I. Definition of the Covenant.

A. A covenant is a binding agreement between two or more people that involves promises made to each other. I believe the concept of covenant between God and man is the most important theological truth of the Bible.

B. A covenant implies much more than a contract. A contract always has an end, while a covenant is a forever. A contract generally involves only one part of a person, such as a skill, while a covenant covers a person's total being. It covers all that he is and all that he ever will be, all that he has and all that he ever will have.

C. In the covenant God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants giving them His name making them a special people. Abraham was to faithfully serve God and be a channel through which God would bless the whole world.

D. The descendants of Abraham would be called the children of God. Their covenant name would be Israel, which means a prince having authority with God.

E. In the New Testament the covenant name for the children of God would be Christian, which means little Christ making them joint heirs with Christ. (Rom. 8:16-17)

II. The Old Covenant. (Gen. 15:7-18)

A. Comes from a Hebrew word which means to cut. It was symbolic. When the animal was together, it was alive. When it was cut in half and separated, both halves died.

B. It was forever. It could not be broken by either party. It was as the marriage covenant "till death do we part".

C. It involved a pledge of every thing to each other. Having all things yet I posses nothing. God exercised His right of the covenant when He asked Abraham to give Him Isaac.

D. Entered into only by equals (Gen. 1:25-27; Jn. 15:13-15; Ro. 8:16-17). God had covenant in mind from the beginning. We were created in His image & likeness. We are a God kind of creation.

E. Covenant sealed by a meal (Ex. 12:14). The Passover meal was to show that the covenant also included all the descendents of Abraham. The seed of Abraham not only referred to his physical descendants, but also to the spiritual descendants by faith. (Rom. 4:16)

F. Outward sign of the Old Covenant was circumcision.

G. The Old Covenant had limitations as was revealed in the building of the tabernacle. Most of the people could only enter the outer court. The priests only were allowed into the inner court or Holy Place. They were to bring incense, which represented the prayers of the people. Only the High Priest was allowed to go into the Most Holy Place, which represented the very Presence of God. In the New Testament, those who believe in Christ are people of a new and better covenant. (Jer. 31:31-4; Heb. 8:12)

III. The New Covenant. (Lk. 22:15-20; 2 Cor. 3:6)

A. The first cup represented the Old Covenant. The second cup represents the New Covenant.

B. Entered into not by the blood of an animal but by the blood of Jesus.

C. All the blessings of the first. (Deut. 28:1-13)

D. Plus direct access to God. (Matt. 27:50-51)

E. The cross is the symbol of the new covenant (Matt. 22:36-40). Built on keeping of relationships rather than keeping of the law. The vertical beam of the Cross-represents our relationship to God. The horizontal beam represents our relationship to each other.

F. Do it in remembrance of the covenant. (Dt. 28:14-68, 1Cor. 11:17-30) If we fail to understand or if we dishonor the Covenant we are in danger of bringing upon ourselves a curse instead of a blessing.

G. The New Covenant was before the old Covenant. Gal. 3:15-18