Reformed Theology Pt. 3 | Introduction to the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenants

Covenant Theology and the Structure of Reformed Theology

So this is our third series, I mean our third message in the series of Reformed Theology. Our third message in the series of Reformed Theology. If you had not had time to Listen to the first two messages.

I plead with you to do so these messages enter lock.

They.

In order to understand this message you will need to listen. To the other ones, let's pray father Lord we love you and thank you for your mercies. We know that they endure forever. That they are new every morning.

Oh god, please speak to your people now. Use me this broken vessel to proclaim to Harold.

The.

Good news of your word in Christ's name. I pray.

Amen.

All right. So again, some of the topics we will be covering in this series will be. One that we're covering now. Well, we covered the first week was confessional. We're working through right now covenantal.

What will come is Calvinistic the law and gospel distinctions? The ordinary means of grace and the five solas. Confessional covenantal. Calvinistic law and gospel distinction. Distinction. The ordinary means of grace and the five solas.

This is how I have Formulated Reformed Theology. We will be looking at this from a particular Baptist perspective and As we get on into the messages, you will understand why it is. I keep Hitting that point.

Because we're not coming at this from Presbyterianism. We're coming at this from a reformed particular Baptist perspective and that's particular Baptists were Formulating their theology they wanted they were not only reforming from from a Catholicism but also from Presbyterianism.

Catholicism for the fact of we believe that Justification how a person is made right before God is by faith. Alone, this is it's not of works. Faith alone. So we are reforming from Catholicism on the issue.

There's many issues, but this is the main issue and one that we're celebrating today as Reformation Day. It's by faith alone and then a and I Add that the righteous shall live by faith. The righteous is not to live by the letter of the law the righteous is to live by faith and in Presbyterian dealing with covenant theology.

And I mentioned the past two weeks that particular Baptist wanted to be known as covenant theologians. They say that the Bible is based on covenants. God. God's relationship with people is Covenantal.

They see this but they saw issue with the Westminster form of covenants. Again I pointed out that we do agree with Westminster of the of the that there are three major covenants. We just do not agree with the details.

And so my outline has been this. The Covenant of Redemption. So the first message dealt with the Covenant of Redemption. The Covenant of Works, which is what we're dealing with today and last week today and I'm not sure how long we'll be in it and also the Covenant of Grace.

This week we'll look at the Covenant of Works again and my outline is as follows. The Adamic Covenant. So last week we looked at the covenant that God made with Adam the Adamic Covenant the Abrahamic Covenant the Mosaic Covenant and the Davidic Covenant.

My plan so this week's gonna be a little different. Don't hate me. My plan for this week is to do an introduction for the last three points the Abrahamic Covenant the Mosaic Covenant and the Davidic Covenant.

My purpose in doing this is because you cannot really dig too deep into the Abrahamic Covenant without the Mosaic and the Davidic Covenant coming up. And so I figure we'll do an overview of all three not going too deep.

But just an overview of all three and so when they come up we can touch them as they approach. Does that sound good? Wrong same page. No stones. No apples. The peace family is not gonna throw grapes. I mean, excuse me, the Haltons kids are not gonna throw grapes at me.

The Covenant of Redemption in John 3:16 and Ephesians 1

So as we transition. Look I'm gonna look back just to refresh our mind on the covenant of redemption. Now when I went through the covenant of redemption, I did so using John 3 16. I want to read that real quick and just refresh our memory of the covenant of redemption.

John 3 16 and as I do this, I'm going to go ahead and give My interpretation as I'm reading this. For says for God who I Pointed out is the father so loved the world that is all of earth that he gave his only son.

So we know where it says for God has to be the father because right here It says that he gave his only son. That whoever believes in him red yellow black or white. Does it matter your race not just Jews who ever believes in him and I pointed out that a better translation would be that for all those believing in Him, but the whoever it's you know that The Greek word can mean that Whoever believes in him will not perish meaning they will not be destroyed, but they will have eternal life and I show that this verse and.

And then the covenant redemption that speaks about the purpose of God that God the father purposed to save a people for God the father so loved the world that he Purposed to save a people in his son. That his son that the father purpose to save a people and that Jesus Christ The son was to accomplish that purpose and that the Holy Spirit Would apply the purpose.

And so for God so loved the world that he Purposed to save a people through his son and he does so by sending his son his son. Accomplishes that purpose by being born by by taking on flesh the incarnation the hypostatic Union.

And it says that whoever believes in him should not perish, but how have everlasting life. And so we looked at the The way that the Holy Spirit applies this purpose. Is we have to believe in him? So how?

