“I keep hearing the word ‘covenant’ in church, but it just sounds like a fancy word for a contract. Is there a difference?”
In our modern world, a contract is a transactional agreement—I give you this, and you give me that. But a biblical covenant is a forensic, life-binding bond that goes much deeper. It is a “defense of the truth” regarding God’s commitment to His people. While a contract is signed with a pen and can be broken by lawyers, a covenant was often sealed with a sacrifice. In the King James Bible, we see that a covenant is a solemn promise that creates a family relationship. As the scripture says of God’s faithfulness: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips” (Psalm 89:34).
“What was the point of the ‘Old’ and ‘New’ covenants? Why did God change the rules?”
God didn’t change His character; He unfolded His plan of “costly grace.” The Old Covenant, given at Sinai, provided the “dot format” for holy living—showing us the Law and our need for a Savior. The New Covenant, however, is the “Verdict” of history. It was established not by the blood of bulls, but by the precious blood of Christ. The Lord promised this transition, saying: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel… I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:31-33). The “rules” didn’t change; they moved from being written on stone to being written on our very souls.
“What is the sign of a covenant? Does God still use them today?”
Every major biblical covenant comes with a “Scriptural Exhibit” or a physical sign to remind us of the truth. For Noah, it was the rainbow; for Abraham, it was circumcision. For us today, the sign of the New Covenant is found in the cup of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus declared: “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). These signs are forensic evidence for the believer, proving that God cannot lie and that His promises are “yea and amen.”
“What happens if we break our side of the covenant? Does God walk away?”
This is where we see the “excellent spirit” of God’s mercy. While we are often unfaithful, God remains bound by His own Word. Even when Israel went astray, the Lord remained their God because of the covenant He made with their fathers. However, a covenant carries a “Verdict” of accountability. To walk outside the covenant is to walk outside of God’s protection. We are called to “stand fast” and remain in Him. The goal of the covenant is total reconciliation, ensuring we are ready for the Great Day of the Lord when the King returns for His covenant people.