Covenant, Curse, and Credit; Genesis 12-29
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Today we are looking at God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12-17. Our sermon covers a lot of ground and is entitled “Covenant, curse, and credit.”
But, before we examine the passages for today I’d like to make sure we are all on the same page with the concept of covenant as revealed in Scripture.
One of the major revelations or themes of the entire Bible is Covenant. In particular the revelation that God relates to humanity through covenants. In fact, God’s covenants are so significant that the Bible is organized according to them.
Covenants are the backbone of the Bible
The plan of salvation is revealed through the series of covenants between God and his people and forms what Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum call the “backbone of the Bible.”
Open your Bible to the table of contents. When you get there you will see that the Bible is divided into two major sections. What are those called? (Testaments… that’s right.) The word testament in the Bible is used interchangeably with the word covenant. One example is found in Hebrews 9:15–17 (CSB), “15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant,, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living.”
The Greek word translated as covenant here in Hebrews 9 can also be translated as testament. In fact, the KJV renders the word as “testament” in its translation. Even the word testament in latin means covenant. As you can see through the organization of the Bible into the Old and New Covenants or Testaments it is essential that we take time to understand the way that God reveals His plan of redemption.
Thom Schreiner writes, “The Bible isn’t a random collection of laws, moral principles, and stories. It is a story that goes somewhere; it is the story of redemption, the story of God’s kingdom. And the story unfolds and advances through the covenants God made with his people.” https://www.crossway.org/articles/why-we-must-understand-the-covenants-to-understand-the-bible/
The Old Testament is about the Old Covenant and introduces the New Covenant and points toward Christ. The New Testament is about the New Covenant and points back to the Old Covenant. In the NT we see the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant through the sacrificial and atoning death of Christ. As David Schrock writes, “Christ’s new covenant is the substance to which all the covenants in the Old Testament are the shadow. Therefore, when we pay attention to the covenantal structures of the Bible, we are helped to understand how the Bible is organized.” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-relation-of-the-old-and-new-testaments/#footnote-11
This means, that…
You cannot rightly understand the Bible without understanding the covenants.
I know that might seem like a statement out of left field for many people. Or you might even be offended by the statement. You may be thinking you’ve not needed to know anything about covenants before and have been just fine. Well, I hope that today you are able to see and understand the Word more clearly. If the God’s redemption story unfolds through covenants then we need this. Remember, covenant is a relationship, an agreement made between two parties. The truth is, without a biblical understanding of covenant we are left without a solid understanding of our relationship with God and even our relationship with one another.
Covenant
Covenants in Scripture are solemn agreements, negotiated or unilaterally imposed, that bind the parties to each other in permanent defined relationships, with specific promises, claims, and obligations on both sides (e.g., the marriage covenant, Mal. 2:14). J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 87.
The Covenant of Creation (or Works): Genesis 1-3
In Genesis 1-3 we read of God creating everything, including Adam and then Eve in His image. God places them in the Garden of Eden and makes a covenant with them.
Genesis 2:15–17 (CSB) says, 15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
Though Moses did not use the word covenant to describe the relationship God made with Adam and Eve, all of the components of a covenant are present. If they obey the Lord then things will go well for them, if they sin and go against the Lord’s commands then they will die. Here we see the blessing and the curse of the covenant of creation or of works.
As you can see in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve sin and break the covenant and they are cursed because of it. In fact, all of humanity is cursed because of their sin. But, in the midst of God’s judgment on their sin (works) there is hope, and that hope is the grace of God.
As JI Packer points out, God reveals the covenant of grace to Adam and Eve. Instead of immediately destroying Adam and Eve God reveals his redemptive plan, and that redemptive plan involves covenant. Even though they receive the curse that God promised, there is the whisper of a new and better covenant of grace in the judgment that God gives to them. The relationship that was broken through Adam would one day be redeemed and restored by the offspring of the woman.
Here at the foundation of the world and in the beginning of God’s story we find the seeds of the entire gospel… and that is not by chance, it is by design.
The Covenant of Noah
The sin of Adam continues its unraveling and corruption of the world. God makes a covenant with Noah after He floods the world. God promises in his covenant with Noah never to destroy with water again. He gives the rainbow as a sign of his promise for all generations. The covenant with Noah points us to the day when God will judge and destroy the world by fire in the end.
The Covenant of Grace (or Promise)
Not too many generations after Noah the world is again filled with sinful men seeking to displace God and live according to their own ways. This time we see men building the tower of Babel as the pre-eminent sign of their sinfulness. And, as God promised in Genesis 3 the covenant of grace is established through Abraham.
God promised to Abraham a home (land), a child through Sarah, and that he would be a blessing to every nation on the earth. We will come back to this more in-depth in a few minutes. This covenant is foundational to the rest of the Old Testament and is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
The Covenant with Israel (or Moses)
God makes a covenant through Moses with the Israelites. God saves them from Egypt and then makes a covenant with them. Exodus 19:3–6 (CSB) says, “3 Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and explain to the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, 6 and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”
God promises his blessing to them if they obey the ten commandments and if they rebel against him they will be removed from the promised land and sent into exile.
