Lesson Four: How Serious is Covenant?

At the beginning of our time together, we reviewed everything that we've learned about covenant.

• karath beriyth means to cut covenant by going through two pieces of flesh
• The exchanging of robes symbolized the exchanging of identities and dying to self
• The exchanging of weapons symbolized the protection that can be found under the umbrella of covenant. Also, we're to take a stand against the enemies of our covenant partner (so, taking a stand against the Satan and the world).
• The exchanging of belts symbolized strength

Then, we went through each of the Scriptures we looked at over the past week. Note that I didn't include page numbers as I am going from the PUP study and don't have the in and out study to reference. If you have any questions you can email us or just leave a comment!

Genesis 15:9-10 God initiates a covenant with Abram and animals died and were split in two for the purposes of covenant. So, how serious is God about covenant? When death of God's creation involved, it's serious. 

Genesis 15:17-18 God is binding himself to the covenant. Essentially, he is saying because he loves Abram (and consequently us) so much he'll do almost everything; all He asks for is obedience. So, how serious is God about covenant? He calls us to obedience and binds the covenant to Himself.

Genesis 17:9-14 Abraham was circumcised. So, how serious is God about covenant? He required the men have a physical cut close to where the seed was to remind them of the covenantal promises that were made.

Exodus 4:24-26 If a man was not circumcised, you were cut off from the protection and blessing of the covenant. So, how serious is God about covenant? Again, he is requiring obedience. Disobedience gets you cut off from the people and that's serious.

1 Samuel 20:12-17 We see lovingkindness mentioned as part of the discussion for covenant. If the covenant was broken, Jonathan said "God, kill me!" That's a pretty serious commitment. David is promised protection and promises kindness to Jonathan and his family. Each was prepared to die. So, how serious is God about covenant? He requires you to die to self.

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Exodus 24:3-9 God's presence is on the mountain and they say "we'll obey whatever you ask us to do, God!" The blood is split between the basins and the people. Remember, there are millions of people; that's a lot of blood. So, how serious is God about covenant? There was a lot of blood and death involved; that's serious.

Deuteronomy 30:15-19 The first generation had not been obedient and they were judged (and die) because of it. This seems harsh, BUT GOD IS SERIOUS ABOUT COVENANT. He told them when they entered into it that they were to choose life (by way of obedience) or choose death (through disobedience). 

What propels God to enter into covenant with us? His love for us and all He asks is that we obey. The same principle is found in the Old Testament (Old Covenant) and New Testament (New Covenant): love and obey! God's promises regarding breaking the covenant are as binding as his promises for keeping it.

The last thing we looked at was a word study on the words "belief" and "faith."

• We learned they come from the same root word (belief = pisteuo (a verb) and faith = pistes (a noun))
• The idea here is that "a firm conviction that results in a personal surrendering of our life/will" is what true faith/belief is.
• The conduct inspired by a personal surrender is action required
• Dead faith is belief without action. Understand that this isn't saying works are necessary for salvation; it is saying that obedience is a part of the covenantal requirements and if there is no obedience, there is no being part of the covenant.

I'm not sure how the other discussion groups go, but here are the notes from Rebecca's:

Matthew 26:26-28 is the institution of the Lord's supper set up as a remembrance. Again, we see death involved (blood poured out) and we are reminded of the seriousness of the covenants.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 In this passage, they were incorporating the Lord's Supper into their party and forgetting the seriousness of what the Bread and the Cup were signifying. Because of this, many were weak and sick, and some were even dying. (Again, God takes this VERY SERIOUSLY!) Paul was telling them to examine themselves before they came to take the elements.

Romans 2:1-11 God is the only judge; and the last thing she left us with was this question: Is unbelief disobedience?