"The Everlasting Covenant"
Hebrews 13:20
In the Word of God, the covenant of grace
is identified by numerous titles: "The Better Covenant", "The
New Covenant", "The Covenant of Life", and "The Covenant of
Peace". But this covenant by which we are saved is most frequently called
"The Everlasting Covenant" (II Sam. 23:5; Isa. 55:3; 61:8; Jer.
32:40; Ezek. 16:60; 37:26; Heb. 13:20). Here are four reasons why the Holy
Spirit so constantly uses the word "everlasting" to describe the
covenant of grace.
1. TO IDENTIFY ITS ANTIQUITY - The
covenant of grace is the oldest of all God's works. It is from everlasting. The
covenant of works had a beginning and an end. The covenant of grace has neither
beginning nor ending. Think about this, child of God. Before anything that is
was, God loved you and made a covenant of grace with his Son to save you! Does
that thought not ravish your heart? Before the mountains, the stars, and the
seas were brought forth, God thought of you! Before Adam fell, before you went
astray, before you were lost, the Lord God laid help upon One
that is mighty and found a way to bring you home to himself! Before he created
his holy angels to minister to you, God devoted himself to you in covenant
love! Realize this too - God who has had his heart upon you from eternity will
never forget you (Isa. 54:7-10).
2. TO ASSURE US OF ITS SURENESS (II Sam.
23:5) - The covenant of grace is everlasting. It stands forever. All its
mercies are sure mercies. All its promises are sure promises. All its blessings
are sure blessings. It is a covenant "ordered in all things and
sure," ordered by God's decree and made sure by God's power. In the
language of this covenant there are no "ifs", "maybes",
"buts", or "peradventures". Every line is punctuated by
God's "shalls" and "wills". Nothing is left to chance or
man's imaginary freewill!
3. TO DEMONSTRATE ITS IMMUTABILITY
(Eccles.3:14) - Anything everlasting must be immutable. Not one line of or word
of the covenant can be altered or erased.
4.
TO TEACH US THAT IT WILL NEVER CEASE TO BE ENFORCED - It shall soon be
consummated, but never terminated. All the heirs of grace shall be the heirs of
grace forever. All shall inherit all things, to the same degree, for the same
reason, in fulfilment of the same covenant.
Don Fortner