God's Covenants: A Journey of Faith and Grace

As we continue our Route 66 journey through the Bible, it’s important to remember that Scripture is not primarily about us, but about God—His pursuit, His love, and His faithfulness. The Bible is the story of God’s action in creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration. From the very first chapters, we see God’s desire to be with His people, even as humanity’s sin brings brokenness into the world. Yet, the overarching narrative is not one of despair, but of hope, because God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God.

Covenants are at the heart of God’s relationship with us. Unlike contracts, which are transactional and temporary, covenants are about deep, binding relationship. They are God’s solemn promises to us, and they shape the entire biblical story. In Genesis, we encounter three covenants: the Adamic (or Edenic) covenant, which was conditional and broken by humanity’s sin; the covenant with Noah, where God promises never to destroy the earth by flood again and commits to working within our brokenness; and the covenant with Abraham, where God unconditionally promises to bless all nations through Abraham’s offspring.

The covenant with Noah is a powerful reminder of God’s grace. Despite the wickedness of humanity, God chooses not to abandon us. The rainbow is a sign of His mercy—a promise that He will not give up on His creation, but will work within our mess to bring about His purposes. The covenant with Abraham goes even deeper, showing us that God’s promises are not dependent on our ability to keep them, but on His faithfulness. God alone “walks the blood path,” taking full responsibility for the covenant. Abraham’s faith, not his works, is credited as righteousness, pointing us forward to the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

These covenants reveal God’s relentless pursuit of relationship with us. They assure us that our hope and salvation rest not in our own efforts, but in God’s unwavering commitment. As we walk through Scripture, we are invited to receive and believe these promises, to trust in the God who keeps His word, and to find our identity as His beloved children. In Jesus, all of God’s promises find their fulfillment, and through faith, we are restored and made new.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God, not humanity, is the central figure of Scripture. The Bible is the story of God’s pursuit, His action in creation, the fall, redemption, and restoration. Recognizing this shifts our focus from ourselves to the character and faithfulness of God, inviting us to see our lives as part of His greater story. [31:08]
• 2. The covenants God makes are not mere contracts, but binding, relational promises that reveal His heart for us. Unlike contracts, which are about exchange, covenants are about transformation and commitment, showing us that God’s love is steadfast and unchanging even when we fail. [40:09]
• 3. The covenant with Noah demonstrates God’s overwhelming grace in the midst of human brokenness. God promises never to abandon His creation, choosing to work within our mess rather than wiping us out. Every rainbow is a reminder of His mercy and His refusal to give up on us, no matter how dark the world becomes. [49:15]
• 4. The covenant with Abraham is unconditional and rooted in God’s faithfulness, not our performance. God alone takes responsibility for fulfilling His promises, and Abraham’s faith—not his works—is credited as righteousness. This points us to the gospel truth that salvation is by grace through faith, not by our own efforts. [53:52]
• 5. God’s covenants invite us to trust, receive, and believe. When we are weary from the brokenness of the world or our own failures, we are called to look not to ourselves, but to the God who keeps His promises. In Jesus, all of God’s covenants are fulfilled, and by faith, we become His children, restored and made new for eternity. [57:24]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Opening Prayer
• [01:50] - Route 66: The Bible’s Big Story
• [03:10] - God as the Central Character
• [05:00] - Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration
• [07:00] - The Importance of Genesis
• [09:00] - God’s Covenants: An Introduction
• [11:00] - Defining Covenants vs. Contracts
• [13:00] - The Adamic (Edenic) Covenant
• [15:00] - Conditional vs. Unconditional Covenants
• [17:00] - The Covenant with Noah
• [20:00] - God’s Grace in the Midst of Brokenness
• [23:00] - The Covenant with Abraham
• [27:00] - Faith, Not Works: Abraham’s Example
• [30:00] - God’s Promises Fulfilled in Jesus
• [33:00] - Receiving and Believing God’s Promises
• [36:00] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Genesis 9:8-17 (The Covenant with Noah) — > 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Genesis 12:1-3 (The Covenant with Abraham) — > 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Romans 4:1-3 (Faith and Righteousness) — > 1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 9:8-17, what does God promise to Noah and all living creatures after the flood? What is the sign of this promise?
2. According to Genesis 12:1-3, what does God promise to Abraham, and how far-reaching are these promises?
3. In Romans 4:1-3, what is credited to Abraham as righteousness—his works or his faith?
4. According to the sermon, what is the difference between a covenant and a contract? ([40:09])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose to make covenants with people, even after humanity’s repeated failures? What does this reveal about God’s character? ([36:59])
2. The rainbow is given as a sign of God’s covenant with Noah. What does this sign communicate about God’s attitude toward human brokenness? ([49:15])
3. The covenant with Abraham is described as unconditional and based on God’s faithfulness, not Abraham’s performance. How does this shape our understanding of salvation? ([53:52])
4. The sermon says the Bible is not mainly about us, but about God’s pursuit and faithfulness. How does this perspective change the way we read Scripture? ([31:08])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that every time we see a rainbow, we should remember God’s mercy and His refusal to give up on us. When was the last time you felt like giving up—on yourself, someone else, or even God? How might remembering God’s covenant with Noah change your response? ([49:15])
2. God’s covenant with Abraham was not based on Abraham’s ability to keep it, but on God’s faithfulness. Are there areas in your life where you are trying to earn God’s favor instead of trusting His promises? What would it look like to rest in God’s faithfulness this week? ([53:52])
3. The sermon highlights that God works within our mess, not by wiping us out but by staying with us. Is there a “mess” in your life right now where you need to trust that God is present and working? How can you invite Him into that situation? ([48:22])
4. The Bible is described as the story of God’s pursuit, not our pursuit of Him. How does this truth affect your sense of identity and worth? ([31:08])
5. The sermon says that God’s covenants invite us to trust, receive, and believe. What is one promise of God that you struggle to believe or receive? What step could you take this week to trust Him more in that area? ([57:24])
6. Abraham’s faith was credited as righteousness. What is one practical way you can exercise faith this week, even if you don’t see immediate results? ([53:52])
7. When you feel weary from the brokenness of the world or your own failures, what helps you remember that God is a covenant-keeping God? How can you remind yourself and others of this truth in daily life? ([57:24])