Lesson 5 · August 3, 1907

Steps in Renewing the Covenant

Questions

1.How was God's covenant broken by Adam? .
2.What led Eve to disobey? . Note 1.
3.What, then, must God require of man in renewing the covenant? . Note 2.
4.What was necessary for the life and development of faith? . Note 3.
5.What was the means established by the Lord whereby men might express their faith in His promise? .
6.By what ordinances do we express our faith in the same promise? ; . Note 4.
7.What is done for the person who thus exercises faith in Jesus? .
8.When his sins are remitted by faith, what is imputed to him? .
9.How does faith work? .
10.How do we show that we love God? .
11.In order that we may keep His commandments, what has God promised to do in making the new covenant with us? .
12.Who is a perfect representation of the new covenant? .
13.Who knows the righteousness, or will, of God? ; .
14.After we, by repentance and faith, have yielded obedience to God, what more must be done for us? .
15.Has God promised to do this in the new covenant? ; .
16.Name the steps on man's part in the renewing of the covenant? Note 5.
17.Name the steps on God's part in dealing with each case? Note 6.

Notes

1. Satan deceived Eve and led her to distrust God so that she fell through unbelief.

2. Since man fell by a disobedience which was the outgrowth of a lack of faith in God, it must be evident that man can be reinstated only by an obedience which is the outgrowth of faith in God.

3. Life must find expression, so a living faith must be expressed in some way. If no expression is given, it will die; but if it is exercised, it will grow.

4. Since the covenant is renewed in Christ by faith, we conclude that any divinely appointed ordinance which expresses faith is for the time being a part of the new covenant, or is a step in the renewal of the covenant. Before the death of Christ, sacrifices and offerings constituted the appointed way of expressing faith in a coming Saviour. So now the Lord's Supper, and baptism are the appointed ordinances by which we show our faith in a Saviour who has died, risen, and is coming again; and the former ceremonies sustained then the same relation to the new covenant that the latter ceremonies do now. Faith may be expressed in other ways, but in no case could these be a substitute for those appointed by God.

5. The steps of a man in entering the new covenant are:

(a) Repentance toward God, including a confession of, and a turning away from, sin.

(b) Faith in Christ as expressed in God's appointed way, and thereby receiving the righteousness of God;

6. On God's part, the steps are:

(a) Accepting man's repentance and faith in Christ, forgiving sin, and imputing to him God's righteousness.

(b) Writing His law in the man's heart by the Holy Spirit so that the man can keep His commandments.

Bible texts in this lesson

Genesis 2:17 · Genesis 3:6 · Hebrews 11:6 · Hebrews 11:7 · Mark 1:15 · James 2:18-20 · Hebrews 11:4 · Acts 2:38 · 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 · Romans 3:24-26 · Romans 4:22-24 · Galatians 5:6 · 1 John 5:3 · Jeremiah 31:33 · Psalms 40:7 · Psalms 40:8 · Isaiah 51:7 · Romans 2:18 · Acts 3:19 · Jeremiah 31:34 · Hebrews 10:16 · Hebrews 10:17

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