Covenant

One of the great foundational stones for Biblical accuracy is definition, Biblical definition.

Biblical Covenant Defined – Part 1

Genesis 17:1-2 – And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

To prepare a culinary work of art, you need to follow the recipe.  The recipe defines the ingredients, measures, and timing.  To build and architectural masterpiece, you need to follow the blueprint.  The blueprint defines the materials and procedures.  To rightly divide the Word of Truth, God’s Word, the terms we use in the sowing of the seed of the Word must be accurately defined.  Without accurate definitions, we do not have a walk of faith, but of presumption and foolishness.  Biblical covenant is never a matter of guesswork.  It is entering into a binding agreement with Jehovah God on the basis of what He says, and to do so with full understanding of the benefits of obedience and the repercussions of failure to comply.  Our heavenly Father is a faithful God, never failing in His Word, always clear in what He says, leaving no room for failure to understand.  A statement I have used now for decades in describing Father’s commitment to and upholding of His covenant is, “If God said it, that settles it.”  My friend, that’s the end of the story for me.  If God said it, that settles it.

As I have already written, God does not leave His people in a state of questioning regarding His will for His people.  He always defines for us the terms He uses.  I understand the tendency of people to want to use words they seem to understand to define Biblical terms, but in many, if not most, cases, such definitions stray from what the Lord meant precisely.  I hear all kinds of definitions for the term “faith.”  But none of them match the clarity, and certainly not the accuracy of what Holy Ghost inspired in Hebrews 11:1.  Take the time to read God’s definition of faith, and then, be bold enough to stick with it, despite any opposition.  There were read, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  There it is – clear, plain, simple, and completely accurate.  Study it for yourself.  Read the Words.  Allow Scripture to define Scripture.  Keep it as simple as possible.  It may take you some time, and may require some energy, but the outcome of properly defining Biblical terms is well worth your investment.  As we continue in our study, we’ll examine more Biblical terms to lay the foundation necessary for accurate understanding of God’s Word in our lives.  Selah!

Manna for Today – Genesis 17; Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; Luke 21:33; Romans 3:4; Hebrews 1:3