COVENANT OF GRACE

“For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” – Ephesians 2: 8

Redemption is the platform upon which every Believer obtains and enjoys Salvation by the COVENANT of GRACE: “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of WORKS, lest anyone should boast” (Eph.2:8-9). The Covenant of Grace is the divine arrangement whereby God purposed to save Man from the just consequences of sin – corruption, misery, death, and damnation. The word ‘covenant’ infers a disposition or an arrangement; in this case, one made by God alone, and in eternity: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (v.10). Humanity had no part in its making.

The Bible is a covenanted story, and Scripture is the unfolding drama of God’s Covenant of Grace. The word ‘grace’ basically means undeserved favour manifested to sinners who deserve just the opposite: God’s disfavour and wrath. Consequent to the fall, Man became incapable of obtaining eternal life by the Covenant of Works. Paul referred to the Israelites, saying: “to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the COVENANTS, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the PROMISES” (Rom.9:5). The essence of this covenant of grace persists throughout the Old and New Testaments: God saves sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But its historical application has varied by time and place.

The same Covenant of Grace widened from the Old to the New Testament, as it was administered initially with small families like Noah’s and Abram’s, then with Israel as a nation, but now with the church, which comprises people “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev.5:9). Also, it was administered in the Old Testament through “types” and “shadows” such as the sacrifices, the priesthood, and the temple, all pointing to their substance, Jesus Christ (Heb.8:5; 10:1; Col.2:17).  Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Covenant of Grace reached its zenith in “the NEW COVENANT”: “…I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah – not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers…” (Heb.8:8b-9a). These verses referenced Jeremiah 31:31.

Under the Covenant of Grace, Christ accomplished what Adam failed to do in the covenant of works: Man’s work failed, but Christ availed and prevailed! Through His merit alone, we inherit eternal life. Now, we have come “to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Heb.12:24). God, “who is rich in mercy” lovingly provided the covenant of grace in which He freely offered to sinners, salvation and life by Jesus Christ, requiring of us faith in Him in order to be saved (v.4-5). Moreover, He promises to give whoever wills, His Holy Spirit as Enabler of faith and guaranteed Seal of redemption (2Cor.1:22; Eph.1:13; 4:30).

The Covenant of Grace is our ordained access into Abundant Life: “I have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jh.10:10b). Inside of this package is all that is good and positive, including: divine presence, comfort, joy, peace, fruitfulness, nourishment, provisions, prosperity, purity, and power. Outside are negativities such as: barrenness, desolation, and waste. This Life belongs to whoever turns in faith to accept Christ’s finished work of redemption: “All that the Father gives Me will come to me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (Jh.6:37).

According to the Covenant of Grace, I declare by Faith, in Jesus name: GOD is “my Light and my Salvation” (Psa.27:1). He is the “Horn of my Salvation” and “Rock of my Salvation” (2Sam.22:3,47). His perfect Will transcends mere long biological life, spent under pressure, pain or penury. Psalm 91:16 is His promise for me: “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my SALVATION”! He shall manifest in me His SALVATION and the full package of abundant LIFE”!