The Covenants of Grace 

Intro

I.        Have you ever made an agreement that went bad?

A.     Perhaps a simple agreement & other party did not live up to their part of the bargain; or perhaps we did not carry through?

B.     Lawsuits, estranged families as a result

C.     Like to study an agreement that God made that went bad

1.      God did not sue for damages, but offered a second agreement instead

2.      Agreements = covenants; Old & new

II.     What are these old & new covenants?

A.     What do they teach us? Is obedience no longer important

B.     Focus particularly on: how the old covenant is still new and why the new covenant is old.

Message

I.        The old covenant

A.     What is the old covenant?

1.      God brought Israel out of Egypt w/a mighty hand

a.       10 plagues had devastated the land of Egypt

b.      A miraculous opening in the Red Sea

2.      Israel had many things to learn

a.       Slaves for many years

b.      God wanted to make them His special people – Ex. 19:6

c.       People promised to do what God had said – Ex. 19:7, 8

d.      God spoke from Mt. Sinai – Ex. 19:9

e.       Terror filled hearts of people – Ex. 20:18-20

3.      Covenant was ratified

a.       People again pledged to obey – Ex. 24:3

b.      Covenant was ratified w/sacrifices – Ex. 24:6-8

4.      Basis of old covenant was the Ten Commandments – Deut. 4:13; Ex. 24:12; 34:28

B.     How old is the old covenant?

1.      Terms of old covenant = “obey & live” – Lev. 18:5; Ez. 20:11

2.      Adam & Eve – Gen. 2:17

3.      Angels obey commandments – Ps. 103:20

a.       Disobeyed – cast from heaven

b.      Adam & Eve – exiled from Eden

4.      Old – predates this world

a.       Angels & unfallen man had no problem w/

b.      Millions upon millions of angels find greatest delight in obedience

C.     What was the problem with the old covenant?

1.      God has no problem, unfallen beings no problem, but is a problem

2.      Was not faultless – Heb. 8:7

3.      First is obsolete & vanishing – Heb. 8:13

4.      Problem was w/them – Heb. 8:8

a.       Not God’s problem, not a problem w/covenant; but with THEM!

b.      Within a few weeks – dancing around golden calf

c.       Did not realize holiness of God & sinfulness of their own hearts

d.      Trusted that they were able to do what God had said—impossible w/sin stained heart

D.     Is the old covenant still new?

1.      Galatians had reverted to the old covenant – Gal. 3:3

2.      When we think that we are capable to obey of ourselves, under the old

3.      Whenever we loose sight of our dependence upon God, we align ourselves to the old covenant

4.      Millions of Christians thinking they are under the new covenant when in reality they are under the bondage of works

II.     The new covenant

A.     What is the new covenant?

1.      Better promises

a.       Better Mediator – Heb. 8:6

b.      Better promises – Heb. 8:13

c.       Better writing medium – Heb. 8:10

2.      Jesus’ blood is the blood of the new covenant – Matt. 26:28

a.       As we surrender to Jesus, He cleanses us from all sin – 1 John 1:7

b.      As we surrender to Jesus, He gives us power to obey – John 8:11

c.       As we surrender to Jesus, He writes His law in our hearts – Heb. 10:16

3.      New covenant still calls to obedience, but has the added provision of forgiveness & power to obey

B.     Why is the new covenant old?

1.      Called the everlasting covenant – Heb. 13:20, 21

2.      God made covenant w/Abraham – Gen. 17:7

3.      From Adam to today, only way to be saved

C.     How can we experience the new covenant

1.      Come & experience the blessings of the everlasting covenant – Is. 55:1-3

2.      By surrendering to Jesus & trusting in His forgiveness

3.      By surrendering to Jesus & depending upon Him and not ourselves

4.      By surrendering to Jesus & relying upon His strength to obey

5.      Will you surrender today?