THE COVENANTS - PART 2

THE FIRST THREE COVENANTS OF GOD TO MAN

EDENIC - ADAMIC - NOAHIC

Each covenant or dispensation has some or all of the following elements that we will recognize as we study each of them in detail. Each will be seen leading up to and including the final and complete salvation of man; The plan of God from the beginning to the end.

How does the word "dispensation" fit in with the study of covenants? What word describes it most accurately?_____________________________ Lu 16:1-4

These elements of the covenants are:

1. A name, title and/or definition.

2. A period of time.

3. Favorable beginnings.

4. The test of the responsible parties.

5. Purpose of God.

6. Means of God accomplishing that purpose.

7. The failure of those tested.

8. Judgement of God upon those tested.

9. God's grace providing a way of reconciliation to Himself.

1. The Edenic Covenant or the dispensation of innocence. Gen 1:26-3:24

In relation to time, this covenant was made in the period before the fall of man, before sin destroyed the perfect fellowship that God's creation of mankind had with Him. By definition, it was the arrangement and relationship that man enjoyed with his Creator before Adam sinned.

A. There were ten basic commandments given to Adam to do to keep the covenant in effect.

Gen 1:28

1. To be fruitful.

2. Multiplication of the race upon the earth.

3. To fill the earth.

4. To subdue the earth.

5. To rule over all creation. (Ps 8:3-8)

Gen 2:15

6. To cultivate the garden.

7. To keep the garden.

Gen 1:29-30; 2:16

8. To partake of all that God had given to eat.

Gen 2:17

9. To not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10. To fear the consequences of disobedience.

B. There were conditions of bliss in the garden of Eden that man was able to enjoy. All was forsaken for a bite of fruit!

1. Adam and Eve bore the image of God. Gen 1:26;

2. Prior to sin, they had unashamed fellowship with God. Gen 3:8-11 (by implication)

3. They (mankind) had dominion over the entire creation. Gen 1:26; 2;15; Ps 8:3-8

4. Man was innocent of lust and had but one wife. Gen 2:25; Matt 19:8-9

5. Adam and Eve, and even the animals were vegetarians. Gen 1:29-30

6. They lived and worked in the garden which was prepared for them by God. Gen 2:8,15

The test of stewardship and man's character included all those stipulations mentioned previously, but the most important of them all was the one that would either make or break man's perfect relationship with God for all time. It was this test that the first two humans failed to pass, thereby condemning all of the children of Adam to lives conceived in sin (Ps 51:5) and the desire to reject the God who created them and who had no intention of sin entering into their hearts.

Gen 2:17

Gen 3:1-6

In this passage of Scripture, we see some truths as to how this all came about.

The woman was deceived. II Cor 11:3; I Tim 2:14;

A clue as to how this was accomplished is found in 1 Jn 2:16. Compare Gen 3:6

The three factors involved are:

1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________

How is a sin committed? James 1:13-15

_________________+____________________+____________=_________________

Why is the Edenic covenant called the "dispensation of innocence?"

________________________________________________________________

Do we know what the time frame was? Y N

What was the test? Gen 2:16-17; ___________________________________

How is the purpose of God best described? __________________________

____________________________________________________________________

What were the two means God used in accomplishing this?

A. ____________________________________________________ Gen 2:16-17

B. ____________________________________________________ Gen 3:1-6

The failure of Adam and Eve is obvious, but what were the steps that led to that failure?

A. Gen 3:1 ______________________________________________________

B. Gen 3:2-3 ______________________________________________________

C. Gen 3:4 ______________________________________________________

D. Gen 3:5 ______________________________________________________

E. Gen 3:6a ______________________________________________________

F. Gen 3:6b ______________________________________________________

G. Gen 3:7-19______________________________________________________

2. Since the failure of man in the garden was evident, God made another covenant. This is the "Adamic" covenant or the "dispensation of conscience". It is God's statement of both justice and mercy for Adams' disobedience and is based on the broken Edenic covenant.

In the following verses, it is plain to see that God is not the one who broke the covenant or ever breaks any of the covenants that He has made to man. It is always man who is disobedient and sinful against a holy God.

I Kings 8:23

Dt 7:9

Nehemiah 1:5; 9:32-38

Dan 9:4

The Edenic covenant ended in Gen 3:1-6 and this brought in the need for a new relationship with God and man. God could have started out all over again, but because of His great love and mercy, He instituted a covenant that would promise salvation to mankind.

