A Biblical Covenant is a contract between God and man,
in which God sets the terms. Such a covenant is a promise by God. Of the eight
covenants in Scripture, six are unconditional promises—God will do something
regardless of what man does. Two are conditional (Edenic Covenant and Mosaic Covenant)—God
will do something based on man’s response. It is important to know the
Covenants in order to understand the overall plan of God as revealed through
Scripture. The Covenants are all part of God’s redemptive plan for the world,
so they are fulfilled in Christ. Following are the Covenants, together with an
explanation of how Christ implements these promises.
1. Edenic Covenant (see Gen. 2:16,17). God gave Adam the freedom
to eat from any tree in the Garden except from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil. In effect, God said, “If you obey me, you will live, but if you
disobey, you will die.” Christ, the second Adam, fulfilled this covenant by
obeying God (Romans 5:14-19).
2. Adamic Covenant (see Gen. 3:14-19). God placed a curse as a
result of sin, but offered a plan of redemption through the seed of a
woman—Jesus Christ.
3. Noahic Covenant (see Gen. 9:1-17). God promised never again to
destroy the earth with a flood, added meat to man’s diet, and established the
sanctity of human life—because man is created in God’s image. He confirmed the
covenant with the sign of the rainbow. God blessed Shem, one of Noah’s three
sons, and Jesus was born from the line of Shem (Gen.9:26).
4. Abrahamic Covenant (see Gen. 12:1-3). God promised to make
Abraham’s descendents into a great nation, blessing the friends of Abraham, and
blessing all people groups on earth through Abraham. Through Jesus, the
offspring of Abraham, all people groups are blessed to have the opportunity to
receive eternal life
5. Mosaic Covenant (see Exodus 19:5,6). God promised that if the
Israelites would obey God’s Law (given through Moses), they would be a special
people—a kingdom of priests. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law,
living without sin (see Matt. 5:17).
6. Palestinian Covenant (see Deut. 30:1-10). God promised that
when the Israelites would return to him, he would give them the land of
Palestine. This is an unconditional covenant—the people of God will return to
God. Jesus will fulfill this Covenant by leading his people into the Promised
Land on the new earth.
7. Davidic Covenant (see 2 Sam. 7:8-17). God promised to establish
the house and kingdom of David forever (2 Sam. 7:16). Jesus, the seed of David
through Mary, is the eternal King.
8. New Covenant (see Hebrews 8:7-13). Unlike the Old Covenant of
Law, the New Covenant is written on the hearts of God’s people. Through the
sacrifice of Christ, the New Covenant of Grace is offered (Matt. 26:28). (For details and for free course
visit <www.missionstraining.org>)
