Covenant or Contract
What is the difference between a contract and a covenant?
Some say they’re the same, but they’re not, especially when God is involved.
“A covenant, in the biblical sense, implies much more
than a contract. … A contract always has an end date, while a covenant is a
permanent arrangement. Another difference is that a contract generally involves
only one part of a person, such as a skill, while a covenant covers a person’s
total being.” *
Chuck Pierce defines covenant as “an endless partnership
or solemn and binding agreement between two or more parties. Covenant with God
provides a commitment to a relationship that allows His purpose for us to be
fulfilled.” **
Consider this: When we purchase a car, we agree to a
contract. When we get married, we enter into a covenant. Big difference.
We can be confident that any covenant of God is initiated
by God Himself. Some of the most famous God ordained covenants are: God’s
covenant with Noah, (Genesis 9:11); God’s covenant with Abraham, (Genesis 15:18);
and God’s covenant with Moses and the Israelites (Exodus 19-24).
God will always uphold His end of a covenant. He keeps
promises. On the other hand, people sometimes fail to hold up their end.
People enter into covenants with other people as in the
example of marriage. Sadly, not all marriage covenants are upheld. A good
example of a human covenant which was honored by both parties is the friendship
between Jonathan and David. This kind of loyal friendship is not easy to come
by. Even after Johnathan died, David honored his friend by caring for
Jonathan’s handicapped son, Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 9)
When we become born-again followers of Jesus, we enter
into an eternal covenant with our Creator. We receive and are consecrated into
what Jeremiah prophesied would be the New Covenant.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel. … I will put My law
in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they
shall be My people. … For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will
remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:31-34 NKJV). ***
It was through the death of God’s own Son, Jesus, with the shedding of His blood that the New Covenant was given to Mankind. Through God’s covenant with Moses and the Israelites man’s sins could be covered over through the sacrificial shedding of the blood of animals. But now, through the shedding of the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, our sins are completely removed. Besides that, Jesus takes away the accompanying guilt and shame. We are made clean and made new just as if we had never committed the sins at all. We are born-again.
“For if the blood of bulls and goats and the
ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the
flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new
covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the
first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the
eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:13-15).
It is by faith that we enter into this eternal covenant
with our Creator. He offers it and we choose to receive it or not. When we say “yes”
to God’s offer, we have the opportunity to receive our eternal inheritance.
“What is that?” you may ask. Please see my next post to learn about it.
“Therefore know that the Lord Your God, His
God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations
with those who love Him and keep His commandments”
(Deuteronomy 7:9).
Let us pray: Father, we can never thank You enough for
providing Your New Covenant to us, a free gift we receive by faith. Because of
your great love, mercy, and grace, You have given Jesus, the divine Mediator of
this better covenant. By Your Spirit, help us to have the will and strength to
follow Your lead into the divine inheritance so that Your purpose in each of us
will be fulfilled. What a wonderful adventure You provide! In Jesus name we
pray, amen.
*New Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishing, page 306.
*** All Scripture quotes are taken from the New King James
Version of the Bible.
©Copyright 2020
Connie Wohlford
