1. January 7, 2018

2. 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

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

4. 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

5. Covenant of Redemption
Covenant of Works
Covenant of Grace

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

15. Resources from the Study
All slides from sessions can be found here:
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