Covenant Relationship

The word "covenant" is used to describe the close relationship God entered into with Noah (Gen 6:18; Gen 9), then with Abraham (Gen 15:18; 17:1-22), and then renewed and confirmed with Isaac and his posterity (Gen 17:19-21).  Then God entered into covenant with the nation of Israel through Moses (Ex 24, Deut 5:2; 28:69).  Each time God entered into a covenant, He made a promise and then presented His terms of obedience.  Every.  Single.  Time.  He did this because a covenant is an agreement:  "I offer this or promise this (Party A's part), and these are my expectations should you agree to my offer or accept my promise (Party B's part)."  For humanity, God is always Party A-- the initiating party.  He is the Initiator and the Terms-setter.  We can choose to accept or not accept.  Should we accept, we choose to obey or not obey, but God always keeps His end of the bargain even when we don't keep ours.

The duties of the Israelites in their covenant with God were carved in stone and transcribed by Moses from the mouth of God when he met with him on top of Mt. Sinai.  These covenantal duties were temporary and given to act as a guardian over Israel until Christ came to enact the eternal covenant of reconciliation through His blood (Gal 3:19,23,24; Heb 8:6,13).

Now God desires to enter into covenant with all men, through the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30,31; 1 Tim 2:3-5).  We enter into that covenant not by bringing animals into an ark (Gen 6:18,19), not through the sacrifice of animals (Gen 9:5), not through circumcision (Gen 17:11), but through faith (John 6:47; 11:25,26).  Not by earning God's favor through works of our own effort, but through a salvific faith in Jesus Christ.  Salvation is the act of entering into a covenant relationship with Christ through faith (Luke 22:20; Eph 2:8,9).  It is a covenant of grace (John 1:17; Acts 20:24).

"In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Luke 22:20)

The duties of Israel were carved in stone, but the duties of those who are in covenant with Christ through faith are written upon our heart by the Holy Spirit that He puts in us when we genuinely believe in Him...a belief that imparts unto us the unction to follow Him (John 14:16,17; Rom 2:14-16; Heb 10:16; Jer 31:33).  A belief in Christ is a belief in Who He says He is--He is Lord and God-- and a belief that He accomplished what He said He did-- victory over sin and death and reconciliation with God through His shed blood (Col 1:20; 1 Cor 15:57; 2 Cor 5:18; Rev 1:18). 

I say all this because more and more I see Christians saying there are no rules in Christianity, only relationship.  Or, Jesus doesn't give us a set of rules, He only wants a relationship with us.  But we cannot cheapen the Gospel by trying to water-down God's expectations of us as those who are called by His name.  He is holy and His name is holy (Lev 22:32; Ps 33:21; Lev 20:26).  He desires for us to be holy (1 Peter 1:16) and to pursue holiness through obedience to His ways (1 John 2:3; 5:2,3;  Psalm 128:1; James 1:22-25; Psalm 119:1,2).  And the truth is, all relationships have rules.  Healthy relationships are built on good rules.  My relationship with my husband has rules and one of those rules is that we don't commit adultery.  Another rule is that I treat him with respect, and another is that he is to love me as he loves his own body (Eph 5:22,28).  These are good rules, they are for our benefit, and they preserve our marriage covenant. 

Jesus invites us into a covenantal relationship with Him by extending His hand in mercy and grace, but not in compromise of His glory, authority, majesty and holiness.  The Lamb is worthy of our reverence, our awe, our worship, and our obedience. We sing "Amazing Grace" to God on Sunday morning, but we can't rob God of the very thing that makes His grace so amazing.  God's grace is amazing because He is utterly holy, His standard is perfection, His ways are inscrutable, and there is nothing in us that can save ourselves because we are wretched creatures enslaved to a sin nature.  God's grace is amazing because He looks at us in our wretchedness, and invites us into relationship with Him even while we are still enrobed in sin and rebellion.  God's grace is amazing because even after we enter into relationship with Him, even after we enter into covenant with Him, He pours Himself out into us through His Spirit, enabling us to live according to His holy standard, enabling us to live up to His expectations of those who call themselves His people. 

To be in relationship with Christ is to follow Him.  To be in relationship with Christ is to pursue His ways, to obey His commandments, to surrender to His leading, and to allow yourself to be transformed by the power of His Spirit which works within you-- the Spirit you have been given through your faith in Him.  We are in a covenant with Christ, entered into by faith.  But the very notion of being in a covenant relationship implies obligation on both parts.  God gives us salvation and grace and we give Him faith and obedience.  When we enter into a covenant with Christ, we are making a promise to follow Him and the standard of life that reflects His teaching.  And He makes a promise to us to enable us to do so.

"Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..." (Eph 3:20)

"Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son." (2 John 1:9)

"Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death." (John 8:51)

"You are my friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:14)

"So He said to the Jews who had believed in Him, 'If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.'" (John 8:31)

"For it is God Who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure." (Phil 2:13)