What is a covenant?

A covenant is an agreement, pact or contract made between two parties in order to formally bind them to a commitment made at a particular time. In the affairs of men, some persons—familiar as they are with human nature—are predisposed to putting every possible transaction on a formal contractual basis in order to ensure subsequent legal recourse should a breach of the agreement occur.

When Abraham bought the field of Ephron in Machpelah, he paid the money "in the audience of the sons of Heth" as witnesses, and it was thus made sure to him. Genesis 23:16. In the covenant Jacob made with Laban, they gathered a heap of stones to be witness between them, and "they ate there upon the heap." Genesis 31:46.

The covenants made by God are of a different order. He makes His covenants from Himself, without consulting man. With Noah God made a covenant that He would not again destroy the world by a flood, and as a token of that covenant, He set the rainbow in the cloud. Genesis 9:8-17. This kind of covenant takes the form of an unconditional promise. Such was God's covenant with Abraham.

A covenant is a principle of relationship with God on the earth — conditions established by God under which man is to live with Him... It is applied to details of the relationship of God with Israel, and so to Abraham (Genesis 15), and similar cases; but, strictly speaking, there are only two covenants in which God has dealt with man on earth, or will — the old and the new. The old was established at Sinai. The new covenant is made also with the two houses of Israel.

The new covenant is set in contrast with the old. It is set in contrast with the law. The law—the old covenant—was based on two words: "You shall". The new covenant is also based on two words: "I will". Under the old covenant it was demand. Under the new it is supply. The cup given to the disciple by the Lord Jesus was a provision from His own hand (speaking of His blood shed for them). Provided freely, provided in love.

This necessity of the covenant being founded on the blood of a victim was not forgotten in the case of the first covenant. Everything was sprinkled with blood. Only, in this case, it was the solemn sanction of death attached to the obligation of the covenant. The types always spoke of the necessity of death coming in before men could be in relationship with God. Sin had brought in death and judgment. We must either undergo the judgment ourselves, or see our sins blotted out through it having been undergone by another for us.

A covenant does not necessarily demand death in order to its establishment — witness that second one made with Israel (Exodus 34:27), and that third made with the same people in the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy 29:1) — whereas a testament necessarily requires it.

It could have no reference to a people called out of the world to heaven. Therefore there is no covenant made with the Assembly of God, though the great and leading principles of the new covenant have a very distinct bearing upon the blessings that are ours.

While it may be seen that the New Covenant will yet be made with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, in its literal terms, we would point out that God is acting today on the basis and in the spirit of it. So, at the institution of the Supper the Lord Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood."