In
order to understand and appreciate the significance of a covenant we first need to know what constitutes
fellowship with God.
Otherwise, our fellowship as brethren is moot. By definition, fellowship is
“joint-participation”; it is a “sharing”. The activity “jointly” participated
in, can be right or it can be wrong.
The
RELATIONSHIP determines whether the
actions that are jointly engaged in constitute having fellowship with God. Only the relationship
that is “in Christ’ makes it possible for the fellowship to be with God. The
“acts” do not establish the fellowship; it is the relationship of being “in
Christ”. “And if you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians
3:29).
Fellowship
with God can only be entered
by one means; that is as the gospel message directs. That is why there is a
message and why that message is called God’s power to save (Romans 1:16). In the gospel message we
find God’s “call” to His creation. We see this from the epistle of Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:14. “It was for this He called you through our
gospel, that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Many
of the hymns we sing bear this out: ‘SEND THE LIGHT’; ‘RING THE MESSAGE OUT’
etc. When we answer that “call” (i.e., the ‘obedience of faith’ – Romans 1:5; 16:26), we enter into
fellowship with God and are then “in Christ”. As such we are the “elect” of God
and members of the one body, the church (1
Peter 1:2; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27).
Fellowship
with God is only possible if there is a relationship with Him.
The RELATIONSHIP determines whether the actions that are jointly
engaged in constitute having fellowship with God. The important thing to remember is this: HOW does
one enter into a relationship with
God? This is where a ‘covenant’ factors in.
Another term that helps us to understand the bible concept of a covenant is ‘law’. They are used interchangeably. We find in regard to both that they can be ‘broken’. When such is done, sin is said to have been committed. Notice that sin is “transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4 – “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
The Law of Moses was a covenant (Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 5:2-3; Malachi 4:4). When the children of Israel turned to idolatry, Joshua said that they had transgressed the covenant (Joshua 23:16). The Law of Moses forbid this (Exodus 20:4-5). When sin is committed it is said to be both transgression of law and of the covenant.
Man
has always been under law to God. Both Job and Hosea made reference to this.
When Job was asserting his integrity, he said, “Have I covered
my transgressions like Adam, by
hiding my iniquity in my bosom…” (Job 31:33). While this word ‘Adam’ is
translated ‘mankind’ in some versions, the point is the same: man, upon his
disobedience, acts as Adam did and tries to hide his transgressions from God (Genesis 3:10). Hosea wrote of the sins of
Israel and Judah as follows: “But like Adam
they have transgressed the covenant; there
they have dealt treacherously against Me.” (Hosea
6:7). He added in Hosea 8:1b – “…because they
have transgressed My covenant and
rebelled against My law.”
These
texts help us to understand some characteristics of a covenant. It can be
transgressed or broken. In order for this to be possible, the covenant must
contain statutes, ordinances, and commandments that are to be observed. These
are ‘terms’ of the covenant. This is exactly what we find in regard to God’s
covenants with His creation. God told Moses to teach Israel “…ordinances and
laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that
they must do.” (Exodus 18:20). Keeping
the covenant was the same as obeying God. “So
He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the
Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:13).
The
Bible reveals that God always offered man a relationship by means of a
covenant. In doing so, God laid out the terms and man accepted those terms. We
see this from Exodus 19:5-8: “Now then, if you will indeed obey My
voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession
among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to
Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that
you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” So Moses came and called the
elders of the people, and set before them all these words which
the Lord had commanded him. All the people answered together and
said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought
back the words of the people to the Lord.” This offer of a covenant to
the Israelites was in keeping His oath to Abraham (Genesis 15:18; 18:19; 21:2). God had made a covenant with Abraham (Acts 7:8 with Genesis 17:10-27). Moses reminded the nation of Israel of this in Deuteronomy 5:2, 27-30.
As
the Creator, God alone has the right to set the conditions of a covenant.
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