My spiritual journey could be described as a 180. Coming out of the Seeker Driven/Emergent Church movement and moving more toward the truth of Jesus Christ by understanding God through His own word and not outside of it. (See my testimony to learn more.)
Once I started accepting that God has and is speaking through scripture, which is living and breathing already, I found relief knowing I did not have to seek Him elsewhere. I was the one putting God in a box thinking scripture wasn’t enough. Ironic, right? (Hebrews 4:12)
Which leads me to a new discovery of a term that, I personally believe, helps bring clarity to the Trinity, the Godhead, part of the role of each Person, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; in addition to shedding light on the Sovereignty of God, and the importance of the Gospel.
Recently, I started to hear this phrase, “Covenant Redemption.” The first time may have been when I shared Voddie Baucham’s sermon Faithfulness Through Suffering (Voddie Baucham) as he mentions Covenant Redemption. He describes it as (paraphrase), “Communion among the Godhead.”
I became intrigued but I hadn’t fully understood just yet what the term meant. But then, as I have been listening to R. C. Sproul’s audiobook, “Work of Christ,” Covenant Redemption began to make sense. I’m no expert, but I will share what I’ve understood and the power of this covenant in God’s word.
Ladies, this is a term we need to know as Christian women.
When we understand the Covenant of Redemption, we will understand the Gospel much better, and we will get a lot of answers we might have to some of our questions about Christianity.
Some Covenant Basics
“A covenant is an agreement by two or more people based on a promise.” R. C. Sproul
Many of us might be familiar with these covenants in scripture.
- Familiar Covenants
- Adamic Covenant
- Noahic Covenant
- Abrahamic Covenant
- Mosaic Covenant
But what we may not be familiar with is that these covenants share 3 major covenants. (Sproul)
- The Covenant of Redemption
- The Covenant of Works
- The Covenant of Grace
Where Did The Covenant of Redemption Start?
Sproul points out the Covenant of Redemption is not a covenant God makes with humans beings, but a covenant God makes with Himself, among the 3 Persons of the Godhead. This covenant begins before Creation.
“Creation itself is a Trinitarian work.” R. C. Sproul
The Covenants: R. C. Sproul
“Redemption is a Trinitarian work.” R. C. Sproul
The Covenants: R. C. Sproul
Which makes sense as to why Voddie Baucham refers to the Godhead partaking of communion, in relation to the Covenant of Redemption.
Each Person of the Trinity has a particular role to play, regarding the Covenant of Redemption. Each Person of the Trinity partakes of the covenant requirements and agrees willing to go forward with the plan.
What Is The Covenant of Redemption?
Before creation came to be, God knew that man would fall and be in need of a Savior. Therefore the Father would be the One to send His Son to the earth. The Son would add humanity to Himself becoming the God-Man, as He was always God. He would submit His own will to the Father willingly, never taking advantage of being God. Jesus could have acted in His own will at any time, if He so chose. Instead, Christ chose humility.
(ESV) Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”
Christ’s second added nature (which was humanity) in being completely reliant on the Father meant that Christ did not always know everything as He lived His life on the earth. Christ only knew what the Father revealed to Him. His life was not easy. He was known as a man of sorrows. He did not take advantage of being God, like the false gods made in the image of man did. Christ truly was a Servant. (See: Christ Perfect & Perfected | Importance of Understanding His Humanity)
Look at what (ESV) Isaiah 53:01-06 says regarding Christ:
- 1) “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
- 2) For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
- 3) He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
- 4) Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
- 5) But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
- 6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
The Son would live a holy, righteous, and sinless life. It’s important to note He did not just come as the God-Man and die on the cross, but He lived a full life of righteousness.
So that those who put their faith in Him and confess their sin, seeing the need of the Savior – they will not only be accredited sinless because of the sin debt paid, but accredited righteous because Christ lived a righteous life. We can only be justified because of CHRIST’S righteousness and what Jesus did on the cross. We are fully reconciled to God through Jesus Christ alone and His atonement.