Do we believe in him and it's faith comes by hearing hearing of the Word of God. So the gospel has to be preached how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news, right? Paul said did you receive the spirit by works of the law or by hearing in faith?

So God the Father purpose to save a people and to do so God the Son comes and accomplishes that purpose by his incarnation death burial resurrection.

And.

That message. That message of what Christ has done you and I proclaim we preach and as we do so the Holy Spirit Applies the purpose this is the covenant of Redemption. This covenant was made between the Godhead before Genesis 1 1.

This is the eternal purpose. Before the Adamic Covenant was made before everything that we walked through last week took place that what took place was plan B Christ coming into the world was plan a. But I know that as you're you're reading it starting from Genesis.

It doesn't seem that way and that's why I've highlighted That the best place to start in the Bible is Ephesians chapter 1 takes you to the very beginning not the beginning of God but the beginning of the covenant the covenant of redemption and that the Adamic Covenant Adam being the federal head of all the living we as Humanity have died in Adam.

So you and I we have died in Adam. We have broken that covenant in Adam when Adam broke that covenant you and I broke that covenant. The guilt of their sin Adam and Eve the guilt of Adam sin was accounted to us.

We saw that last week as we walked through the Bible and as we looked at our confession. And listen if it had not been listen if it had not been for the covenant of redemption because of the sin of Adam if Adam sin was I mean if Adam the Adamic Covenant was plan A and.

And there was no covenant of redemption. There would be no hope for you and I there's no hope for you and I if If Christ was a plan B if when Adam bit into whatever fruit that was God was like, oh. What are we going to do now?

There's no hope for us. And for Jesus to say I just send me I'll take care of it. No no hope for us. First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 21 and 22. I read this last week just to remind us of what took place.

It says for as by a man came.

Death.

By a man has come also the Resurrection of the dead and by this one man Adam brought death. One man Christ raises the dead. He's undoing the curse. For as but for as in Adam all died. Also in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Abrahamic Covenant and the Promise of the Offspring

Now to the Abrahamic Covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant is a covenant that God made with Abraham for the purpose of raising up a particular people known as the Hebrews as a kingdom a Particular people a kingdom known as the Hebrews by which listen to this.

He raised these people up by which to bring about the offspring of the woman. You go to Genesis chapter 3 verse 15. It speaks about this offspring. This is the the curse that's pronounced upon the serpent.

God speaking to the serpent says I will put enmity between you and the woman the woman being Eve. And Between your offspring and Her offspring he the offspring of the woman shall bruise your head and You shall bruise his heel.

Now we know Good reform folk. We study our Bibles. We know that this is speaking of Jesus Christ's coming. That this is the true offspring. He is coming into this world. And he is going to bruise the head of this serpents while only bruising his heel.

The.

Endemic covenant is a covenant that is bind that is binding on all people if You are born if you're not a Jew. I'm saying that real quick. So in a second, you'll understand if you're not a Jew. Well probably Jews today also, but This is why the Covenant is made all people who are born they are born under the covenant of Abraham the Abrahamic Covenant.

When I was born, I was born under the Abra. I mean the the the endemic covenant. Excuse me. Did I say Abraham? I'm sorry, the endemic covenant not the Abrahamic Covenant. The endemic Covenant. Pastor Cal when you was born he was born under the endemic Covenant.

Alex the endemic Covenant we are born under the endemic Covenant. You say well, what about the Abrahamic Covenant? No, when you and I were born we were born under the Abrahamic Covenant and because of Adam's sin we sin and have falling in him.

The Abrahamic Covenant is a covenant only. Listen only for the descendants of Abraham in This covenant God is going to bring about the promise given to the serpent as the curse the offspring of the woman was going to be.

From the offspring of Abraham we will see we will come to see and understand that the understand this. Now here's where it gets complicated confusing. But but toward the end whenever we lay it out. It'll be that all moment that Abraham has two offsprings a physical seed a physical descendants.

The physical descendants of Abraham and the second is the spiritual descendants of Abraham. One is by natural birth and the other is by spiritual birth. Now I want to turn your attention to Genesis chapter 17.

Now we are only going to read this. We will not be exegetically breaking this down. This week we're only going to read this. I Want you to hear what's going on? Genesis chapter 17 verse 1. When Abram was 99 years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him I am God Almighty walk before me and be blameless.

That I may make my covenant between me and you who's he making his covenant between God and Abraham and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram. But you shall be called Abraham.

For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. And I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make you into nations and kings. Shall come from you and I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generation as an everlasting covenant to be God to you and to the offspring after you.

