Rev. Angus Stewart
In keeping with the biblical and Reformed doctrines of Calvinism, we believe that the covenant of grace is a covenant of sovereign, particular and irresistible grace rooted in eternal, unconditional election in Jesus Christ, for “election is the fountain of every saving good, from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects” (Canons of Dordt I:9; Eph. 1:4). The Triune God “confirmed the new covenant” by “the most precious death of his Son” for “all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation and given him by the Father” (Canons II:8; John 10:14-15, 26). As Westminster Larger Catechism Answer 31 states, “The covenant of grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and in him with all the elect as his seed” (cf. Gal. 3:16, 29).
God’s covenant grace, covenant promise, covenant salvation and covenant blessings are most fully treated in the Scriptures in Romans 9:6-24, that great passage on sovereign, unconditional, double predestination, consisting of eternal election and reprobation, in the covenant line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the covenant nation of Israel. “So then,” the apostle concludes, salvation—covenant salvation—is not of him that willeth [i.e., man’s alleged free will], nor of him that runneth [i.e., man’s strenuous efforts and works], but of God that sheweth mercy” (Rom. 9:16; cf. Rom. 4:16; Eph. 2:8-9).
The covenant formula identifies the covenant with Jehovah’s being our God (to save, succour, glorify and dwell with us forever) and our being His people (to trust, walk and dwell with Him in blessedness and peace). Jehovah portrays His covenant with us as His tabernacling with us and as the relationships of husband to wife and of father to son. Abraham, the father of all believers (Rom. 4:11-18), with whom God magnified His covenant (Gen. 15; 17; Gal. 3), is called God’s “friend” (II Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23). Thus God’s covenant is wonderful union, communion and fellowship with Him in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, so that by grace we believe in Him, repent of our sins, love Him, worship Him and do good works and keep His commandments from the heart and out of gratitude (Isa. 55:3-5; Jer. 31:31-34; 32:40; Eze. 36:25-28).
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