Covenants and Communion
Covenants define the relationship between God and man. Each covenant seen in the Bible has parties to the covenant, but each legal agreement is initiated by God. The stipulations of these unchangeable testaments explain the promises God makes to His covenant partners, and they warn of the consequences of breaking the covenant. God is always the faithful party.
In eternity, the Trinity covenanted with one another as they would relate to man’s need for redemption for sin. This is called the covenant of redemption, and man was not a party to this agreement. Some people would become beneficiaries, however. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were faithful to one another in fulfilling their roles and functions in keeping covenant. This is displayed in their perfect communion.
God created man. The first covenant with Adam is known as the covenant of works. Man was given instructions on how to maintain communion with God. Obedience was required in the prohibition set upon the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man broke the trust as he broke the covenant, and the consequence was the loss of communion with God. Acceptable sacrifices were now required, in order to once again fellowship with God. The sacrifices were temporary and needed to be repeated because man continued sinning against God.
Noah’s generation suffered God’s judgment for their incessant evil. God provided salvation for Noah through the construction of an ark. The Noahic Covenant revealed a promise to man that destruction by flood would never occur again. We are not panicked when it rains, but we still remember the loss of communion in that generation each time the sign of the covenant, a rainbow, is illumined in the heavens.
Abraham offered further understanding into our communion with God and what He expects from us. God set the terms of the agreement: land, seed, and blessing. The seed is the idea of a single offspring of Abraham who would bless the nations. Abraham believed God would give him a son even though he was 100 years old. The promise, the stipulations, and the blessing were present. Abraham is called “friend of God,” as a diplomatic title of one in covenant communion. The sign of this covenant was circumcision.
Moses was granted 613 precepts from God because transgressions were so great against God. The sign of this covenant was also circumcision done on the 8th day after birth (at the tabernacle or Temple, if possible). The child entered into the covenanting community, and he would obey the Law of Moses as a continuing sign of the covenant. This was especially observed through the pilgrimages to Jerusalem each year which brought him into covenant renewal through sacrifices offered in worship. The ceremonial ordinances would demonstrate communion with God and with his neighbors via feast, fellowship, and festival.
Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant by His perfect obedience to the Law of God given to Moses. Representing both God and man, because He is God/man, Jesus reconciled God’s chosen people (both Jew and Gentile) to YHWH through the redemptive sacrifice of Himself at the cross.
The New Covenant, a covenant of grace, carries the same elements as the other covenants. The parties are God and man, with Jesus as our representative head. The stipulations include: a decree from God the Father for His approved way of salvation; Jesus’ blood shed for the forgiveness of sins (substitutionary atonement); and the application of His blood upon the elect. In addition, the promise of perfect redemption leading to eternal life is sealed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as reflected in the outward sign of water baptism. This one-time outward sign represents the same idea as circumcision — the entrance into Christ’s covenant and communion with God (Rom 6:3; Col 2:11–12).
The ongoing covenant renewal also has a spiritual reality displayed in the Lord’s Table, which we sometimes call “communion.” Members of the body of Christ remember the sacrifice of Christ on their behalf, and they are nourished, refreshed, and strengthened by the unchanging promises of abundant and eternal life in communion with God through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
We who are called by the Gospel, respond because of the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and we enter communion by this baptism, and continue in communion through obedience through the enabling and empowering work of the Holy Spirit. In the end, our eternal communion (“I will be your God, and you with be My people”) is assured because our covenant keeper, Jesus Christ, is faithful and true. Praise God!
David Norczyk
Lakewood, California
July 7, 2021