The Covenant with David
The redemptive plan of God continues to unfold through God’s covenant with David. God promised redemption through a child in Genesis 3, then God promised that child to Abraham in Genesis 12, and now through David we see that the child will be a king! The child promised to Abraham that will conquer sin and death will also be a son of David. As Adam was given rule over the beasts and the garden, the new Adam, the Messiah will reign over the kingdom of the Lord forever and ever!
The New Covenant of Grace
God promised redemption and restoration through the son of Abraham, the son of David. God promised in the OT that the old covenant wouldn’t last forever. Jeremiah 31:31–34 (CSB) says, 31 “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”,—the Lord’s declaration. 33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.”
The new covenant is an Old Testament promise that fulfills everything promised to Adam, Abraham, Moses, and David. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:17–18 (CSB), 17 “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.”
God doesn’t dismiss the Old Covenant, he keeps it and establishes a new and better one through Jesus Christ.
From Genesis to Jesus
Let’s connect these dots today from Genesis 12 to Jesus. We are going to look at God’s call to Abraham (Abram), then the establishment of the covenant, and then its fulfillment and application in Christ. Look with me at Genesis 12:1-3.
Genesis 12:1–3 (CSB)
The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Here we see that God promised to bless Abram, make his name great and make him into a blessing to every nation through his offspring. (Verse 8) In Genesis 15 God makes a covenant with Abraham.
God establishes the covenant with Abraham (Abram) in Genesis 15.
Genesis 15:1-21 (CSB)
After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.” 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. 11 Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed. 14 However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions. 15 But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”, 17 When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River: 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hethites, Perizzites, Rephaim, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
Two Observations:
1. God promises to take the curse on Himself
The problem of sin is problematic for the covenants… When a covenant is made, both parties participate so symbolize that the curse will come on them if they fail. But, when you see what happened in the covenant ceremony with Abraham you see the gospel.
Only one of the two participated in the covenant ceremony, and that means that God covenanted to take on the curse for the failure of Abraham.
“And in the symbolism of the cut animals, the two parties are supposed to walk between the cut up animals and implicitly they are saying: “Let this be done to me. Let my body be cut up and trashed if I were to break this covenant.” But in this vision slumber of Abram, only the fire pot that represents God goes between the two animals, as if God himself takes on the entire curse all by himself. That is chapter 15.” D.A. Carson
2. Abraham is justified by faith, not by works.
God said in Genesis 15:6 that, “6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
The righteousness that Adam lost was found in Noah by faith in Genesis 6, and now we see here again a sinful man cannot earn his righteousness. Abraham wasn’t holy enough or good enough to be righteous. The stain of Adam’s sin is ever present. As David says in Psalm 51, our sin is ever before us.
God declares Abraham righteous because he trusted in the promise that God made in Him. The New Testament affirms that for man is condemned by his works and justified by faith.
Galatians 3:6 (CSB), 6 just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?,
Romans 4:3 (CSB), 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.,
James 2:23 (CSB), 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,, and he was called God’s friend.
Four Truths
1. The Old Covenant is Fulfilled in Christ
Luke 24:13–27 (CSB)
13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles, from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they were prevented from recognizing him. 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. 18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked them. So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 1:20 (CSB), 20 For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.
Every one of the promises God made, freedom from sin, eternal life, the land, His presence, etc. All that God said He would restore is fulfilled in Christ and will be consummated at his 2nd coming.
Jesus fulfills the covenant God made in the Old Testament and establishes the New Covenant.
2. Jesus establishes a New and Better Covenant of Grace
Hebrews 8:6 (CSB) says, 6 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.
Jesus establishes the new covenant with His blood.
Luke 22:20 (CSB)20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
3. Righteousness is received, not achieved
Romans 4:23–24 (CSB)
23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Justification results in a humble confidence. Your salvation is because of the work of Christ. He lived a sinless life… Where Adam’s works brought sin and death Jesus’ works bring forgiveness and eternal life.
Faith is depending, trusting, believing that God will do all that He has promised in Christ.
Ephesians 2:4–5 (CSB)4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
God saves us by His grace… we have nothing to boast in except Jesus Christ!
4. You have been blessed to be a blessing
God promised Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through the child who was to be born. Ultimately that child is Jesus. Through Christ God calls all the nations back. Abraham was called out of the land where the tower of babel was built. God scattered the nations from there, and in Christ He is bringing them all back.
God blessed Abraham so that the world would be blessed. God blesses you with salvation so that others may be blessed… with salvation.
“The gospel came to you on its way to someone else.” - R. Gallaty
Far too many Christians limit God’s ability to bless others by thinking small. God has blessed our church with so much so that we can be a blessing to others by bringing them the gospel. I firmly believe God has a plan to multiply His kingdom through our church. And, I believe that He will do it in a way bigger than we can conceive, but also in a way that brings Him all the glory. We have not been blessed to be a blessing so we can get another blessing.
Jesus is the blessing!!!!! You have Jesus there isn’t anything come back around that compares.
Bless those you see this week with the good news of Jesus and pray for our church to multiply the kingdom of God from here throughout NE MS and to the ends of the earth!