Doctrine: Abrahamic Covenant

Tod Kennedy 

1.     A covenant is a transaction between God and man or man and man.

2.     An unconditional covenant is one which God initiates and fulfills without the help of man. An unconditional covenant cannot be broken by man since it in no way depends upon man.

3.     A conditional covenant is one in which both parties must fulfill some obligation.

4.     There are stated biblical covenants along with various theological covenants. The latter have varying degrees of support.

5.     The four unconditional covenants with Israel are listed below. These four covenants will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom.

1. Abrahamic (Genesis 12.1-3),

2. Palestinian (Deuteronomy 30.1-10),

3. Davidic (2 Samuel 7.14-16), and

4. New (Jeremiah 31.31-34).

6.     In contrast to unconditional covenants that God made with Israel, the Mosaic covenant or law is a conditional covenant that he made with Israel.  The Mosaic covenant required Israel’s obedience in order to gain blessing; God promised to discipline Israel instead of bless Israel if she disobeyed. Deuteronomy 28 summarizes the conditional status of this covenant. It governed Israel’s national life or conduct as God’s people.