The Cross

Course: The Foundation of the Church

Lesson 2

Lesson Title: The Blood Covenant,

 

Text:  Genesis 15:17-18  'And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:'

 

Introduction:  Covenant (Hebrew 'berith' Greek 'diatheke')

Berith from Hebrew word 'to cut' - to cut covenant.

A covenant is an agreement that is established by an oath.

The Blood of the Covenant.  The foundation of the covenant.

The Partakers of the Covenant. God did everything. Abram slept.

The Promise of the Covenant. God gave Himself to Abram.

God confirmed His promise to Abram on the basis of the blood covenant.

God was saying to Abram and His descendants 'all that I have is yours'.

The descendants of Abram are those who believe.

 

Introductory Story:  Blood Covenant.

When Spain took control of the Philippines the tribes would only trust them after they made a blood covenant.

For the Spaniards it meant very little but for the Filipino tribes it meant everything.

Ancient custom to seal an agreement by a blood covenant. 

Tribes in a blood covenant relationship can call for assistance in trouble.

 

Compare the covenant Israel made with the Gibeonites.  (Joshua 9:11)

Famine at the time of Saul because the covenant had not been kept. (2 Samuel 21:1)

God remembers His covenant.

 

Main Points:

1.       The Blood of the Covenant.

The foundation of the covenant is the shedding of blood.

The Old Covenant was maintained by the killing of animals for sacrifice.

When God made a covenant with Abraham the pieces of the dead animals were placed in a figure of eight.

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:6

 

The need for a blood sacrifice and faith in God's covenant.

Hebrews 9:22  'And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.'

The need for a blood sacrifice and faith in God's covenant is seen throughout the Old Testament beginning with the sacrifice of Abel

Abel brought a blood sacrifice (Genesis 4:4).

Abel's sacrifice was offered in faith.

Hebrews 11:4  'By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.'

 

 

2.       The Partakers of the Covenant.

God moved through the pieces as a 'burning lamp' to make a covenant with Abram.

God gave all that He is to Abram.

God became Abram's blood covenant Brother.

In return Abram gave himself to God.

 

This was not a covenant between equals.

Abram slept.

God was the initiator and the completer of the covenant.

Hebrews 12:2 'Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith'.

 

Abram and Sarai inherited the name of God.

The name of Abram became Abraham.  (Genesis 17:5)

The name of Sarai became Sarah.  (Genesis 17:15)

The name of God YHVH - Yahveh probably pronounced by 'breathing out-ah'.  The name Abram becomes Abraham 'breathing out - ah'.

The name of Sarai becomes Sarah 'breathing out -ah'.

 

We have His name because we are in covenant relationship with Him.

1) Separated by the name.  Those who have His name are called to holiness.  2 Timothy 2:19  'Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'

2) Persecuted because we have His name.  Mark 13:13  'And you shall be hated of all men for my name‘s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.'

His presence is with those who gather in His name.   Matthew 18:20  'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'

 

There is power over all the works of the enemy in His name.  Mark 16:17  'And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;'

 

 

3.       The Promise of the Covenant (Genesis 15)

God confirmed His promise to Abram by cutting covenant with him.

The promise of the covenant was dependent upon the promise of a son.  Abram believed the Lord concerning the promise of an heir. (Genesis 15:6)

 

The promise of the covenant - The descendants of Abram would inherit the land from the River of Egypt to the River Euphrates.  (Genesis 15:18)

 

The promise of the covenant was a confirmation of God's plan and purpose that was revealed in the promise that God made to Abram before he left Ur of Chaldees. 

Genesis 12:1-3  'Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, unto a land that I will show you: And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing:  And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.'

 

The promise of Abram that 'in you shall all families of the earth be blessed' is the promise of the Messiah.

1) Faith in Christ - counted to us as righteousness

2) The promises of God are our inheritance through the blood.

2 Corinthians 1:20  'For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.'

 

 

Summary:

1)       Abram was counted righteous because of his faith

2)       The blood covenant firmly established the promise of his inheritance.

3)       God gave Himself to Abram.  He inherited His name.

4)       We are made righteous by faith in Christ.

5)       We inherit the promises through the blood of the New Covenant.

6)       We have victory over the works of the enemy through the name of Jesus.