Remembering the Everlasting Covenant

THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK IN various ways concerning the vital importance of Jesus’ blood to consecrated believers. Paul states that we are “justified by his blood.” (Rom. 5:9) In another place he speaks of “the blood of the covenant,” by which we are sanctified. (Heb. 10:29) In our Key Verse and the verse following, Paul refers to “the blood of the everlasting covenant,” by which we are made complete by good works.

The first of these Scriptures has to do with our condition as a member of the fallen race at the time we desired to give our hearts to God in consecration. For God to deal with us under this special arrangement, we must be justified in his sight. As Paul states, this is accomplished by faith in the ransom merit of Christ’s blood. This justification lifts us from the condition of sin and death, inherited through Adam, to a harmonious standing with God. (Col. 3:1-3) Having this standing, we are then able to be counted as children of God. “If children,” Paul says, “then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”—Rom. 8:17

The second Scripture relates particularly to the blood of Christ as the means by which we are sanctified. To be sanctified means to be made holy, in order that we may be set apart for service to God. The “blood of the covenant” refers to the New Covenant. We are not developed under that covenant, but we are sanctified, or set apart, to its future service by walking in the footsteps of the Master. As such, we are in training for our future role, if faithful, of helping administer the terms of the New Covenant, and its resulting blessings, to all mankind. When speaking of his blood, Jesus said it was the “blood of the new testament [covenant].” (Matt. 26:28) Thus it was this same prospective view toward the future that he focused on in the final hours before his death.

Our Key Verse mentions the “blood of the everlasting covenant.” We may properly view this in one sense as a prospective reference to the New Covenant. However, the word “everlasting,” which means perpetual, seems to direct our attention to the “umbrella” Abrahamic covenant, which encompasses the entirety of God’s plan for man’s salvation. It is with that overall perspective that our goal is to be made complete “in every good work.”—Heb. 13:21

Thus, we see that the blood of Christ is, first, our means of justification. Second, it sanctifies us and sets us apart for the Lord’s service. Third, the work of being made complete can only be accomplished by our continual abiding, even unto death, under the “robe of righteousness” provided through Jesus’ blood. (Isa. 61:10) Only by faithfully following these steps in our consecrated walk will we share “glory and honour and immortality” with our head, Christ Jesus.—Rom. 2:7

If faithful unto death we will receive the crown of life, and live and reign with Christ. (Rev. 2:10; 20:4) We will have the privilege of helping administer the terms of the New Covenant. Finally, all the willing and obedient of mankind will forever bask in the joyous blessings of the Everlasting Covenant, promised to Abraham so many centuries ago.