Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson

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A Divine Promise

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Genesis 6:18 (KJV)

18. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Before we begin a two week study on the scientific evidence that supports the Biblical account of the flood, I would like to point out a word that is used hundreds of times in the Bible, but is used for the first time in our text. The first mention of a word is very important. God said to Noah, "But with thee will I establish my covenant" (Genesis 6:18).

1. An easey definition of the word covenant.
   The word covenant has some complex definitions and possibly a simple one.
   "A promise suspended upon a condition, and attached to disobedience a certain penalty" Princeton theologian Charles Hodge
   "A bond in blood sovereignly administered" Palmer Robertson (Bible Covenants).
   "A promise of God to people with whom He is dealing in a special way" J. Boyce.
   These three definitions all use the concept of a promise (bond) from God to people.
   From these definitions we can simplify them and say, a covenant is a Divine promise.
2. An interesting difficulty with the word covenant.
   This is the first time God uses the word covenant in Scripture, but it is not the first time a promise from God is given. For instance, God made a promise to Adam.
   The Adamic Covenant -- "All I have created, enjoy -- but if you do this you'll die."
   The Noahic Covenant -- This covenant is actually established in Genesis 8:20- 9:17.
   The Abrahamic Covenant -- in Genesis 12-15 where God promised many things.
   1. His name would be great.
   2. He would be the father of a multitude of nations.
   3. Through his seed (descendants) all the nations would be blessed.
   The Mosaic Covenant -- where Israel is singled out as a particular, covenantal nation.
   
   There were blessings for obedience to the law of God and curses for disobedience.
   
   "These are the words of the covenant, which the Lord made with Israel" (Deuteronomy 29:1).
   
   ** Most of the Old Testament is a fleshing out of this covenant between God and Israel. The Davidic Covenant -- a promise of an heir who would reign forever.
   
   The angel said to Mary, "God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1:32).

   1. The Old Testament (Covenant) is referring to which covenant?
   2. The New Testament (Covenant) is referring to which covenant?

   An amazing discovery regarding the word covenant.
   The Bible is the word of God. It is called the Scriptures. It is artificially divided. In fact, they probably should be called the "Old Scriptures" and "New Scriptures."

   1. In the Old Scriptures we have a foreshadowing of a New Promise.
      "Behold the days come when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel" Jeremiah 31:31
   2. In the New Scriptures we have a fleshing out of this new Divine Promise.
      Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood" (I Corinthians 11:25).
      It is a new Divine Promise sealed by the death of Jesus Christ. What promise? Read from the NIV Hebrews 10:1-4, 9-14, 15-18, 19-25). What do you think? The New Covenant is God's promise to you that Christ has done it all for you.