Please explain. Salvation is by God’s grace through faith apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9) and obedience to the ‘message of truth’ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Does Scripture say a Covenant relationship is the power of God for salvation? No.
If Salvation could be obtained by merely establishing a covenant with God, the He sent Christ to die for nothing. Galatians 2:21.
Thank you again for writing,
In Christ Jesus,
Terral
The theme in the Bible is one of faith (as the horse) and works (as the cart). In the O.T. Abraham was justified by faith and that justification was justified/vindicated by works. When Abraham believed God (Romans 4:2), he believed God's covenant promise. When Israel wondered in the wilderness they broke the covenant when they didn't believe God. John 1:12; Romans 3:28; Romans 5:1; James 2:17, 22, 26; Galatians 5:6 The seed promised to Abraham, is the Covenant of Grace. The apostle Paul in Gal. 3:29 identifies all believers as the seed of Abraham, while also stating Christ himself (Gal. 3:16) is the seed. If you are IN Christ, you are heir to the promise and that promise can be found in Gen. 3:15. The fact that salvation is monergistic, covenant understanding or framing of the word of God is the only valid way in which to view the truth revealed. The Gospel has always been a Gospel of grace and justification has always been received by faith alone (Rom 4:3), all who believe are blessed with Abraham (Gal 3:9 "Therefore those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.") and we/believers are the sons of Abraham (Gal 3:7 "Know therefore that those who are of faith, these are sons of Abraham.", 29 "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.")
The promise in Genesis 17:7 "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to bee a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." AV 1611 God is the God of Abraham and to his seed, in an everlasting covenant, believers are blessed. This is Grace! This theme is repeated in Scripture, it is the theme of all covenants. When Christ tells us, "Thine they were, and thou gavest them me," and "Those whom thou gavest me I have kept," etc. John 17:6,12 He is speaking of His sheep. The Bible declares the promise and conditions of the covenant, and presents them in connection. Isaiah 53:10,11; Isaiah 13:6; Psalm 89:3. In John 10:18 and Luke 22:29 we see Christ's mission, the rewards are based upon the completion of this mission John 17:4; John 17:6,9,24; Philippians 2:6,11. The conditions under which Christ was to complete His task were on the behalf of His elect, removing the sin they incurred for breaking the covenants (Matthew 5:17,18) which Christ accomplished. Jesus Christ followed the Law perfectly (Psalm 40:8; Isaiah 13:21; John 9:4,5; 8:29; Matthew 19:17) and suffered in place of His people (Isaiah 53:; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 5:2.) The theological term is federal headship and can be found clearly in Romans 5, where Adam fell (as head of the human race) and his sin passed onto us.
The above was written based on notes taken while reading "Outlines of Theology" by Hodge, "Gerformeerde Dogmatiek" by Bavinck and "Gerformeerde Dogmatiek" by Heppe. It was a while ago now, so I can't be sure which concepts belong to which theologians, I blended them to reflect the understanding I now have based on Romans 11.
Just wanted to add, Jesus Christ is "the Lamb of God, who was foreordained before the foundation of the world," (1 Peter 1:20) and was "Slain from the foundation of the world," (Rev. 13:8). Christ made atonement and redeemed those "chosen in him before the foundation of the world," (Eph. 1:4) and "From the beginning chosen to salvation," (2 Thess. 2:13). "According to his own purpose and grace, which was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2 Tim. 1:9) and "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father," (I Peter 1:2). Believers are predestined according to the purpose of God who works all things after the counsel of his own will, (Eph. 1:11) not ours.
Peace,
JM