Gen 3:15,21 gives us the provision of God for the redemption of mankind, and the atonement of the sin committed in the Garden.

What is the symbol of that redemption? _________________________________

What is the shadow of the atonement for the sin of man in vs 21?

_________________________________________________________________

Spiritual and physical judgements followed the transgression. Name some of them found in Gen 3:14-19; 23-24.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

What is the purpose of God in this covenant? Rev 12:11; 21:7

____________________________________________________________________

The duration of time was from the fall of Adam to the death of Noah - 1,656 yrs. Gen 5:1-29; 7:6,11

What was the test? Gen 3:22; 4:7; 6:1-7

____________________________________________________________________

The purpose of God in this covenant was to point out to man his need for complete dependence upon a holy and just God. Man's conscience couldn't allow him to live in that dependence nor could it allow him to live in a manner of life that was pleasing to God. Without restraint, man became very wicked and destructive to himself.

Gen 3:15 gives us a picture that is begun here and finished in Revelation. It is a remarkable truth throughout the Bible;

Josh 10:24; Judg 4:21; 9:53 Ps 68:21; Hab 3:13; Romans 16:20; Rev 20:10;

Here again, we see that man failed this test also. This brought forth the need for another arrangement of "stewardship" in a new covenant. Man was continuing to prove that he could not go it alone without the provision of God for his sins. We see the failure of Adam, Cain and his descendents, Seth's descendents, and all men in general from Gen 3:22 through Gen 6:1-7

3. The provision of God's reconciliation to man was that He would make a new covenant to replace the two previous covenants and extend His plan for man's ultimate salvation for those who would accept it. This new covenant was the "Noahic" covenant or the "dispensation of human government". Under this dispensation, God delegated to man, the authority to govern himself.

The "tree of life" is not mentioned in the Bible for man to partake of after Gen 3:22 until Rev 2:7; 22:2. Man lost his chance to live life to the fullest when he sinned but God's plan for man would not be thwarted by His creation. The dispensation of innocence was proven to be a failure, as was the dispensation of conscience. In the Noahic covenant, we will see that God's plan was to be carried out even if it meant the destruction of every creature on the face of the earth except for the eight souls of man and the animals that rode the Ark with Noah and his family.

Gen 6 - 9

Why was the Noahic covenant brought forth? Gen 6:5;

_____________________________________________________________________

What was God's attitude at this time? Gen 6:6,13;

_____________________________________________________________________

The worlds situation then was a sign for us today! Matt 24:37-39

Who was Noah? He was a descendent of Seth (Adam's son) who was alive about 2500 B.C. Noah was destined by prophecy in Gen 5:28-29 to be great among men.

What kind of man was he?

A. He was favoured by the Lord. Gen 6:8

B. He was just and perfect in his generations. Gen 6:9a,b

C. He walked with God. Gen 9:c

D. He was obedient to God's word. Gen 6:22

E. He was a worshipper of God. Gen 8:22

F. He was a preacher of righteousness. II Peter 2:5

What were five aspects of the covenant that God made with Noah.

1. _____________________________________________________ Gen 8:21;9:11

2. _____________________________________________________ Gen 8:22

3. _____________________________________________________ Gen 9:1,7

4. _____________________________________________________ Gen 9:3

5. _____________________________________________________ Gen 9:5,6

God promised to never destroy the world by a flood again, by what means will He do it the next time?

___________________________________________ II Peter 3:6-7

What was the sign of this covenant with man? ____________________ Gen 9:12

Noah was an example to the New Testament church in two ways. He was a preacher and a builder. It is significant that as he preached, he also was careful to secure an extension of life for him and his family. (His destiny)

This covenant lasted a period of 427 years from the flood to the call of Abram when he was 75 years old

What was the test that God had in mind for this covenant?

_____________________________________________________________________

The means by which God carried out His purpose was that He gave man a few simple laws by which to govern himself. Gen 9:1-7

The failure of man to obey these laws of human government brought forth judgement, as does all sin. In Gen 11 we find out what that judgement was. This was just prior to the call of Abram in chapter 12.

Gen 11:1-9

Gen 10:25;11:18,19

The provision of God for the reconciliation of mankind was that He established faith in the hearts of man to forsee the coming Redeemer. We will see this as we begin to look at the Abrahamic and the Mosaic covenants in the next lessons.