Welcome to the start of our eighth season! In this episode, we start off with a little word study into covenants, oaths and promises and how to recognize them when God says, “I will”. From there, we trace the hope of eternal life from Eden’s garden to the flood and God’s everlasting covenant with Noah. Explore the difference between unconditional and conditional covenants and see how God’s ultimate plan is to fill the earth with His glory.
Key Verse:
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.” (Titus 1:1-2)
Links to Past Episodes:
In the Image and Likeness of God Part1 and Part 2
Outline:
- Introduction
- The promise of eternal life from the beginning (before the ages began, Titus 1:2). Must come from the Old Testament.
- Critical part of the gospel (Acts 26:6-8)
- The idea and importance of promises, oaths, testaments and covenants
- Covenant
- Oath / Swear / “as truly as I live”
- Promise / “I will”
- Eden
- Gen. 1:26-28 God’s original purpose for mankind to have dominion over the earth (cp. Isa. 45:18)
- Gen. 3:15 The promise (“I will…”) of a saviour to defeat sin
- Noah and the Flood
- The corruption of the earth and God’s judgement (Gen. 6:5-8,17-18)
- Repeat of creation (Gen. 9:1-3) and echo back to Gen. 1:26-28
- The everlasting covenant not to destroy the earth (Gen. 9:9-17). Covenant mentioned seven times.
- God’s Eternal Promise
- Unconditional (everlasting) vs conditional covenants (the law of Moses Ex. 19:5-6)
- God’s ultimate promise to fill the earth with his glory (Num. 14:21)
- Conclusion
- The importance of understanding the covenants (Eph. 2:12) and what was promised
- Episodes to follow on Abraham and David