Jim was attending his first Men’s Bible Study since becoming a Believer. He thought, “now I will have a chance to understand the Bible, which has always been a mystery to me.” Pastor Bill who, was the teacher, began the lesson with the topic “God Is A Covenant Keeper.” This was new terminology for Jim, so as soon as he had opportunity, he raised his hand to ask “what is a covenant keeper?” Pastor Bill, knowing that Jim was a new convert to Christianity, decided it would be best to change his teaching to an explanation of what it meant to be a covenant keeper. So, today we also will learn what it means for God to be a Covenant Keeper!
The Bible is written in two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament records God’s covenant which was “Law,” whereas, the New Testament records God’s covenant which is “grace.”
What is the definition for “covenant?” A covenant is a binding agreement or promise between two parties, a group, or a nation consisting of social, legal, and religious aspects. In a covenant a “covenanter” makes a promise to a covenantee to perform or fulfill something binding (Wilkipedia).
Pastor Bill stated that the most known covenant is the one between God and the Jewish people. He went on to explain that eight covenants are recorded in the Bible. The first seven are recorded in the Old Testament and the remaining one is recorded in the New Testament. These covenants are: Edenic Covenant (Sabbath); Noahic Covenant (Rainbow); Abrahamic Covenant (Circumcision); Mosaic Covenant (Ten Commandments); Land Covenant; Priestly Covenant; Davidic Covenant (Temple of Solomon); New Covenant mediated by Jesus, which is “grace.”
Pastor Bill decided to view three covenants that were well known by most: the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, and the New Covenant mediated by Jesus (grace).
Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12-17): With this covenant we read God called a man named Abram (later changed to Abraham) to leave all that He knew and to follow Him. Abram, with obedience, immediately left his father’s house and traveled to an unknown territory guided by God.
While in a desert land, God made two covenants with Abram. 1) He promised to make Abram a father of many nations, to make his name great, to bless him, and that all families would be blessed through him. 2) God made a promise with Abram regarding land for his seed—the entire land of Canaan was promised to his descendants; with circumcision to be the permanent sign of this everlasting covenant with Abraham and his male descendants.
Mosaic Covenant: God called Moses and equipped him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt from severe and cruel bondage. Moses was instructed by God to lead the children of Israel into the wilderness to worship Him there. While in the wilderness God summoned the children of Israel to meet with Him at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where He spoke with them as a nation. There God covenanted with them as a nation to be His treasured possession of people. He also promised to make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation if they followed His commandments. The terms of the Covenant included the ten commandments, and the Covenant was to be in effect until the coming of Messiah and His death on the Cross. This covenant was called the Covenant of Law. God kept His covenant with the children of Israel, but they chose not to follow God, instead they followed the ways of the world.
New Covenant Mediated by Jesus: The New Covenant is the Covenant of Grace. This Covenant is a promise on an individual basis rather than a nation. Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection on the Cross is what ushered in the Covenant of Grace. Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the Cross opened the door for reconciliation between God and man. This covenant promises eternal life to individuals who come into the Covenant of Grace by becoming “born again” into the body of Christ.
With the New Covenant, we can approach the Throne Room of God via prayer for ourselves, we don’t need a priest or human mediator. Jesus is our Mediator before God! With the New Covenant, God also promises to all that keep His commandments divine protection and provision.
God is a “covenant keeper” and has throughout each generation proven Himself as one who does not go back on His Word. Pastor Bill stated that God delights in doing good for His children and that “faith” in God’s Word and His Covenant is “key” in receiving all that God has for an individual that trusts in Him. He concluded with an invitation for anyone who didn’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior of their life. You can too can be included in the Covenant of Grace. This is done by asking Jesus into your by believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus died for your sins and rose on the third day (Romans 10:8-10).
Journey In His Word 
Amen! Me too. I thank Father God for the covenant of grace.
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