Genesis 15:17- 21 Exodus 24:7-8Luke 22:17-20

BIG DEAL (S)!

Genesis 15:17-21 (NLT)17 After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. 18 So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River— 19 the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Exodus 24:7-8 (NLT)

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the LORD has commanded. We will obey.”

8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the LORD has made with you in giving you these instructions.”

Luke 22:17-20 (NLT)17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

Imagine that… obligating himself to mere humans… making grand promises and such!

Covenants supply such welcome assurance, stability and predictability.

God’s covenants with humans always lean to our advantage. What do we have to benefit the King of the Universe?

TAKE HOME

Abraham Needed Solid Ground To Stand On. God Gave Him More

Than That.

--Genesis 15

Yahweh signed his name to an agreement that included land, progeny, a nation and Global showers of blessing.

Each of the earth-shaking stories (Abraham,

Moses, Jesus) includes :profound blessings (for cooperation) or curses (for unfaithfulness).

Abraham’s life was forever changed by knowing that God had committed himself to doing great stuff through him.

Think Of The Big Time Benefits Of Having A Formal Pact With The

Almighty

He becomes predictable …at least in matters contained in the contract. --Gen 15, Deut 28 and Acts 2:38

Peace that springs from knowing what he expects of us...and what we can expect from him.

He makes clear who is ‘in’ the pact …what faithfulness looks like…and the consequences of our choices.

Each covenant had a ‘signing’ ceremony.

COVENANT: The Best Hermeneutic

Each covenant has its particular Parties, Terms, and Promises.

God repeats his expectations many times, and in a variety of ways.

Abraham is to ‘go’. Israel was to ‘obey the laws’. We are to ‘advance God’s work’.

The New Covenant Makes The Old One

Obsolete

--Hebrews 8:13 Colossians 2:13-14

New Parties… all who get ‘In Christ’ --II Cor 5:17

New Terms… Live ‘For Christ’

New Promises… Inherit ‘With Christ’

It is all about Jesus

The Abraham Story Gets Us Introduced To Covenant As

The Framework Of The Bible

--Jeremiah 31:31ff

God invites us to be his partners …and beneficiaries

God makes very clear his nature, purpose and promises

We are relieved of the tension and fear of working without specific expectations.

His predictability in matters of the current covenant allows for peace, joy and hope.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

I trust Him as my Lord and Savior.Confessio

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Imagine that… obligating himself to mere humans… making grand promises and such!

Covenants supply such welcome assurance, stability and predictability.

God’s covenants with humans always lean to our advantage. What do we have to benefit the King of the Universe?

TAKE HOME

BIG DEAL (S)!

GO and SHARETHE GOOD NEWS