God works covenantally. A covenant is a pact or agreement between two or more parties. The table below helps you to see some of the major covenants made between God and man. It is worth studying covenant theology because it undergirds a great deal of biblical revelation. Jesus speaks covenant only (Matthew 15:24), as does Paul the apostle. In fact, the book of Hebrews is highly covenantal.
Some Divisions Under the Covenant of Grace |
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| COVENANT NAME | ADAMIC | NOAHIC | ABRAHAMIC | SINAITIC | DAVIDIC | NEW |
| PARTIES INVOLVED | God and Adam; therefore all Mankind | God and Noah
(his descendants and all living creatures) |
God and Abraham (his descendants) |
God and the Israelites at Mt. Sinai | God and David | God and the Elect |
| THE PROMISE |
Eternal Life based on keeping God’s word. | To not destroy the world again with a flood (Gen. 9:8-18) | Land and descendants to Abraham (Gen. 15:8-18; 17:1-14) | Continued Fellowship with God (Exodus 34:27-28; 19:5; 24:4-8) | His descendants would have an everlasting kingdom Psalm 89:3) | Law is written on their hearts. We will be God’s people. (Jer. 31:31-33) |
| THE CONDITION | Perfect Obedience | No Condition | Circumcision | Perfect Obedience | No Condition | Faith in Jesus |
| SIGN AND SEAL | The Tree | A Rainbow | Circumcision | A sacrifice and a sprinkling of blood (Exodus 24:4-8) | None because it was to be fulfilled in Jesus’ sacrifice. | The Blood of Christ (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) |
| MEDIATOR | No Mediator | The Messiah | Jesus Christ | |||