Verse 8. And I will give to you and your offspring after you the land of your sojourn the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and I will be their God and God said and God said to Abraham as for you you shall keep listen you shall keep my covenant.

You and your offspring after you throughout their generations. And this is the covenant which you shall keep between me and you and your offsprings after you every male. Among you shall be circumcised.

You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins. And it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised every male throughout your Generations whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner.

Who is not of your offspring? But he is but he who was born in your house and he who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant listen to verse 14 in.

Any.

Uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin Shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.

Now.

The Mosaic Covenant, the Law, and Transgression

My plan is to dive deep into this next week. This week I only wanted you to hear the tone of what's going on with this covenant that God made with Abraham. And next week I'm going to show you The two seeds the two offsprings That are spoken of in that covenant my purpose today.

So here's my proposition. My proposition that I bring before you today is that the Mosaic and the Davidic Covenant are added to the Abrahamic Covenant. So this is why I wanted to bring an introduction to you.

Because I believe that the Mosaic and the Davidic Covenant are added to the Abrahamic Covenant meaning Although they are separate covenants. They're not Separated in the covenants. Does that make sense?

There's they're different covenants at different times. But they're not separated in the covenant of works our Presbyterian friends. Would have you to believe that the covenant of grace began in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 and That the Abrahamic Covenant the Mosaic Covenant and the Davidic Covenant are all administrations of the covenant of grace.

And ladies and gentlemen we as.

And.

That is what our particular Baptist forefathers.

Were.

Reforming from the idea that the covenant of grace began in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15. And it is the the main covenant throughout the Bible and all other covenants are Administrations of that covenant.

That is exactly what our forefathers were reforming from now. If there's any administrations it is that the Mosaic Covenant and the Davidic Covenant or Administrations of the Abrahamic Covenant. And that's what I intend to prove not the covenant of grace.

The Mosaic Covenant is in fact the Sinai Covenant the Covenant made with Moses on Mount Sinai. We all know the scene. We know the story, right? The finger of God etched in the ten words. The the decalogue.

The the The Ten Commandments. The finger of God etched in the stone the the ten words. I say ten words because that's what they're known. That's what they're called by Jews. And I did a three-year study in Judaism, and it's just stuck with me.

So when I say the ten words I'm speaking of the Ten Commandments the decalogue the ten words God Etched with his finger the ten words and we and we read about this in Exodus chapter 19 and 20. Particularly 20, but 19 goes with it.

From there listen from their laws were made so God gives them the commandments. Moses writes down the laws. He pins the letter of the law. The letter of the law he pins it right there, and we read about his descendants the descendants of Abraham confirming the covenant.

This we will do.

God gives a law. Moses pins the pins it. The rules. The descendants of Abraham. Confirm it by claiming that they will keep it now. The New Testament tells us why? The law was added. Why the law was added?

Galatians chapter 3. Now remember when we went through Galatians we had some turmoil. Right we had people leave the congregation whenever we got to this portion of Scripture Galatians chapter 3 verse 19, and we'll look at just section section a and b 3 19.

It says why then the law and his answer is this it was added. Because of transgressions. Now what was it added to? The Abrahamic Covenant. It was not added to the Adamic Covenant. Only listen. Only the children of Abraham.

Work.

We're in the wilderness where God gave the Mosaic Covenant.

Only.

Only only them. It was only them confirming it. Yes, we will keep this. None of the other tribes are not tribes, but but The Amorites the Jebusites and all these other sites. Were not there and did not say that they would keep it.

Only we have to understand this. Only the descendants of Abraham and It says that the law. Why then the law why did God bring the law to bear as a letter of rules it was added because of transgressions sins.

Now go to Romans chapter 5. Just to drive the knife deeper. Romans chapter 5. Again we'll get a little. We'll look at verses 12 through 14 and then also verse 28 Romans 5 beginning at verse 12. Therefore just as sin came into the world when did sin come into the world when Adam Broke the Covenant.

So this is speaking of the identity identity Covenant. Therefore just as sin came into the world. How let me read that again. Therefore just as sin came into the world through one man speaking of Adam and death.

Through sin and so death spread to all man because all have sinned. For sin indeed was in the world Before the law was given. So there was a time where the law had not been given. Speaking of them mosaic law.

But sin is Not counted where there is no law. So because of their Transgression God had to give them the law where they will see the do's and the don'ts and if you do this This is what will happen to you.

Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses even over those who sinning was not like the transgression of Adam. Who was a type of the one who was to come. Now look at verse 20? We'll just look at the section a.

