Biblical Studies / Covenants

  • Nations and Kings

    Genesis 17:6–7

    In his commentary, Matthew Henry tells us this passage teaches that “what God is himself, that he will be to his people: his wisdom theirs, to guide and counsel them; his power theirs, to protect and support them; his goodness ...Read More

  • Abraham

    Genesis 17:3–5

    As we have said time and again this year, all those with faith in Jesus are counted as one of Abraham’s true sons, just as Christ is the true seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:29). If we trust in ...Read More

  • Walk Before Me

    Genesis 17:1–2

    The Lord calls Himself “God Almighty” in Genesis 17 to remind Abram of the power He gives His people to walk before Him. Indeed, as John Calvin says, “There is no other method of living piously and justly, than that ...Read More

  • A Smoking Fire Pot

    Genesis 15:17

    Consider how amazing it is that God, who will not suffer any loss of His glory (Isa. 48:11), places His honor at stake in His plan to bring redemption to the world. What love is this? He condescends to ...Read More

  • Not Yet Complete

    Genesis 15:14–16

    John Calvin writes of this passage: “The more graciously [God] waits for men, if, at length, instead of repenting they remain obstinate, the more severely does he avenge such great ingratitude.” God graciously waits for people to repent before He ...Read More

  • Captivity Promised

    Genesis 15:12–13

    Being a servant in the kingdom of God does not carry with it a life of ease. In His wisdom, the Lord has seen fit to exact His reign through weak disciples in whom His power is made perfect (2 ...Read More

  • God’s Olive Tree

    Romans 11

    Though there are many privileges in being a part of God’s family, we must never become conceited that we trust in Christ while others do not. All of God’s people have been chosen from the foundation of the ...Read More

  • Abraham’s Offspring

    Galatians 3:15-29

    All those in Christ have become co-heirs of the promises made to Abram whether they be slave or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile (Gal. 3:28). The old covenant Israelites failed to bear witness to this promise; but ...Read More

  • Signs of the Covenant

    Genesis 9:12–17

    The joining of sign and promise in the rainbow demonstrates how the sacraments must not be divorced from the Word. By themselves, the sacraments offer no aid, but with the Word and faith, they are powerful means of grace. As ...Read More

  • Never Again

    Genesis 9:8–11

    While we cannot always draw a one-to-one correlation between natural disasters and divine judgment, we should not be surprised when evil nations suffer the ravages of nature. Moreover, we must never think God has nothing to do with inclement weather ...Read More

  • A Required Reckoning

    Genesis 9:5–7

    John Calvin writes in his commentary on today’s passage: “No one can be injurious to his brother without wounding God himself.” As we have seen already, how we treat others reveals what we really think of the Lord (James ...Read More

  • Into Your Hands

    Genesis 9:1–4

    Genesis 9:1–7, is one of the most important texts we have on stewardship in Scripture. Our Lord has given the resources of the earth into our hands for our benefit and His glory (vv. 2, 7). Yet we ...Read More

  • God Clothed Them

    Genesis 3:20-21

    In the covenant of grace God mercifully reckons perfect obedience to our account when we trust in Jesus, who alone obeyed the Father perfectly. However, though our own works play no role in our justification, we have foolishly imagined that ...Read More

  • You Shall Not Eat

    Genesis 2:15-17

    Many people view labor as punishment — or something to be done only to earn a paycheck. While it is true that certain aspects of our work are cursed, labor nonetheless remains a gift from God. Thus we are to toil ...Read More

  • Inferior to Melchizedek

    Hebrews 7:9–10

    There is a tendency among Christians to think that our salvation depends on our own faithfulness to the Law. But when we act as if this is so, we deny that Christ’s priesthood is superior to the priesthood of ...Read More