Sabbath school lesson 11, 4th quarter of 2015

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Lesson 11 for December 12, 2015

THE UNILATERAL COVENANT“I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life

be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:11)

God made several covenants with persons, with nations and with the whole mankind throughout the Bible history.The covenant in Genesis 9:8-17 is the most universal of all. It involves Noah, his children, his descendants and “the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals.”That is a unilateral covenant. God promised something and He didn’t expect anything from our side.In addition, He set a sign—the rainbow—that can still be seen anywhere on Earth. It’s a memorial of His covenant.

THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM (I)“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” (Genesis 17:7)

GOD’

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ENT • Blessing.

Genesis 12:3• Personal• Universal

• Inheritance.• Physical.

Genesis 17:8• Eternal.

Hebrews 11:10

ABRA

HAM

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• Faith.Genesis 15:6

• Obedience.Genesis 17:1

• The sign of the covenant.Genesis 17:11

As Galatians 3:6-18 states, the covenant with Abraham is a reflection of the eternal covenant of God with the whole humanity based on Jesus’ blood (Hebrews 13:20).

THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM (II)

The heart of the covenant is Christ—the “seed” (v. 16).

It’s universal; the Gentiles are included (v. 8).

It must be accepted by faith (v. 9).

“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16)

Lastly, the atonement involves a life change; a life following God’s will: “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” (James 2:22).

THE COVENANT AT SINAIGO

D’S

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T • Blessing.• Personal. Deuteronomy 4:6• Universal.

Isaiah 2:3• Inheritance.

• Physical.Deuteronomy 27:3

• Eternal. Hebrews 12:22IS

RAEL

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T • Faith.Hebrews 4:2

• Obedience.Exodus 24:3

• The sign of the atonement.Exodus 31:13

“When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, ‘Everything the Lord has said

we will do.’” (Exodus 24:3)

The covenant at Sinai is God’s eternal covenant based on Jesus’ blood. Israel had to recognize that in every sacrifice they offered.

Nevertheless, their lack of faith invalidated the covenant (Hebrews 4:2).

“‘The days are coming,” declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.’” (Jeremiah 31:31)Israel didn’t keep his part of the covenant, but God was still faithful (Jeremiah 31:32).God used Jeremiah to announce a new covenant in the midst of that national apostasy. That was a better covenant, “established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)That covenant is actually the same eternal covenant based on Jesus’ blood.The Law that was written on tables of stone is now written within those who accept the divine covenant by faith and receive forgiveness for their sins (Jeremiah 31:34).

THE NEW COVENANT IS FORETOLD

THE NEW COVENANT“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke 22:20) The eternal atonement was announced

through shadows and examples (the old covenant). It was ratified through the death of Christ (the new covenant).The Communion service links both covenants:1. Passover is fulfilled at the Cross (1

Corinthians 11:24).2. Freedom from Egypt is fulfilled at the

Second Coming (1 Corinthians 11:26).

GOD’

S CO

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ENT • Blessing.

1 Peter 3:9• Inheritance.

2 Peter 3:13 OU

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ENT

• Faith.Hebrews 11:6

• Obedience.1 Peter 1:2

• The sign of the covenant.1 Corinthians 11:24-25

E.G.W. (That I may know Him, October 20)