Thoughts on the
Second London Baptist Confession
Chapter 7: Of God’s Covenant
By Brian Pendleton
“In this way, you also, when you do all the things which are commanded of you, say,
‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'”
— Luke 17:10 (LSB)
Jesus Christ reminds us in Luke 17:10 that we owe obedience to God. God is the Creator who made us and sustains us. We are his creatures and as such owe Him perfect obedience. We do not give anything to God, “If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand.”(Job 35:7). Therefore no reward is given for one’s obedience since the creature is just doing what they are are already obligated to do. This is where God’s covenants come in. By God entering into covenant with man it opens up the door of God rewarding His creatures with eternal life. “. . . creatures do owe obedience to Him as their creator, yet they could never have attained the reward of life but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.”
What is a covenant? Our reformed baptist forefather Nehemiah Coxe defines it this way, “A declaration of God’s sovereign pleasure concerning the benefits He will bestow on them, the communion they will have with Him, and the way and means by which this will be enjoyed by them.”(Covenant Theology: From Adam to Christ p. 36). One contemporary reformed baptist explains it this way, “In summary a covenant is a divinely sanctioned commitment defining the relationship between God and another party.” (The Mystery of Christ p. 55). When God enters into covenant He does so freely, out of love. A covenant is the foundation of a special relationship between two parties. God enters into a covenant with man to better the state of man. If the purpose is not accomplished, God will establish a new covenant (Hebrews 8:7-8). Establishing a new one is based on the weakness of man, not God. A covenant strengthens the bond of love and obedience to God and renders a necessary duty. With a covenant comes obligations beyond the law of our creation. Therefore the good and glory of any covenant that God makes with men is to be measured chiefly by its promises and terms. The essence of a covenant is a bond or promise or oath to man.
One particular covenant that God made was that of the Covenant of Grace. The essential characteristics of the covenant of grace are threefold. First, the situation: man fell and brought himself under the curse of the law. God in turn made the Covenant of Grace. Second, its universal dimension: God offers the gospel freely to all sinners and requires faith from them to be saved. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:15, 16). Third, its particular dimension: what does God do for the elect in the Covenant of Grace? The LORD gives them the Holy Spirit and in turn the Spirit then makes them willing & able to believe. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT BY GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” (John 6:44-45).
How does God reveal the Covenant of grace? He first revealed it to our first parents in the curse that was pronounced upon the serpent in Genesis 3:15,
“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
It was revealed in further steps to the patriarchs and in the types and shadows in the old covenant. The promises that were spoken to Abraham, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And TO YOUR SEED,” that is, Christ.” (Galatians 3:16). The full discovery of it was revealed in the New Testament. “God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days spoke to us in His Son. . .” (Hebrews 1:1-2). The Covenant of Grace is founded up the Covenant that is between the three persons of the Godhead, which is commonly called the Covenant of Redemption. It is through the Covenant of Grace that whoever has been or will be saved has obtained eternal life. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).