The Two Main Covenants

by Matt Slick

God works covenantally.  A covenant is a pact or agreement between two or more parties.  In fact, the Latin word "testamentum" (Old Testament, New Testament) is the word "covenant."  Following is a chart that represents the Two Covenant position.  There are different interpretations of how many covenants there are, but CARM lean towards two:

THE TWO MAIN COVENANTS

COVENANT NAME

ETERNAL COVENANT ALSO CALLED
THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION (HEB. 13:20)

COVENANT OF GRACE

PARTIES INVOLVEDFather and Son (Inter Trinitarian)God and Man
PROMISEThe Father would...
  • Prepare the Son a body (Luke 1:35; Heb. 10:5).
  • Give the Son the Spirit without measure (Isaiah 43:1,2; 61:1).
  • Always support and comfort the Son (Isaiah 49:1-7; 49:8).
  • Deliver the Son from the power of Death (Psalm 2; Psalm 16:10).
  • Bring to the Son all whom the Father had given Him (John 6:39; 17:9,24).
  • Give the Son a number of redeemed that no one could number (Psalm 22:27; 72:17).
Eternal life for mankind

The complete restoration of fellowship between God and man.

 

CONDITIONThe Son...
  • Was to assume human nature (Gal. 4:4,5; Heb. 2:10,44,14,15).
  • Was to be under the Law (Psalm 40:8; Gal. 4:4,5; Phil. 2:5-8).
  • Was to bear our sins (1 Pet. 2:24).
Faith in Jesus Christ
MEDIATORNo MediatorJesus Christ

 

 

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