HOW IS COVENANT ESTABLISHED?

GOD SETS CONDITIONS, CALLS MAN

For covenant relationships to be established, all parties need to understand and fulfill their part of the covenant agreement. God initiated each Biblical covenant by setting the conditions and then calling man to enter into it.

Scripture clearly states that man must "enter into covenant." Isa 56:4,6 says that man must "take hold of the covenant."

KEEPING COVENANT

We saw previously (click here) that God initiates covenant to demonstrate his love, grace and mercy to man. It is his way of commiting himself to personal relationship with those that are his. Covenant is also how God expresses his will and purpose for man.

Once covenant is made, God requires man to "keep the covenant." This language may be unfamiliar to us, but it is very scriptural. To keep the covenant is to remember it and to consistently and continually live by its terms. Man has the responsibility to commit himself fully to the covenant God calls him into through faith and obedience. The blood of Christ is the only cleansing agent for sin.

See Gen 9:15, 16; Deut 29:1, 9, 12; 2 Chron 15:12; Psa 103:17-18, 111:5; Jer 34:10; Lk 11:52, John 6:28, 29; Rom 5:12-21; Heb 3-4, 11:8.