By Nick Bibile
“Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
—
2
Timothy 1:9
The acts of God may be distinguished into two categories:
These are God’s works revealed in time, visible to His creatures who live within time. They include:
Creation
Providence
Redemption accomplished in history
These are God’s eternal acts, performed within Himself, before time began. They are invisible to us unless God reveals them by Scripture. These eternal counsels were once hidden but are now made known:
“Having
made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good
pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.”
—
Ephesians
1:9
Election belongs to these internal acts of God, for it took place in eternity. The elect were chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world.
“According
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…”
—
Ephesians
1:4–6
John Owen writes:
“All
the acts of God toward the elect are but the execution of His eternal
purpose, which He purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
—
The
Death of Death in the Death of Christ
Internal acts belong to the divine mind. Within the Trinity there were eternal transactions—holy counsels and agreements—concerning the salvation of sinners.
“The
counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to
all generations.”
—
Psalm
33:11
The Covenant of Grace is one such internal act. It was not devised in time but established in eternity. It is an eternal compact among the divine Persons, planned in heaven before the world existed.
“I
have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt
thou establish in the very heavens.”
—
Psalm
89:2
Herman Witsius states:
“The
covenant of grace is an eternal transaction between the Father and
the Son, concerning the salvation of the elect.”
—
The
Economy of the Covenants
This covenant is firm, unchangeable, and everlasting:
“My
mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand
fast with him.”
—
Psalm
89:28
The saints—the elect church—come from the seed of Christ, the promised Messiah.
“I
will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed…”
—
Genesis
3:15
This seed was promised from the beginning and fulfilled in Christ.
“The
mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that
fear him.”
—
Psalm
103:17
John Calvin says:
“Christ
is the foundation of the covenant, and apart from Him no grace flows
to men.”
—
Institutes,
II.10.2
Redemption was planned by God the Father, designed in eternal counsel, and entrusted to the Son. The Father gave Christ a commandment; Christ willingly accepted the office of Mediator.
“This
commandment have I received of my Father.”
—
John
10:18
“That
the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me
commandment, even so I do.”
—
John
14:31
Stephen Charnock writes:
“The
Father contrived salvation, the Son accomplished it, and the Spirit
applies it.”
—
Discourses
Upon the Existence and Attributes of God
Christ was not merely a messenger of the covenant—He is the covenant itself.
“I
will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the
Gentiles.”
—
Isaiah
42:6
This covenant relationship is illustrated by marriage. Christ is the Husband; the church is His bride, given to Him by the Father before the world began. Though the elect fell into sin, Christ came to redeem what was eternally His.
“Christ
loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
—
Ephesians
5:25
Samuel Rutherford says:
“Christ’s love to His bride is older than time, deeper than sin, and stronger than death.”
Christ is the Head of the Church, supplying life, grace, and nourishment to every member.
“And
gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”
—
Ephesians
1:22–23
He is also the only Mediator between God and men:
“For
there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus.”
—
1
Timothy 2:5
Thomas Goodwin writes:
“Christ stands between God and us, receiving from God and conveying to us all covenant blessings.”
The Covenant of Grace is executed in the form of a Testament—a sovereign declaration of God’s will. Hence we have the Old Testament and the New Testament. The substance of the covenant remains the same; only the administration differs.
In the Old Testament, the covenant was administered through types and shadows; in the New Testament, through fulfillment in Christ.
“For
where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of
the testator.”
—
Hebrews
9:16
Christ is both Testator and Sacrifice. The elect are His inheritance:
“The
LORD’S portion is his people.”
—
Deuteronomy
32:9
“Ask
of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.”
—
Psalm
2:8
The covenant is sealed not by circumcision nor by baptism, but by the Holy Spirit and the blood of Christ.
“After
that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
—
Ephesians
1:13
“This
is my blood of the new testament.”
—
Matthew
26:28
John Flavel writes:
“The blood of Christ is the golden seal of the everlasting covenant.”
Why
did God save any?
Why did He give His Son?
Why does He save
some and not others?
There
is one
answer:
His
sovereign pleasure.
“Even
so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.”
—
Matthew
11:26
Jonathan Edwards states:
“God’s sovereignty is absolute, His grace free, and His mercy unmerited.”
These doctrines must lead us to humility, not pride. Either they puff us up, or they bring us low before God. True understanding produces love, patience, and reverence.
“That
no flesh should glory in his presence.”
—
1
Corinthians 1:29
We are nothing—less than nothing—apart from grace. And yet God has shown us mercy in Christ. Therefore, let us adore Him with humility, teach others with love, and glory only in the Lord.
“He
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
—
1
Corinthians 1:31