November 24, 2008

  • FOUNDATIONS [#5]

    taught at Awana Varsity 10/29/2008
    based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
    reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

    Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/e3e2b2871015/audio.html

    God Pursues-Covenant

    THE BIG IDEA?:  How does God respond to the determined, persistant, unrelenting rebellion and betrayal of mankind?

    SO WHAT?:  God responds in covenant... with promise after promise of His sovereign love, mercy, & grace to redeem a people out of the midst of those that betray Him (His enemies!).

    INTRO:
      •  Who has betrayed you?... most painfully?... hurt you very deeply, and how did you respond? 
      •  God has been betrayed more deeply than anyone... How did God respond?... with Covenant !
      •  Covenant = a bond in blood sovereignly administered…  basically, a life and death relationship with God, on His terms.
            >  shows He is GRACIOUS, SOVEREIGN, LORD, HOLY, LOVING, & JUST
            >  ...remember, He is pursuing those who are His enemies!  This is how God treats rebels!
      •  Consider other "Covenant Relationships"... marriage, parental, church
      •  Community = covenant... there is no genuine for community w/o covenant

    1.  THE ADAMIC COVENANT
      •  the word "covenant" is not used here, but see Hos 6:7
      •  can be thought of in 2 parts...
            >  innocence = Gen 1:26-30;  2:16-17
            >  gracious = Gen 3:16-19
      •  Each covenant has 5 characteristics...
            >  the covenant MEDIATOR (the person God makes the covenant w/ & his covenant role)
            >  the BLESSINGS promised in the covenant.
            >  the CONDITIONS (or consequences) of the covenant.
            >  the "SIGN" by which the covenant will be celebrated and remembered
            >  the "FORM" that God's family takes as a result of the covenant.
      •  Mediator:  Adam & in his role as husband & representative all of humanity
      •  Blessing:  that their union will be fruitful… fill the earth… rule over creation.
      •  Condition:  do not eat from the tree… curse for disobedience is death / separation
      •  Sign:  the Sabbath
      •  God Family:  assumes the form of the marriage bond between husband and wife

    2.  THE NOAHIC COVENANT
      •  TURN to Gen 9:8-17
      •  Noah... no one deserved grace!... everyone was always wicked... God said "I'll be gracious to this guy"
      •  Mediator:  Noah as the father of His family and representative all of humanity
      •  Blessing:  Never another global flood… be fruitful… human government… seasons… eat meat
      •  Condition:  not to drink the blood of any animals, or to shed human blood
      •  Sign:  the rainbow in the sky
      •  God Family:  assume the form of a domestic household, an extended family

    3.  THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
      •  TURN to Gen 12:1-3;  17:1-14;  22:16-18
      •  God pursues a pagan man, living in a pagan city, who worshiped false gods.
      •  Mediator:  Abraham in his representative role as chieftain
      •  Blessing:  land… bless his descendants… become a great nation... Seed will bless all nations
      •  Condition:  Circumcision is the condition that his descendants must obey
      •  Sign:  mark of circumcision
      •  God Family:  God's family takes a "tribal" form

    4.  THE MOSAIC COVENANT
      •  Exo 19:5-6;  3:4-10;  6:7
      •  Moses was a murderer saved by grace
      •  Mediator:  in his representative role as the judge and liberator of Israel
      •  Blessing:  swears to be Israel's God and that they will be His precious and chosen people
      •  Condition:  they must worship the one true God and keep His commandments
      •  Sign:  the Passover… commemorates Israel's birth as a nation & freedom from bondage
      •  God Family:  assumes the form of a "holy nation, a kingdom of priests."

    5.  THE DAVIDIC COVENANT
      •  TURN to 2 Sam 7:8-19
      •  David... a nobody, a shepherd, the smallest and youngest
      •  Mediator:  David is the mediator in His role as shepherd King.
      •  Blessing:  to establish David's "house" or kingdom forever… build a temple…
      •  Condition:  God promises to punish him if he does wrong but never take away his royal throne
      •  Sign:  the throne and temple to be built by David's son, Solomon
      •  God Family:  God's family grows to take the form of a royal empire, a national kingdom

    6.  THE NEW COVENANT
      •  READ Jer 31:31-34 (also Heb 8:8-12)… TURN to Mat 26:28; 16:17-19
      •  all other human mediators are flawed... now God arrives in person!
      •  Mediator:  Jesus… by his cross assumes the role of royal high priest & fulfills all covenants
      •  Blessing:  hope for a Messiah… forgiveness  God's word written on men's hearts. 
      •  Condition:  men and women are to believe in Jesus and live by all that He taught
      •  Sign:  The Lord's Supper
      •  God Family:  a universal worldwide kingdom, His Church... fullness in the Millennium
      •  being in covenant w/ God doesn't reflect our greatness... it reflects His goodness!

    CONCLUSION:
      •  How does Gods covenant love affect my covenant relationships?... my wife... my children... my church membership...???
      •  Jesus is a better ADAM, NOAH, ABRAHAM, MOSES, and a better DAVID.
            >  Jesus is a perfect representative and always remained faithful & obedient to the father
            >  Jesus is an ark that saves a multitude from the coming flood of Gods wrath
            >  Jesus is always faithful, give us a place in His Kingdom… He is a blessing to the whole world
            >  Jesus fulfilled the law… perfect sacrifice… judges… Leads people to freedom
            >  Jesus is a perfect King who rules in righteousness… forever… in holiness, and peace.
      •  What is the proper response to Gods covenant love and promises?... REPENTANCE from sin and FAITH in Jesus Christ