Covenants: God's Promises
Daniel JusticeShare
Covenant theology provides a framework for understanding the unity of Scripture through the covenants that God establishes with humanity. This approach derives its structure directly from the biblical text, without reliance on extra-biblical traditions.
The Bible is presenting one overarching story of redemption. Central to this framework are two theological covenants inferred from the text: the Covenant of Works (with Adam before the fall) and the Covenant of Grace (God’s plan of salvation after the fall). The Covenant of Grace is progressively revealed through a series of historical covenants, or “administrations,” across redemptive history: with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and ultimately fulfilled in the New Covenant in Christ.A biblical covenant is a sovereignly initiated, binding relationship in which God commits Himself to His people with promises, obligations, and often a visible sign.The Covenant of WorksThe Covenant of Works describes God’s arrangement with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Though the term “covenant” is not explicitly used in Genesis 1–2, the essential elements are present: a divine command, a probationary test, promised blessing for obedience, and the penalty of death for disobedience.Genesis 2:16–17: “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”Perfect obedience would have secured eternal life and blessing for Adam and his posterity. Adam’s disobedience, however, introduced sin and death into the human race (Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”).This covenant establishes the need for a redeemer, as no descendant of Adam can achieve the required perfect obedience.The Covenant of GraceImmediately after the fall, God initiates the Covenant of Grace—a single redemptive promise grounded in His grace and received by faith alone. This covenant is progressively disclosed through successive historical administrations.The first announcement of grace appears in Genesis 3:15, often called the protoevangelium: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This verse promises ultimate victory over the serpent through the offspring of the woman—fulfilled in Christ.The Covenant of Grace is consistently presented as salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”).The Noahic CovenantFollowing the flood, God establishes a covenant with Noah and all creation to preserve the created order.Genesis 9:11 : “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”The rainbow serves as the sign (Genesis 9:12–17). This covenant is universal and unconditional, demonstrating God’s commitment to sustain the world until the consummation of redemption.The Abrahamic CovenantGod calls Abraham and establishes a covenant promising descendants, land, and universal blessing.Genesis 12:2–3: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”Genesis 17:7: “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”Circumcision is instituted as the covenant sign (Genesis 17:9–14). Abraham’s faith is counted as righteousness (Genesis 15:6), illustrating justification by faith. The ultimate fulfillment of the blessing to all nations is Christ (Galatians 3:16).The Mosaic CovenantAt Sinai, God enters into covenant with Israel as a nation, giving the law through Moses.Exodus 19:5–6: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples… and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”The Mosaic Covenant includes the Decalogue (Exodus 20), sacrificial system, and blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 28). While containing conditional elements, it rests upon prior grace (Exodus 20:2: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…”). Its purpose is pedagogical: to reveal sin and point to the need for a perfect mediator (Galatians 3:24; Romans 3:20).The Davidic CovenantGod promises David an everlasting dynasty.2 Samuel 7:12–16: “I will raise up your offspring after you… and I will establish his kingdom… I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever… Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.”This covenant is unconditional in its ultimate fulfillment. The eternal king is Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Luke 1:32–33).The New CovenantThe prophets foretell a future covenant that will surpass the Mosaic.Jeremiah 31:31–34: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts… For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”Jesus inaugurates this covenant through His blood (Luke 22:20: “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood”). It provides internal transformation by the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26–27), full forgiveness, and inclusion of all believers, Jew and Gentile, into God’s people (Hebrews 8:6–13).Covenant theology presents Scripture as a unified narrative centered on Christ. He succeeds where Adam failed, fulfills the law of Moses, inherits the promises to Abraham and David, and mediates the New Covenant. The progression of covenants reveals God’s unchanging purpose: to redeem a people for Himself by grace through faith, to the praise of His glory.