Law and the Covenants
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follow the iniquitous practices of the heathen or to shut themselves
away in proud exclusiveness, as if God’s love and care were over them
alone.
As the Bible presents two laws, one changeless and eternal, the
other provisional and temporary, so there are two covenants. The
covenant of grace was first made with man in Eden, when after the Fall
there was given a divine promise that the seed of the woman should
bruise the serpent’s head. To all men this covenant offered pardon and
the assisting grace of God for future obedience through faith in Christ.
It also promised them eternal life on condition of fidelity to God’s law.
Thus the patriarchs received the hope of salvation.
This same covenant was renewed to Abraham in the promise,
“In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”
Genesis
22:18
. This promise pointed to Christ. So Abraham understood it (see
Galatians 3:8, 16
), and he trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
It was this faith that was accounted unto him for righteousness. The
covenant with Abraham also maintained the authority of God’s law.
The Lord appeared unto Abraham, and said, “I am the Almighty God;
walk before Me, and be thou perfect.”
Genesis 17:1
. The testimony
of God concerning His faithful servant was, “Abraham obeyed My
voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My
laws.”
Genesis 26:5
. And the Lord declared to him, “I will establish
My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their
generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to
thy seed after thee.”
Genesis 17:7
.
Though this covenant was made with Adam and renewed to Abra-
ham, it could not be ratified until the death of Christ. It had existed
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by the promise of God since the first intimation of redemption had
been given; it had been accepted by faith; yet when ratified by Christ,
it is called a new covenant. The law of God was the basis of this
covenant, which was simply an arrangement for bringing men again
into harmony with the divine will, placing them where they could obey
God’s law.
Another compact—called in Scripture the “old” covenant—was
formed between God and Israel at Sinai, and was then ratified by the
blood of a sacrifice. The Abrahamic covenant was ratified by the blood
of Christ, and it is called the “second,” or “new,” covenant, because
the blood by which it was sealed was shed after the blood of the first