John Walton: What is Covenant?

Summary

The video explores the concept of a covenant in the Bible, emphasizing its central role in God's relationship with humanity. Beginning in Genesis, the covenant is key to God's revelation of Himself to Abraham and his descendants, later extending to Israel through the law. The ultimate purpose of the covenant is to establish a relationship with humanity by revealing God's nature. This revelation culminates in Jesus Christ, who fulfills the covenant and law, leading to the New Covenant, through which people can now relate to God through Christ.

Takeaways

• 📜 The concept of a covenant is central throughout the Bible, starting in Genesis and evolving through the Old and New Testaments.
• 📖 The first major covenant is offered to Abraham in Genesis 12, and it is formalized in Genesis 15 with a sign in Genesis 17.
• 🛕 The covenant continues with Israel in the Exodus story, where the law elaborates on the covenant and God's presence among His people through the Tabernacle and Temple.
• 📣 Prophets in the Old Testament act as covenant mediators, calling Israel to remain accountable to their covenant relationship with God.
• 🤝 A covenant establishes a relationship between parties, specifically between God and His people.
• 🧐 The purpose of the covenant is not merely to make promises or provide benefits but to reveal God and bring people into a relationship with Him.
• 🌍 At the time of Abraham, no one knew God, so the covenant was God's way of revealing Himself to the world through Abraham's family.
• ⚖️ The law given through the covenant serves as a means of revelation, showing God's holiness and establishing a relationship with Israel.
• ✝️ Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the covenant and the law, revealing the ultimate holiness and character of God, thus completing God's revelation.
• 🌟 The New Covenant, fulfilled through Christ, establishes a permanent relationship between humanity and God, completing the covenant's purpose.

Q & A

What is a covenant in biblical terms?

A covenant in the Bible is a relationship established between parties, specifically between God and His people. It involves promises, benefits, and commitments, and serves as a foundational concept in both the Old and New Testaments.

Where is the first reference to a covenant found in the Bible?

The first reference to a covenant is found in Genesis 9, but it becomes a central focus beginning with the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 12.

What role does the covenant play in the Abrahamic stories in Genesis?

The covenant in the Abrahamic stories establishes a relationship between God and Abraham, promising land, family, and blessing to Abraham and his descendants. It is later ratified in Genesis 15 and marked with a sign in Genesis 17.

How does the covenant evolve in the story of Israel?

The covenant evolves through the Exodus narrative, where Israel becomes God's covenant people. It is further elaborated with the giving of the law at Sinai and continues through Israel’s history, with the prophets acting as covenant mediators.

What is the ultimate purpose of God's covenant with His people?

The ultimate purpose of God's covenant is to establish a relationship with His people by revealing Himself to them. This relationship is the goal, while the covenant is the means through which God reveals His character and plans.

Why is revelation a key aspect of the covenant?

Revelation is key because people cannot have a relationship with a God they do not know. The covenant serves as God's program of revealing Himself to the world, starting with Abraham and his descendants, so that they and the world may come to know Him.

How does the covenant benefit Abraham and his descendants?

The covenant brings benefits such as land, family, and blessing to Abraham and his descendants. These are advantages they gain from being the first recipients of God's revelation.

Does Israel’s faithfulness affect the covenant's purpose?

While Israel’s faithfulness affects the benefits they receive, it does not stop God’s overall plan of revealing Himself. Whether Israel was faithful or unfaithful, God’s nature would still be revealed through the covenant.

How does the covenant relate to the New Testament?

In the New Testament, the covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who embodies the ultimate revelation of God’s holiness and salvation. Christ fulfills both the law and the covenant, bringing the relationship between God and humanity to completion.

What does it mean for the law to be fulfilled in Christ?

The law is fulfilled in Christ because He embodies the holiness and character of God. Through Christ, the purpose of the law, which was to reveal God’s holiness, is realized, and the covenant is brought to completion with the New Covenant, where people enter into a relationship with God through Christ.