I. THE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION:
THE COVENANTAL FRAMEWORK OF SCRIPTURE

1. The created order exists because of God's "natural covenant."
1. • Jer 33:25 "Thus says the LORD, 'If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, 26 then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them. '"
2. The world is not destroyed because of God's covenant faithfulness.
1. God covenanted with Noah for the salvation of the world, including Noah's family.
1. • Genesis 6:18 "But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark-- you and your sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
2. With the rainbow as the sign, God restrains His hand of judgment by flood because of His covenantal faithfulness.
1. • Genesis 9:15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.
3. God is a covenant-keeping God. He, therefore, brings about His promises.
1. God keeps covenant with His people and those whom He has blessed with obedience.
1. • Dan 9:4 And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed and said, "Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,
2. • Neh 9:32 "Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who dost keep covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before Thee, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and on all Thy people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day.
2. His covenant love extends through successive generations.
1. • Deu 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
4. God made a covenant with Adam, who represented mankind.⁽⁵⁾
1. • Hos 6:7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.
1. Adam was the covenant representative of all "in him" in a covenant he transgressed, just as Christ is the covenant representative of all "in him."
1. • 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
2. The content of this covenant (which Adam transgressed) essentially involved (a) obedience to the command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, as well as the creation mandates. (b) Since Adam's nature was upright,⁽⁶⁾ and all men, Jews and Gentiles, have the (moral precepts of the) law written on their consciences,⁽⁷⁾ Adam had the (moral precepts of the) law written on his conscience. Transgression brought spiritual and physical death.
5. The Godhead freely "counseled" together to save a people from fallen mankind. The redemptive plan which unfolds in the biblical revelation is called a covenant.
1. Redemption and its historical expression in the Bible is called "His covenant."
1. • Psalm 111:9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.
2. Our salvation is put in the New Testament terms of the "eternal covenant."
1. • Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord.
3. Our Savior is the Mediator of a covenant.
1. • Hebrews 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
4. The plan of redemption was entailed in the very first prophecy of covenant promise at the Fall of man.
1. • Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.
5. God intended to save a people for himself from Adam (who transgressed the covenant in the garden). Hence, each act of God throughout biblical revelation progressively reveals this covenant. The plan culminates in Christ (Eph 2:12). Jesus was the "last Adam" because He, like Adam, covenantally represents a people (1Co 15:45). This is why the Old Testament covenants are seen as fulfilled in Christ (2Co 1:20).
1. • 1Co 15:45 So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
2. • Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
3. • 2Co 1:20 For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
6. This redemptive plan is commonly called the "covenant of grace."⁽⁸⁾
6. Christ came, then, in fulfillment of these covenant promises, specifically the outworking of the covenant of grace.
1. • Luke 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- 71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,
7. The nation of Israel was in covenant with God because of the Abrahamic promises.
1. • Exodus 2:24 So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
1. Since the Jews at the time of Christ were unfaithful and ultimately, rejected Christ, the "covenantal kingdom" was taken from them. Though, in the future they will be grafted back into the people of God.
1. • Let me establish first that "covenant" and "kingdom" are inter-related, hence justifying a "covenantal kingdom" concept: 1 Kings 11:11 So the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. Ezekiel 17:14 that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant, that it might continue.
2. • Mat 21:43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.
3. • Rom 11:23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB." 27 "AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
2. Though in the history of God's redemption, the Israelites were given "the covenants," now the church (including Gentiles from "all the families of the earth") has "been brought near by the blood of Christ"(Eph 2:13) to the "covenants of promise."
1. • Ephesians 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
8. Therefore, as in the past era the people God redeems are placed in a covenantal entity, the church, and are commanded to therefore "keep covenant."
1. We are a "holy nation" according to the New Testament.
1. • 1Pe 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
2. In the original citation, the "holy nation" is told to "keep My covenant."
1. • Exo 19:5 '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; 6 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."
3. Keeping covenant is simply a single term for the relationship of faith and works that the Bible presents in both testaments. Faith is the horse and works are the cart. In the Old Testament Abraham was justified by faith and that justification was "justified" (vindicated) by works.⁽⁹⁾ When Abraham "believed God" (Rom 4:2), he believed God's covenant promise. When the Israelites in the wilderness "broke the covenant" they did so because they did not "believe" the Lord.
1. • Genesis 15:5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
2. • Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
3. • James 2:22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.
4. • Deuteronomy 9:23 "And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, 'Go up and possess the land which I have given you,' then you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God; you neither believed Him nor listened to His voice.
9. The purpose of God in converting the nations (in missions) is covenantal.
1. The very Great Commission (Mat 28:19-20) is the imperative form of the Abrahamic covenant.
1. • Acts 3:25 "It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.'
2. • Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
2. The message of reconciliation which is to be proclaimed to the world is the promise of the new covenant.
1. • 2Co 5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2. • Heb 10:16 "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM," He then says, 17 "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."
10. Service to Christ is ministering a "covenant gospel" which fulfills a covenant promise.
1. •2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2. • Ephesians 3:6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
11. Apostasy is covenant breaking.
1. In the Lord's Supper one receives the sacramental "blood of the covenant."
1. • Luke 22:20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
2. In the church's sacraments, covenant faithfulness is pledged.
1. • Mat 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
2. • 1Co 5:8 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3. • 1Co 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
3. In abandoning Christ, an apostate is denying what he or she had previously pledged in the sacraments; the apostate regards "as unclean the blood of the covenant" and because of this "the Lord will judge His people" (Heb 10:29-30).
1. • Hebrews 10:29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
2. • Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."
3. • 1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
12. The family is a covenantal entity and must therefore keep covenant by faith (which produces works).
1. Abraham was chosen by God in order that he carry out the familial covenantal responsibilities of instructing his children in faithfulness to God.
1. • Genesis 18:19 "For I have chosen him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him."
2. Just as Abraham was instructed to be faithful to God, so we are told that His lovingkindness is on children's children who "keep His covenant."
1. • Psalm 103:17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, 18 To those who keep His covenant, And who remember His precepts to do them.
3. Marriage is covenantal, both in its commitment nature and in its relational nature, representing Christ and His people.
1. • Mal 2:14 "Yet you say, 'For what reason?' Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
2. • Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
4. Children must be brought up in the discipline, education, and culture of Christ, our Lord.
1. • Eph 6:4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.⁽¹⁰⁾
5. Believers' children are therefore (at least in some sense) covenantally obligated. They are obligated to continue in faith and obedience to the Word of God. They are obligated to obey the covenant law and will be blessed as they, in faith, obey.
1. • 2Ti 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2. • Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

