Biblical Studies / Covenants

  • The First Gospel

    Genesis 3:15

    The protevangelium, or first gospel, of Genesis 3:15 declares that God’s kingdom will once more be present in its fullness when Satan is destroyed. Christ came and dealt the crushing blow to the Devil, triumphing over him and ...Read More

  • The Spirit of Truth

    John 14:15-26

    The ministry of the Spirit is not to reveal new things outside of Scripture but to teach us all that our Savior taught. Learning to hear the Spirit is a lifelong task of reading His Word and developing our ability ...Read More

  • The Spirit of Power

    Isaiah 63:7-14

    In our day there is much talk of the power of the Spirit, and people want to see this power displayed “dramatically” in physical healings and other such phenomena. While we certainly confess the Spirit’s freedom and ability to ...Read More

  • An Age of Lesser Glory

    Numbers 27:12-23

    The church of Jesus Christ is not without its blemishes, and there is much for which we all need to be in repentance. Yet it is also plain that God has granted to the new covenant church a measure of ...Read More

  • The Twelve Tribes of Israel

    Genesis 49:1-28

    Because we are grafted into the tree of Israel by faith when we trust in Christ alone, we can be assured that we will enjoy the future glory promised to Israel. Even when things look darkest for the church, we ...Read More

  • On That Day

    Genesis 15:18–21

    Even actions that seem insignificant to us may be used by the Spirit to advance the kingdom in preparation for the return of Jesus. If you pray regularly for your church leaders, give money for missions, volunteer to serve the ...Read More

  • Polluting the Lord’s Table

    Malachi 1:6–14

    The covenant meals during the old covenant all pointed to the marriage supper of the Lamb, which will occur when Jesus appears to judge the world (Rev. 19:6–8). In a new way, and until then, the Lord’s ...Read More

  • The Covenant Meal

    Exodus 24:1–11

    Even today a meal can be a special sign of love and that the parties involved are in fellowship with each other. Having meals with other believers, therefore, is a good way to further peace among the brethren and to ...Read More

  • Circumcision and Baptism

    Colossians 2:8–15

    John Calvin writes that baptism does not “intimate that our ablution and salvation are perfected by water, or that [it] possesses in itself the virtue of purifying, regenerating, and renewing.” Neither is it “the cause of salvation, but only that ...Read More

  • Circumcision of the Heart

    Jeremiah 4:1–4

    One commentator has aptly said that the honor of the covenant becomes a nightmare for those who refuse to walk by faith in it. We who have been marked out as the Lord’s by our baptism must forsake all ...Read More

  • Circumcised in the Flesh

    Genesis 17:1–14

    Baptism is the counterpart to circumcision in the new covenant (Col. 2:8–15), and it is therefore a mark of God’s possession of us. We are “branded” by the Lord in our baptism, and every time we witness ...Read More

  • The Feast of Trumpets

    Leviticus 23:23–25

    As we will see, Christians are waiting for the Feast of Trumpets to be fulfilled in its entirety. But Christ the Lamb of God has come and by His death has inaugurated the last days, which comprise the entire period ...Read More

  • The Feast of Booths

    Leviticus 23:33–43

    At each Feast of Booths, the Israelites gave up the comforts of their homes in order to commemorate God’s salvation. This is a reminder that in order to be redeemed, the people of the Lord must surrender certain things ...Read More

  • The Importance of Pentecost

    Deuteronomy 16:16–17

    Matthew Henry comments that at Pentecost “none must appear before God empty, but every man must bring some offering or other, in token of a dependence upon God and gratitude to him.” It can be easy to think that our ...Read More

  • Firstfruits and Pentecost

    Leviticus 23:9–22

    Paul says Jesus was raised for our justification (Rom. 4:25), and so we often celebrate Jesus’ resurrection as proof that our sins have been fully atoned for and that we are now declared righteous in God’s sight. This ...Read More