Topical Bible: The Covenant: Fulfilled in Christ

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The concept of "The Covenant" is central to the narrative of the Bible, representing a series of divine agreements between God and humanity. These covenants are pivotal in understanding the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, culminating in the New Covenant fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Covenants

1. The Noahic Covenant: After the flood, God established a covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again. This covenant is marked by the sign of the rainbow (Genesis 9:11-17).

2. The Abrahamic Covenant: God called Abram, later named Abraham, and promised to make him a great nation, bless him, and through him bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3). This covenant was marked by the rite of circumcision (Genesis 17:10-14).

3. The Mosaic Covenant: Given at Mount Sinai, this covenant established Israel as God's chosen people, with the Law serving as a guide for holy living (Exodus 19:5-6). The Ten Commandments and the sacrificial system were central to this covenant.

4. The Davidic Covenant: God promised David that his throne would be established forever, and his lineage would produce a king whose kingdom would never end (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

The New Covenant

The New Covenant, prophesied in the Old Testament, is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah foretold a new covenant where God's law would be written on the hearts of His people, and He would forgive their iniquities (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Fulfillment in Christ

1. Jesus as the Mediator: Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 9:15 states, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

2. The Last Supper: During the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood, symbolized by the wine, which He described as "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28).

3. The Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law, as He stated in Matthew 5:17 , "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."

4. The Eternal King: Jesus, a descendant of David, fulfills the Davidic Covenant as the eternal King. Revelation 11:15 declares, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever."

5. The Blessing to All Nations: Through Christ, the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed is realized. Galatians 3:14 explains, "He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."

The New Covenant Community

The Church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, is the community of the New Covenant. Believers are called to live in the light of this covenant, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to proclaim the gospel to all nations. The New Covenant emphasizes a personal relationship with God, characterized by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the transformation of the heart.

In summary, the covenants of the Old Testament find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who inaugurates the New Covenant, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 1:68-79
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he has visited and redeemed his people,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Christ Should have Been Circumcised?
... from Gn.17. Now this covenant was fulfilled in Christ's birth. Therefore
circumcision should have ceased at once. Objection 2: Further ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ should have been 3.htm

The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant
... all their iniquities will I cleanse them?" Then it must be done, for Christ has
fulfilled his part. And, therefore, now we can present the covenant no more as ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the blood of the everlasting.htm

The Ark of his Covenant
... to powder, but beautiful and fair to look upon as it is in the heart of Christ,
and fulfilled in the life of Christ. I rejoice in the covenant which contains ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 41 1895/the ark of his covenant.htm

The Sufferings of Christ, and the New Covenant, were Announced by ...
... Chapter VI."The sufferings of Christ, and the new covenant, were announced by the
prophets. When, therefore, He has fulfilled the commandment, what saith He? ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter vi the sufferings of christ.htm

Proof against the Marcionites, that the Prophets Referred in all ...
... all things which were done by Christ, His words ... His sufferings, and to predict the
new covenant, if they ... dispensations, which the Son of God fulfilled when He ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxiv proof against the marcionites.htm

The Blood of the Covenant
... from an evil conscience," of "the blood of Christ cleansing our ... begin to believe
that the blessed promise of a New Covenant life and walk can be fulfilled. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/chapter ix the blood of.htm

Redemption for Man Lost to be Sought in Christ.
... principle, that God, by the hand of Christ, would be ... and that in this way only the
free covenant by which God had adopted his chosen people would be fulfilled. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 6 redemption for man.htm

Christ Our Sanctification.
... was perfectly holy, but He had not yet fulfilled the law ... If one asks, Is Christ your
holiness as much as He ... law of every man, according to the Covenant of Works ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/vi christ our sanctification.htm

The Church Before and after Christ.
... significance for the saints of the Old Covenant. ... that time, and the prophecies fulfilled
in Israel's ... prophecy even as boldly outlining Christ yielded precious ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xi the church before and.htm

The Sunday-School --Its Relation to those in Covenant Relationship ...
... baptismal Grace, and the keeping of the baptismal covenant. ... not make sin more hateful
and Christ more precious ... has, however, by no means fulfilled its mission ...
/.../chapter viii the sunday-schoolits relation.htm