2. The position of permitting paedobaptists into the eldership, on condition of their willingness to refrain from directly changing ADBC's baptistic practice, has been changed by the mutual consent of the elders.

3. (The ALL CAPS are not intended to represent emphases. They only indicate an Old Testament citation and are included from my Bible software program. For emphasis where needed I have bolded or italicized the script .)

4. All texts cited are the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.

5. I am really unsure why any biblical thinker would want to deny this assertion, but if so see my critical review of John Reisinger's "Four Seeds of Abraham." I feel that it is a clear and distinct belief of Christianity that Adam represented all mankind in a covenant relationship with God. I fear, unfortunately, that those who baulk at this do so because in some way they want to deny the general covenant realities of the Bible.

6. Ecc 7:29 "Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices."

7. Rom 2:15 "they show the work of the Law written in their hearts."

8. The Westminster Confession (7:3) and the 1689 Baptist Confession (quite similarly) define it as, "Man, by his fall, having made himself uncapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second,(1) commonly called the Covenant of Grace, whereby He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved;(2) and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe."(3) (1)Gal. 3:21; Rom. 8:3; Rom. 3:20,21; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 42:6. (2)Mark 16:15,16; John 3:16; Rom. 10:6,9; Gal. 3:11. (3)Ezek. 36:26,27; John 6:44,45.

9. Westminster (and the 1689 Baptist) Confession says beautifully (11.2), "Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;(1) yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love."(2) Please note the proof texts, (1)John 1:12; Rom. 3:28; Rom. 5:1. (2)James 2:17,22,26; Gal. 5:6.

10. The term paidea which is used in this verse is the Greek word equivalent to our "culture." An interesting Apocrapha (Greek usage) reference which would have like been familiar to Paul is found in 4 Maccabees 13:22: ". .. they grow stronger from this common nurture and daily companionship, and from both general education and our discipline in the law of God."