive the blessing,
The sign, the seal, & the promise
"I will be your God"

The Stipulations are perpetual (this must be kept throughout your generations)

Blessings: I'll be your God, give you the land, etc.
Curses: I will cut you off if you don't abide; notice that those descendents who choose to no longer be in the covenant are called (v. 14) Covenant-Breakers.

This same pattern can be seen in the Garden (Gen. 2 & 3):

God Initiates
(creates man, blesses him richly, gives him a vocation,
speaks to him & communes with him)

Stipulations: [1] Eat the super-abundance of plenty
[2] Stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil

Blessing: Super-abundance of food (Yahweh is the only God who makes man to feed him. The pagan gods made man so man could feed them)

Curse: Eat the fruit from the forbidden tree, you'll die
Notice that the covenant was made with Adam, & in chapter 3, Eve refers to the covenant stipulations as belonging to her - even though she wasn't there originally to participate in the covenant making.

Now, contrast the Biblical Idea of covenant with the American notion:

American	Biblical
Covenant is an agreement between 2 equal parties (usually individualized)	God's Righteousness God Initiates Thru the individual (but NOT for Individuals alone) For the represented Group And the descendents (perpetuation)

 

The Continuity of the Old & New Testament Scriptures is Based on the Covenant Schema!

Important items to observe:

The covenant made with Abraham is still in force: Galatians 3.8-9, 26-29 (just for example). This is also one of Paul's argument in Romans 3 & 4. Think through the implications of that.

The second thing to notice: The biblical covenantal understanding is in total contrast to the modern, 21st Century American religious scene. Most "Christianity" in America is highly individualized, "Just me & my Jesus." All of the Scripture, worship, every concept of Church, etc, is centered on "ME".

Begin to read the Bible with the covenant framework in your mind. & start believing in a covenantal way: I will establish My covenant between Me & you & your descendents after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you & your descendents after you (Gen. 17.7).'

Lesson 4: Continuity & Real Discontinuity >>

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