Covenant Blessings, Covenant Obligations

A covenant is an arrangement of voluntary condescension on God’s part in which He is pleased to set the terms of a relationship with us so that we can know Him as our blessedness and reward.

Who does He choose to do that with? “For I have chosen (‘known’) him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness (right practice) and justice (arising from right principles), so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.” (Gen. 18)

What is God doing in the world today? Simultaneously exercising all His attributes. And He does that by way of covenant.

What makes a “Covenant Family?”

1. The terms of covenant relationship depend upon the “Father’s” initiative and unmerited choice. “I will be a God to you and to your offspring after you.” We find this phrase repeated 6 times in Genesis 17. The “Covenant of Grace” - this “Gospel” is developed and made progressively clearer throughout the record of redemptive history.

2. It is a family, then, in which the promises are believed and obligations are kept. “Chosen-ness” has its: Special privilege and Special responsibility.

3. It is a family in which covenant blessings and fellowship are enjoyed. I am blessed because of “who I am” (in Christ), not because of “how we