Principles of God’s Covenantal Promises
Trinity Covenant Church [RCUS] Colorado Springs Prepared for Sunday School, September 5, 2004
Principle	Details
Definition: A covenant is a divine arrangement in which God, who cannot lie, makes a promise to men of future blessing. This promise is sealed with a physical sign and those who bear [observe] the sign become a people unto the Lord to bear witness of the promise. Strictly speaking, there is only one covenant of grace to take away sin. This covenant of grace has various historical administrations of the heavenly covenant [the covenant of redemption] in the Holy Trinity to provide salvation to the elect through the obedience of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The covenant to take away sin was first revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden [Gen. 3:15] is this covenant, set forth in figure under the law, and fully revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Promise	It is in the very nature of God, Who cannot lie, to reveal His purposes to men, created in His image, by means of promises. There is nothing more conducive to the glory and majesty of God, who is the Eternal and Sovereign Spirit than to have men rely upon His promises. It also suits man’s nature. Man is created in the image of God, to live as it were in two worlds: that of sense and sight, and that of spirit and promise.
Sign and Seal	In order that the Promise might not appear only meaningless abstraction, God confirms His Promise with physical signs and seals. These signs and seals (sacraments) are objects or ceremonies of sense and experience, which are by their very nature symbols of the spiritual realities that are promised. Illustrations: Tree of Life; Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; Animal sacrifices; rainbow; circumcision; Passover; Sabbaths; Baptism; Lord’s Supper.
Community	God always has sanctified and preserved a people who bear the signs and seals and are conservators of the Promises. Illustration: The families of Seth through Noah and Shem; The family of Abraham; The nation of Israel; the Church.
Blessing	The true spiritual blessings (distinguished from the outward, earthly and temporary) were always conditioned upon faith. It is to the greatest glory and majesty of God that this be so, for God is truth and faithfulness, and is most honored in the trust of His people.
Application	These four things were found in the Garden of Eden, after the fall, before the call of Abraham, Israel under the Law, and now in the church. In Heaven salvation will be complete and there will be no more promise, for we shall have in possession our inheritance.