God's Covenants: A Journey of Faith and Redemption

God’s covenants are the backbone of His relationship with humanity, revealing both His character and His intentions for us. From the very beginning, God has chosen to interact with people through binding agreements—covenants that are not just legal contracts, but deeply relational promises. The Edenic covenant set the stage, as God called Adam and Eve to be fruitful, multiply, and steward creation, reflecting His own rule and order. Even after humanity’s fall, God’s response was not abandonment but a promise of redemption, as seen in the Adamic covenant. The curse that followed sin was not the end; embedded within it was the pledge that the seed of the woman would ultimately crush the serpent’s head, pointing forward to Christ.

The Noahic covenant further demonstrates God’s faithfulness. Despite the pervasive evil in humanity’s heart, God preserved a remnant and promised never again to destroy the earth by flood. This covenant is a testament to God’s mercy and His desire for new beginnings, even when judgment is necessary. The Abrahamic covenant, still resonant today, shows God’s heart to bless all nations through faith. Abraham’s trust moved God, and through Christ—the promised seed—those blessings are extended to all who believe, not just to Israel but to every nation.

Understanding these covenants transforms how we read Scripture. The Bible is not merely a collection of stories, but a revelation of God’s ongoing commitment to His people. In Christ, we are grafted into these promises; we are no longer outsiders but part of God’s family, recipients of mercy and blessing. The covenants reveal that God is not only a covenant-maker but a covenant-keeper. His faithfulness is the foundation of our hope, our identity, and our purpose. We are called to live in the reality of these promises, to remember God’s faithfulness, and to let His covenant love shape our lives, our thoughts, and our relationships.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s covenants are more than agreements; they are the means by which He reveals His heart and binds Himself to humanity. Each covenant—Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic—shows a different facet of God’s character: His desire for relationship, His justice, His mercy, and His faithfulness to redeem. To understand God’s covenants is to understand the depth of His commitment to us. [04:44]
• 2. Being “in covenant” with God means we are no longer outsiders or strangers to His promises. Through Christ, we are grafted into the blessings originally given to Israel, and we become part of God’s story. This new identity calls us to live as a chosen people, recipients of mercy, and participants in God’s redemptive plan for the world. [07:47]
• 3. The Bible is not just a historical record but a living document of God’s covenants. When we read Scripture, we are invited to see ourselves as participants in God’s unfolding story, inheritors of His promises, and examples of His faithfulness. This perspective transforms our reading from passive observation to active participation in God’s work. [08:36]
• 4. The fall of humanity did not end God’s relationship with us; instead, it prompted a new covenantal promise of redemption. Even when sin moved us into a state of separation, God’s love and mercy provided a way back through the promise of a Redeemer. Our failures do not disqualify us from God’s love; rather, they become the backdrop for His redemptive work. [17:46]
• 5. Remembering God’s faithfulness is essential for spiritual health. Our minds naturally gravitate toward pain and failure, but God calls us to memorialize His victories and mercies. By shifting our focus from past wounds to God’s covenant love, we cultivate gratitude, resilience, and hope, refusing to let bitterness or negativity define our lives. [21:58]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Introduction to God’s Covenants
• [02:30] - What is a Covenant?
• [04:44] - The Significance of Circumcision and Covenant Identity
• [07:47] - From Outsiders to God’s People
• [08:36] - The Bible as Covenant Story
• [10:36] - The Edenic Covenant: God’s Original Plan
• [13:52] - The Fall and Its Consequences
• [16:43] - Cain and Abel: The First Family’s Struggle
• [17:46] - The State of Humanity After the Fall
• [19:15] - The Promise of Redemption
• [20:30] - The Noahic Covenant: New Beginnings
• [21:58] - The Battle for the Mind and Remembering God’s Faithfulness
• [23:00] - Preview of the Abrahamic Covenant

Bible Reading

Genesis 3:15 (NKJV) — > "And I will put enmity
> Between you and the woman,
> And between your seed and her Seed;
> He shall bruise your head,
> And you shall bruise His heel."

2. Ephesians 2:11-13 (NKJV)
> "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

3. Genesis 9:8-13 (NKJV)
> "Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 'And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark—every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.' And God said: 'This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.'"

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 2:12, what was the spiritual condition of Gentiles before Christ? [04:44]
2. In Genesis 3:15, what promise does God make after the fall of Adam and Eve? [19:15]
3. What was the sign God gave to Noah as a reminder of His covenant, and what did it mean? (Genesis 9:13) [19:15]
4. In the sermon, what are some of the specific blessings mentioned that come from being “in covenant” with God? [08:36]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul describe Gentiles as “strangers from the covenants of promise” in Ephesians 2, and what does it mean to be “brought near” in Christ? [04:44]
2. How does the promise in Genesis 3:15 point forward to Jesus, and why is this significant for understanding God’s plan of redemption? [19:15]
3. The sermon says that God’s covenants are not just legal contracts but deeply relational promises. How does this change the way we view God’s commitment to us? [04:44]
4. The Noahic covenant was made after a time of great evil and judgment. What does this reveal about God’s character and His intentions for humanity? [19:15]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that remembering God’s faithfulness is essential for spiritual health, but our minds often focus on pain and failure. What is one practical way you can “memorialize” God’s victories in your life this week? [21:58]
2. Being “in covenant” with God means we are no longer outsiders. Is there an area of your life where you still feel like an outsider to God’s promises? What would it look like to embrace your new identity as part of God’s family? [07:47]
3. The Edenic covenant called Adam and Eve to steward creation and reflect God’s rule. What is one area of your life—work, family, relationships—where you can be more intentional about reflecting God’s order and care? [10:36]
4. The sermon highlights that our failures do not disqualify us from God’s love, but become the backdrop for His redemptive work. Can you share a time when God brought redemption or hope out of a failure in your life? [17:46]
5. The Noahic covenant is a testament to God’s desire for new beginnings. Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust God for a fresh start? What step could you take this week to move forward? [19:15]
6. The Bible is described as a living document of God’s covenants, not just a history book. How can you read Scripture this week with the mindset that you are a participant in God’s unfolding story? [08:36]
7. The sermon encourages us to let God’s covenant love shape our thoughts and relationships. Is there a relationship in your life that needs to be reshaped by God’s faithfulness and mercy? What’s one thing you could do to move in that direction? [21:58]