MAJOR ELEMENTS
OF BIBLE COVENANTS

INTRODUCTION

        Consider briefly some important features of secular contracts and Bible covenants of redemption. A contract and a covenant are basically the same: in the secular world such an agreement is called a contract, a pact, or a treaty; in the Bible the same kind of agreement is normally called a covenant. The chief difference between secular contracts and Bible covenants of redemption is in the redemption price paid by ALL contracting parties, with slight variations: that price is the "LIFE" of the contracting parties, as explained throughout this book. For one quick example of variation, it was and is impossible for God to give His life, except through His Son, Jesus Christ.
        Christ dedicated His life from the beginning, again in His virgin birth and lifetime in a human body, and then died for our sins on the cross. Each saved person who enters into the covenant position through scriptural water baptism is thereby dedicating his life as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2), and must continue to do so daily. Each covenant person falls short in many ways, but the covenant stipulations provide for the covenant people each time to genuinely confess those sins and pick up and go on in good covenant standing with a "mind set" to endure the chastening of the Lord.

1. A contract or covenant is a binding agreement between two or more parties. This book will chiefly be occupied with the major elements of the major Bible covenants.

2. There are three kinds of contracts or covenants:

        a. A unilateral contract or covenant. The one who makes the contract offer prepares the contract in its entirety and stipulates all its conditions, usually without negotiating any of its conditions or terms. Bible covenants of redemption are all unilateral contracts where God sets forth all the covenant terms and conditions without negotiations with the accepting parties. Although Bible covenants of redemption are not negotiable initially, they provide for intercessory negotiations that can greatly change things by fervent prayer and righteous living during the course of one's lifetime.
        b. A bilateral contract or covenant. In this case the contract terms and conditions are open to negotiation between the two contracting parties.
        c. A multilateral contract or covenant. Here there are more than two contracting parties and the contract terms and conditions are open to negotiation between all the contracting parties.
        The first part of the book states the major elements of the major Bible covenants in their briefest form. The rest of the book is an expanded outline. May this book, imperfect as it is, aid in a "landmark" back to the Bible revision of our theology that is taking place at this late hour. Here is a tool that will enhance our understanding that the Bible is a covenant Book; which, in turn, will increasingly open to us a richer view and a greater accuracy as we steadfastly and diligently pursue the Word of God as our only tangible and divine guide to the present life and to life beyond.