Q-20: DID God Leave All Mankind to Perish 1n the Estate of Sin and Misery?
A: No! He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver the elect out of that state, and to bring them into a state of grace by a Redeemer.
‘I will make an everlasting covenant with you.’ Isa 55:3. Man being by his fall plunged into a labyrinth of misery, and having no way left to recover himself, God was pleased to enter into a new covenant with him, and to restore him to life by a Redeemer.
The great proposition I shall go upon is, that there is a new covenant ratified between God and the elect.
What is the new covenant?
It is a solemn compact and agreement made between God and fallen man, wherein the Lord undertakes to be our God, and to make us his people.
What names are given to the covenant?
(1.) It is called the covenant of peace in Ezek 37:26, because it seals up reconciliation between God and humble sinners. Before this covenant there was nothing but enmity. God did not love us, for a creature that offends cannot be loved by a holy God; and we did not love him, since a God that condemns cannot be loved by a guilty creature; so that there was war on both sides. But God has found out a way in the new covenant to reconcile differing parties, so that it is fitly called the covenant of peace.
(2.) It is called a covenant of grace, and well it may; for, (1) It was of grace, that, when we had forfeited the first covenant, God should enter into a new one, after we had cast away ourselves. The covenant of grace is tabula post naufragium, ‘as a plank after shipwreck.’ Oh the free grace of God, that he should parley with sinners, and set his wisdom and mercy to work to bring rebels into the bond of the covenant!
(2) It is a covenant of grace, because it is a royal charter, all made up of terms of grace; that ‘God will cast our sins behind his back;’ that ‘he will love us freely;’ Hos 14:4; that he will give us a will to accept of the mercy of the covenant, and strength to perform the conditions of the covenant. Ezek 37:26. All this is pure grace.
Why should God make a covenant with us?
It is out of indulgence, favour, and regard to us. A tyrant will not enter into a covenant with slaves, he will not show them such respect. God’s entering into a covenant with us, to be our God, is a dignity he puts upon us. A covenant is insigne honouris, a note of distinction between God’s people and heathens. ‘I will establish my covenant with thee.’ Ezek 16:62. When the Lord told Abraham that he would enter into a covenant with him, Abraham fell upon his face, as being amazed that the God of glory should bestow such a favour upon him. Gen 17:2.
God makes a covenant with us, to tie us fast to him; as it is called in Ezekiel, the ‘bond of the covenant.’ God knows we have slippery hearts, therefore he will have a covenant to bind us. It is horrid impiety to go away from God after covenant. If one of the vestal nuns, who had vowed herself to religion, was deflowered, the Romans caused her to be burnt alive. It is perjury to depart from God after solemn covenant.
How does the covenant of grace differ from the first covenant made with Adam?
(1.) The terms of the first covenant were more strict and severe. For, (1) The least failing would have made the covenant with Adam null and void, but many failings do not annul the covenant of grace. I grant, the least sin is a trespass upon the covenant, but it does not make it null and void. There may be many failings in the conjugal relation, but every failing does not break the marriage bond. It would be sad, if, as oft as we break covenant with God he should break covenant with us; but God will not take advantage of every failing, but in ‘anger remember mercy.’
(2) The first covenant being broken, allowed the sinner no remedy, all doors of hope were shut; but the new covenant allows the sinner a remedy: it leaves room for repentance, and provides a mediator. ‘Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.’ Heb 12:24.
(2.) The first covenant ran all upon ‘working,’ the second is upon ‘believing.’ Rom 4:5.
But are not works required in the covenant of grace?
Yes. ‘This is a faithful saying, that they which believe in God, be careful to maintain good works.’ Tit 3:8. But the covenant of grace does not require works in the same manner as the covenant of works did. In the first covenant, works were required as the condition of life; in the second, they are required only as the signs of life. In the first covenant, works were required as grounds of salvation; in the new covenant, they are required as evidences of our love to God. In the first, they were required to the justification of our persons; in the new, to the manifestation of our grace.
What is the condition of the covenant of grace?
The main condition is faith.
Why is faith more the condition of the new covenant than any other grace?