Now the law came to increase the trespass. To increase The trespass. So why was the law at it? Why did the law come? Because of transgressions and to increase the trespass. That's not my interpretation.

That's.

Paul's.

The Apostle Paul's Interpretation now turning to the Davidic Covenant. The Davidic Covenant is a covenant made with David and It traces us back to Genesis chapter 17, and this is why You'll come to see that.

I did not want this is the main point. I did not want to walk through Genesis chapter 17 because of this one verse. So go back to Genesis chapter 17 where God made the covenant with Abraham. Chapter 17 verse 6.

17 verse 6 Says this God speaking to Abraham I will Make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make you into nations and kings Shall come from you. There's no way to exegetically walk through that without mentioning the Davidic Covenant.

Abraham has has two sons Isaac and Ishmael the blessing of the covenant passed through Isaac. Isaac has two son Jacob and Esau the Blessings and the covenant passed through Jacob. Jacob has 12 sons, and I'm not going to name them.

Okay, I'm not gonna name them, but it's through Judah who Jacob blesses as a ruler a king a Ruler, so if you would turn to Genesis chapter 49. Genesis chapter 49. Okay, we're doing pretty good on time.

49 beginning in verse 8. So Jacob is blessing his sons and this is what he says to Judah.

Judah.

Your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. Your father's sons shall bow before you. Judah is a lion's cub. From the prey my son. You have gone. I mean you have gone up.

He stooped down and he crouches like a lion as a lion is who dares Rouses him. Therefore the scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the rulers staff from between his feet until tribute comes to him and To him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

So we have this this offspring that comes from the woman. God makes the Abrahamic Covenant the bit that that the offspring would pass from the woman into Abraham's offspring. And that offspring would travel it would go through Isaac.

It would go through Jacob and from Jacob to To to Judah and from Judah It's to David. Look with me at Psalm. I know I'm doing a lot of reading but it's very important. When I first started doing this message I was trying to want to try to do it all in one listen.

My first night was ruined. I was like, okay scratch everything. Let's redo this. This ain't working. Because there's so much reading to understand what's taking place. Turn to Psalm 89 and we'll read verses 1 through 4 and then we'll skip over to verse 19 and read a psalm.

So verse 1 through 4 of Psalm 89. This is. It says I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said steadfast love will be built up forever in the heavens.

You had will establish your faithfulness. You have said I have made a covenant with my chosen one. I have sworn to David my servant. I will establish your offspring forever. I will build your throne for all generations.

Selah.

Verse 19. Of ode you spoke and visions to your godly ones And said I have granted help to the one who is mighty. I have exalted One chosen from the people. I have found David my servant With him my holy oil.

I have anointed him So that my so that my hand shall be established with him. My arm shall Strengthen him. The enemy shall not Outwit him. The wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him And strike down those who hate him.

My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him And my name shall His horn be exalted. Verse 25. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to me. You are my father my god and my rock of my salvation.

And I will make Him the firstborn the highest of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for him forever forever. And my covenant will be Will stand firm for him. I will establish his offspring Forever on the throne as the days of heaven.

Listen to this verse 30. If his children listen closely to this the rest of this if his children Forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules. If they violate my statues and do not keep my commandments Then I will punish their transgressions with the rod of iniquity With stripes with the rod of their iniquity then with stripes.

But I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter my word that went forth from my lips once and for all I have sworn by my holiness.

I will not lie to david. His offspring shall endure forever his throne as long as the sun before me like the moon that shines and Like the moon it shall be established forever. A faithful witness in the sky sailor.

You can trace the genealogy of jesus christ. Genealogy jesus christ to king david from king to king david to.

Judah.

In matthew chapter 1 From the from the burkhanica. I think i'm saying that right the burkhanica. Speaking of david it says David was the youngest of eight sons of jesse a farmer of sheep breeders of the israelite tribe of judah.

David likely likely spent most of his boyhood tending his family's flock. One day he was summoned from the fields by the prophet samuel who anointed him king of israel.

While saul.

Was still king. So we have the appointed king. And then we have the anointed king the appointed king.

Saul.

Then you have the anointed king david Whom god will establish his faithfulness with whom god will Have will not break his covenants. He will not go back on his holiness. We have god. God made a covenant with adam As a representative of all mankind.

Adam broke that covenant so god made a promise. And the promise was that the offspring would come from the woman. To right all the wrong adam cursed the earth jesus christ.

Will one day.

Right all the wrongs. Hebrews chapter 2 tells us that it's already been established. We just cannot see it. It's already done. It's done. He has hypotassoed subdued the whole world it's done. But we just cannot see it yet.

