January 7, 2018

The Bible’s One Main Storyline Creation Fall Redemption Salvation / Judgment Covenant Resurrection New Creation Genesis 1-2 Genesis 3 Revelation 20 Revelation 21-22 Covenant Development

To understand the message of the Bible we need to look at it through the lens of covenant

What is a Covenant? (1) Parties to a covenant (2) Prologue or covenant context (3) Conditions or stipulations (4a) Promises: Benefits or blessings (4b) Promises: Consequences or curses (5) Covenant Sign Definition: Hebrew is berit A solemn commitment of oneself to undertake an obligation

Covenant of Redemption Covenant of Works Covenant of Grace

Covenant of Works (Creation) Biblical Covenants Covenant of Works (Creation) Covenant with Noah Abrahamic Covenant Mosaic Covenant Davidic Covenant New Covenant

Covenant with Noah Historical Prologue & Parties Conditions Promises: Genesis 6:5-7,13, wickedness and judgment Genesis 6:8-9, Noah’s favored by God and his righteousness Conditions Faithful obedience Provision of the Ark Promises: Deliverance, 6:17-19; 8:1 Restoration, 9:1, 7 Preservation, 8:21, 9:5-6, 8-11 Sign, 9:12-17

Covenant with Abraham The Key to Salvation History: 12:1-3 All Peoples, 12:3 Nation, 12:2 Abraham, 12:1 Historical Prologue & Parties Abram and his family God All peoples Conditions Believing God Acting in faith Promises: A great nation A great name Blessing/cursing All will be blessed

Mosaic Covenant Historical Prologue & Parties Conditions Promises: Exodus 19:4, the great works of God Deuteronomy 4:3-4 Conditions Summary [Exodus 20, Ten Words: Devotion to God(1-4), Love for Others (5-10)] Detail, Exodus 21-23 Deuteronomy 4:5-9 All the Laws of Deuteronomy Promises: Exodus 19:5-6; 23:20-23 Deuteronomy 26:16-19; 28 Sign, Exodus 24:4-8

Davidic Covenant Historical Prologue & Parties The qualifications of spiritual leadership and a godly monarchy: Deuteronomy 17:14-20 A legacy of spiritual leadership failure Judges – “The Israelites again did what is evil in the sight of the Lord” Saul and most of the kings since David Expressed with prophetic power in Ezekiel 34:1-6 David’s anointing, faithfulness, relationship with God and especially his desire to honor the Lord Promises: 2 Samuel 7:1-17 (How does this connect to both Solomon and the Messiah?) This is both Messianic and ultimately eschatological

Promise of New Heart and Spirit The New Covenant Anchored in the OT Narrative OT Perspectives on the New Covenant, different perspectives in and across the OT books dealing with the New Covenant: Everlasting Covenant Covenant of Peace Promise of New Heart and Spirit New Covenant Jeremiah 32:36-41; 50:2-5 Isaiah 54:1-10 Ezekiel 11:18-21; 18:30-32; 36:24-32 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Ezekiel 16:59-63; 37:15-28 Ezekiel 34:20-31; 37:15-28 Isaiah 55:1-5; 61:8-9

The New Covenant Fulfillment in Christ: Hebrews 9:11-15 (Mosaic fulfillment) Romans 9:1-24; Galatians 3:6-9 (Abrahamic fulfillment) New Covenant Community (from Peter Jentry) Unity, diversity, maturity: 4:1-16 New community life Old humanity to new: 4:17-24 Instructions: 4:25-5:5 Darkness to light: 5:6-14 Relationships in the community: 5:15-6:9 Spiritual warfare: 6:10-20

Covenant Life Discussion How is prayer an expression of God’s covenant community and how might covenant give us more confidence in prayer? Matthew 18:18-20 Hebrews 4:16 Talk about the relationship between God’s covenant commitment and his willingness to forgive us in Christ: 1 John 1:9 (1:10-2:2) Discuss how eternal security is really covenant security: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Resources from the Study All slides from sessions can be found here: http://www.livingbyfaith.us/your-bible-series References for the overview, inspiration, canonization, & transmission discussions A General Introduction to the Bible, Norman Geisler The Great Doctrines of the Bible, William Evans The New Testament Documents: Are they reliable, F.F. Bruce References on Biblical Covenants Old Testament Theology, Bruce Waltke Kingdom Through Covenant, Peter Gentry & Stephen Wellum A Theological Approach to the Old Testament, Leslie Allen Systematic Theology, John Frame Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church, Michael Lawrence