The Holy Spirit would then point the world back to the act and teachings of Jesus Christ. Beginning from the Old Testament, we see the promise of the Messiah, and prophets who began to speak of the Savior. Even Moses puts faith that there would be a Prophet, a Savior, who would come. In fact, the Holy Spirit would later descend upon Jesus and guide Him, alongside the will of the Father.
(ESV) John 16:08, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” Christ speaking of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.
In wrapping up the Covenant of Redemption, take a look at scripture and see how powerful this communion among the Godhead truly is. Please notice, how put together God’s plan is from beginning to end with each Person of the Trinity. I’m sure there are other scriptures to add, but I tried to be thorough enough for you to see how amazing God is!
Please study these references and become familiar with them. I have some studying to do.
How Each Person of the Trinity’s Role Played In The Covenant of Redemption:
Note: Unless scripture states God the Father, it would be wise not to assume God only means the Father, as God can mean the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 3 Persons in 1 God. So, when we see God in scripture, we may very well see the Trinity at work together. Some scripture references may refer to all 3 Persons, even if I have a verse listed in a particular Person category, all 3 Persons might relate to the verse.
The Father:
- Sent the Son as the sacrifice to the world. (Isaiah 53:10)
- He directed what the Son would and would not do, including what Christ would and would not know, not as Person of the Godhead, but as a Man. Christ’s humanity was limited in knowing the things of God, as the God-Man. (This came through Christ’s submission to rely only on the will of the Father. IF Christ chose to use His own will, He could do so at any time, but did not.) (John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38)
- He proclaimed the Son to be the Son of God at Jesus’ baptism. Christ was known by the Father as the Beloved Son and the Father commanded those around to listen to the Son. (Matthew 3:17, 12:17-18, 17:05, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, 2 Peter 1:17)
- Played a role in the resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:04, Galatians 1:01)
- The Father gives us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in our knowledge of Him. (Ephesians 1:17-18, Colossians 3:09-10)
- Once the sinner is reconciled through the Son to the Father, the Father rebukes those He loves (as a father would for a child.) He plays a role in the refinement/ongoing sanctification process. (Proverbs 3:12, John 17:17)
The Son:
- Willingly goes as the atonement sacrifice for sinners, being the scapegoat. (Romans 8:03)
- To become the atonement sacrifice, He adds humanity to Himself, as a second nature, becoming the second Adam. Image of fallen man, but sinless. (Hebrews 2:17)
- He willingly does not choose to do anything of His own will, He relies on the Father’s will. (John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38)
- He takes the role of a Servant, not taking advantage that He is God.(Philippians 2:06-07)
- Though God, His humanity, the second nature, is limited in knowing the things of God, this restraint is from Jesus relying on the will of the Father only. The restraint on His second nature allows Christ to live a full life as a man, and a difficult one, too. (Philippians 2:06-07)
- Tempted in all ways, Jesus never falls into sin. He was known as a man of sorrows. He understands everything we struggle with. (Psalm 22:06-07, Isaiah 53:03, Hebrews 4:15, 2:18)
- He is not only sinless, but continues to live a sinless life. He was, is, and will forever remain righteous. See: Christ Perfect & Perfected | Importance of Understanding His Humanity (1 John 2:29, Revelation 15:03)
- In staying and living out a life as the unblemished Lamb, Christ was able to become the atonement sacrifice on the cross. His sacrifice allows the sinner not only to have her debts of sin paid off in full by His blood, but His righteousness can be accredited to her, and she is justified by His wounds. (Romans 3:24-26, 5:09, 5:17-18, 5:21, 10:04, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 6:11, 2nd Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:01-02, Galatians 2:16, 5:05, Philippians 1:11, 3:09, 1 Peter 3:18)
- In being sinless, death could not hold Him. (Acts 2:24, Hebrews 2:17)
- He played a role in His resurrection. (John 2:19, 10:18)
- His resurrection defeats and breaks the power of death, and He will destroy the one who holds this power, Satan. (Hebrews 2:14)
- Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 8:06, 8:13, 12:24, 1 Timothy 2:05)
- Christ is the Author of our salvation, the Author of life. (Acts 3:15, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Hebrews 2:10)
- He plays a role in our sanctification, as His teachings are about what it means to walk in the way of the Spirit, and why we need to repent. Christ is wisdom, the way of life. Most importantly, we are sanctified by His offering of His body. We can only walk in the way of the Spirit, after all, through Jesus justifying us and accrediting us with His righteousness. Christ makes us a new creation. Otherwise, we are merely attempting to walk in the motion but we are still tainted by the death grip of sin. (John 17:19, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 5:25-26, Colossians 3:09-10, Hebrews 10:10, 2:11, 13:12)
The Holy Spirit:
- He helped bring the Savior to the world. Overshadowing Mary, He helped transfer the Son into the womb. Remember the Son has always existed, He was not created in the womb. We know through scripture the Spirit can move people physically. (Luke 1:35)
- He appointed Christ as the Son of God. (Romans 1:04)
- He rested upon Christ, helping Jesus with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:02, 42:01, Matthew 3:16, Luke 4:18)
- Christ was able to offer Himself as an unblemished Lamb through the eternal Spirit. (Hebrews 9:14)
- He helped with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:11)
- He helps us transition from our old life to being a new creation in Jesus Christ. (John 6:63, Romans 8:02, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Colossians 3:09-10)
- He helps us understand the things of God, the wisdom and teachings of Christ. (John 16:08, 16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:12, Colossians 3:09-10)
- He helps us with the sanctification process. He controls us instead of our flesh controlling us. All who belong to Christ have the Holy Spirit dwelling within. (Romans 8:09, 15:16, Galatians 5:17, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:01-02)
Resources:
Renewing Your Mind (22 of 60) The Covenants by R. C. Sproul
Book: Work of Christ by R. C. Sproul
Got Questions: Who Resurrected Jesus?
The Gospel Message– The Gospel message is good news, which means there’s bad news. We all are sinners and condemned. We all deserve the just punishment of God’s wrath. Christianity is unlike any other religion because we cannot earn our way into Heaven. God saw the weakness of man and his utter depravity. Yet, He showed us grace. Jesus, God, One Person of the Trinity, became God in the flesh, the God-Man. He was always perfect and sinless. And His humanity was perfected on the cross, living the full sinless life. He became our atonement sacrifice. Dying in our place, taking on the wrath of God upon Himself. He died on the cross, and He was resurrected because death could not hold Him. Jesus is the answer. We, as guilty sinners, need His blood to pay off our debt of sin. For all who put their faith in Him – meaning eyes are opened to the Gospel, we see ourselves as a sinner, we see the need for Christ, we desire our Savior, and we see the ugliness of our sin. Putting our faith in Jesus, we seek HIs forgiveness and repent from our sins, we turn away from our old way of life. We, through the work of the Holy Spirit, continue to become convicted of sin daily. Our eyes will never be the same again. We see things in a different light, and the truth of Christ affects how we live and serve Him. Christ tells us to count the cost. Salvation is a serious topic, it is not to be taken lightly. For a breakdown of this powerful message, understanding how Christ could be God and Man, why God required sacrifices, and more -please see: Why Did A Loving God Kill His Son? (Does God Hate?)
If you think you know the Gospel, check out these questions and see how prepared you are for the day someone might ask you why you believe: The Gospel Challenge (30 Question Quiz) – Are You Ready To Defend Your Faith?
Scripture To Meditate On – 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.“
Community Prayer – April ’22
Christian Topics/Series Covered
Personal Blog: Peeking Beneath
Second Blog: UnAshamed Christian Housewife
Godly Men & Women I Recommend: Link To List
Resources For False Teaching: Recommended Websites For False Teachers/Teaching
Video Playlist: Christian Questions, Topics, False Teachers, Insights
Video Playlist: New Christian Believer
Video Playlist: Understanding False Teachings
Video Playlist: Sermons To Grow From
Social: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Inside Cup 