And it goes back to that covenant of redemption. That god purposed to save the people and in doing so he sends his son to accomplish that purpose. This is what hebrews chapter 2 is about. Him accomplishing that purpose how through his suffering death.

How does he take over the world? How does he hypotasso the world? By becoming a man living the life. Dying the death that we should die. And in doing so he destroys the power of the devil and the devil by bruising his head on that cross.

That's how he does it. And we cannot see it yet. Why? Because the holy spirit has to accomplish the purpose. The holy spirit has to accomplish the purpose in us. And faith comes by hearing and hearing of the word of god.

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news. Did you receive the word. Did you receive the spirit by works of the law or by hearing and faith? Ladies and gentlemen christ christ said he said all authority.

Some authority no all authority in heaven and on earth has has been past tense given to him. And he tells us he gives us our marching orders to to go make disciples baptize and teach. That's how you apply the purpose we have to be faithful witnesses.

And I mentioned that that this just could be Catechizing your kids. It could be on a fishing trip talking with your friends. Or it could be standing on the corner like I do sometimes. Looking like a fool before man preaching the cross of christ.

Or teaching sunday school or preaching a sermon. Whatever. I don't know what it looks like for everybody. That he did not give a list of this is what ministry looks like and everyone, you know. And assigns us to our quarters.

But it tells us to go make disciples. Baptize and to teach. That's how the holy spirit applies. The purpose is to the preaching of the gospel. For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of god unto salvation to the jew first and also to the greek.

Let me read that real quick. I don't want to Misquote this powerful powerful section of scripture. Romans 1 chapter 16. I mean chapter romans chapter 1 verse 16 for I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of god for salvation to everyone who believes to the jew first and also to the greek and here comes the verse that Started the reformation for the righteousness Of god is revealed from faith for faith for it is written that the righteous shall live by faith the covenant of abraham in the covenant of abraham.

God chooses a people he chooses a nation by which the offspring would.

Come from.

And in the and in the covenant of moses god gives the letter of the law to govern his people. And in the covenant. And in the covenant given to david. Was the covenant prophesied about the very offspring of the woman.

That would have been born under the abrahamic covenant. Who is the lion of the tribe of judah born under the law who has now been. Who is now because of the resurrection is sitting on the throne of david at the right hand of god in heaven.

The Davidic Covenant, Psalm 89, and Christ's Reign

Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2. Beginning in verse 22 Paul peter stands up preaches this powerful sermon in front of the jews. Man of israel. Hear these words. Jesus of nazareth a man attested to you by god.

With mighty works and wonders signs that god did through him in your midst. You've seen his miracles is what it's saying. As you yourselves know this jesus delivered up according to the definite plan of foreknowledge of god.

You.

Crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men god raised him up loosening the pains of death because it was not Possible for him to be held by it for david says concerning him. I saw the lord before me.

For he is at my right hand and That I may not be shaken. Remember when I was just reading that psalm I was protecting david. God's gonna protect david. He is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced and my flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to hades or let your holy one see corruption. You have made known to me the path of life.

You will make me feel Full of gladness with your presence. Verse 29. Brothers I may say with confidence about the patriarch david that he is both dead and buried. And his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet and knowing that god has sworn with an oath to him that he would sit One of his descendants on the throne.

He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of christ. That he would not abandon his Abandoned to hades nor will his flesh see corruption. This jesus god raised up. And of it we are all witnesses being therefore exalted at the right hand of god having received from the father the promise of the holy spirit has poured out this.

That you are seeing that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. Verse 34. For david did not ascend into heaven. But he said of himself the lord said to my lord sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

And we see in hebrews chapter 2 that he is putting all he's already putting everything under his feet. It's all it's already done. We just don't see it yet. The decree is already done. Verse 36. Let all the house of israel therefore know for certain that god has made him both lord and christ.

Jesus whom You have crucified. So we have abram. So we have adam. God made this covenant with adam. That if adam would have kept this covenant he would have eaten from the tree of life.

That.

That that that god made the covenant with adam that eve ate the the Eight of the fruit first, but the covenant was not broken in eve because eve could not break the covenant. Only adam could break that covenant.

Eve's hope for life was not in her keeping the covenant. Eve's hope for life was in adam keeping the covenant. If adam would have kept the covenant He would have ate. He would have got to eat from the tree of life and in doing so you and I Would have been able to eat from that tree of life.

He breaks that covenant and for doing so he earns death for himself and his posterity die and dying you will.

Die.

So god comes and establishes a new covenant with a people. He would raise up as a kingdom. Through one man abraham. And god gives them because of the sin that has entered the world. He gives them a law.