Lesson 11 for December 12, 2015

“I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:11) God made several covenants with persons, with nations and with the whole mankind throughout the Bible history. The covenant in Genesis 9:8-17 is the most universal of all. It involves Noah, his children, his descendants and “the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals.” That is a unilateral covenant. God promised something and He didn’t expect anything from our side. In addition, He set a sign—the rainbow—that can still be seen anywhere on Earth. It’s a memorial of His covenant.

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” (Genesis 17:7) GOD’S COMMITMENT Blessing. Genesis 12:3 Personal Universal Inheritance. Physical. Genesis 17:8 Eternal. Hebrews 11:10 ABRAHAM’S COMMITMENT Faith. Genesis 15:6 Obedience. Genesis 17:1 The sign of the covenant. Genesis 17:11

As Galatians 3:6-18 states, the covenant with Abraham is a reflection of the eternal covenant of God with the whole humanity based on Jesus’ blood (Hebrews 13:20).  The heart of the covenant is Christ—the “seed” (v. 16).  It’s universal; the Gentiles are included (v. 8).  It must be accepted by faith (v. 9). “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16) Lastly, the atonement involves a life change; a life following God’s will: “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” (James 2:22).

GOD’S COMMITMENT Blessing. Personal. Deuteronomy 4:6 Universal. Isaiah 2:3 Inheritance. Physical. Deuteronomy 27:3 Eternal. Hebrews 12:22 ISRAEL’S COMMITMENT Faith. Hebrews 4:2 Obedience. Exodus 24:3 The sign of the atonement. Exodus 31:13 The covenant at Sinai is God’s eternal covenant based on Jesus’ blood. Israel had to recognize that in every sacrifice they offered. Nevertheless, their lack of faith invalidated the covenant (Hebrews 4:2).

“‘The days are coming,” declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.’” (Jeremiah 31:31) Israel didn’t keep his part of the covenant, but God was still faithful (Jeremiah 31:32). God used Jeremiah to announce a new covenant in the midst of that national apostasy. That was a better covenant, “established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6) That covenant is actually the same eternal covenant based on Jesus’ blood. The Law that was written on tables of stone is now written within those who accept the divine covenant by faith and receive forgiveness for their sins (Jeremiah 31:34). Israel didn’t keep his part of the covenant, but God was still faithful (Jeremiah 31:32). God used Jeremiah to announce a new covenant in the midst of that national apostasy. That was a better covenant, “established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6) That covenant is actually the same eternal covenant based on Jesus’ blood. The Law that was written on tables of stone is now written within those who accept the divine covenant by faith and receive forgiveness for their sins (Jeremiah 31:34).

“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke 22:20) The eternal atonement was announced through shadows and examples (the old covenant). It was ratified through the death of Christ (the new covenant). The Communion service links both covenants: 1.Passover is fulfilled at the Cross (1 Corinthians 11:24). 2.Freedom from Egypt is fulfilled at the Second Coming (1 Corinthians 11:26). GOD’S COMMITMENT Blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 Inheritance. 2 Peter 3:13 OUR COMMITMENT Faith. Hebrews 11:6 Obedience. 1 Peter 1:2 The sign of the covenant. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

“Under the new covenant the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old—perfect obedience… In the new and better covenant Christ has fulfilled the law for the transgressors of law if they receive Him by faith as a personal Saviour... The power is in Christ’s free gift, a promise appreciated by those only who are sensible of their sins and who forsake their sins and cast their helpless souls upon Christ, the sin-pardoning Saviour.” E.G.W. (That I may know Him, October 20)