What promise did God make regarding climate change?
(Deut. 4:6-8; Jer. 31:31-34; Rom. 5:12-19; Gal. 3:16, 27-29; 1 Pet. 2:9) Blog Apr. 25-May 01, 2021
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God made a covenant with Adam before the fall. When Adam broke that covenant, God offered humanity a new covenant that included forgiveness. That was possible because before creation the Father and the Son had covenanted to provide redemption should humanity fall. Jesus immediately stepped in between fallen humanity and the sentence of death for he was the promised “Seed of the Woman.” Through the worldwide flood God preserved a faithful remnant of humanity while renewing the promise of blessing to our race. When wickedness again prevailed God called Abraham and covenanted to bring blessing to all humanity through his Seed, who is Jesus.
Early Covenants (Gen. 3:14-19; 15:1; Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Matt. 24:7; Luke 21:25; John 5:24; Rom. 5:12-19; 7:24-25; 8:1)
1. When God made a covenant with Adam before the fall who were included in that agreement? In the pre-fall covenant made with Adam, every one of his descendants was included.
2. As our federal representative what did Adam choose for us? Adam chose two things for every human being – he chose guilt (condemnation to eternal death) & he chose corruption (in that we all are born with sinful natures that are prone towards sinning).
3. How is it possible to get out from under the condemnation we inherited from Adam? When we accept Jesus as our Lord & Savior, we pass from death unto life for in him there is no condemnation.
4. How is it possible to get rid of the corruption of nature that we inherited from Adam? Paul asked a similar question in Romans 7 & answered it in Romans 8: during the Christian life we are to continually fight against our sinful nature & at glorification God will entirely remove it.
5. When God made a covenant with Noah after the flood who were included in that agreement? In the Noahic covenant all Noah’s descendants & every living creature were included.
6. In the Noahic covenant what promise did God make regarding climate change? God promised Noah & all of us that despite the end time climate changes predicted by Jesus, seedtime & harvest, summer & winter would continue until the end.
Middle Covenants (Gen. 15:18; 17:7; 2 Sam. 7:12-13; Neh. 9:38; Matt. 5:5; Rom. 4:13, 16, 24; Gal. 3:16, 27-29)
7. According to Galatians, to whom were the promises of the Abrahamic covenant made? To Jesus & all who are found in him by faith.
8. According to Romans, what territory was to become the possession of those included in the Abrahamic covenant? Those included in the Abrahamic covenant were to inherit the whole earth (just like Jesus said of the “meek”).
9. What covenant promise did God make to David? God promised David that his seed would build & reign over an eternal kingdom.
10. What does the new Testament call the everlasting kingdom promised to David? David’s everlasting kingdom is called “the kingdom of God” in the New Testament.
11. When the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon how did they renew their covenant with God? Their leaders, functioning as representatives, sealed their promise by signing the document.
12. What two important reforms were emphasized in the post-exilic covenant? Sabbath reform & marriage reform – thus symbolizing the two tables of God’s everlasting covenant written in stone (love to God & to neighbor).
The New Covenant (Gen. 15:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 4:6-8; Jer. 31:31-34; Acts 13:32-33; 2 Cor. 1:20; Eph. 3:10; 1 Peter 2:9-10)
13. When God, through Jeremiah, proposed making a new covenant, with whom did he say he would make it? God said he would make the new covenant with the house of Israel & with the house of Judah.
14. What did God give as the reason for making a new covenant with his people? The reason God proposed making a new covenant with his people was because they broke the covenant they made with him at Sinai.
15. What does the new covenant offer that the “old covenant” made at Sinai did not include? The new covenant offers writing the Law of God in our hearts by the indwelling Holy Spirit & it offers the forgiveness & blotting out of sins.
16. How can Gentiles be included in the new covenant? In the same way as Jews can be included in the new covenant: by being part of true Israel – that is by being in Jesus, who is the only True Israel (the vine).
17. What happened to God’s chosen people, Israel? They met their fulfillment in Jesus, the one true Israelite, God’s Elect. Based on this truth Peter can apply the words of Exodus 19 to the scattered members of God’s church in the Christian era.
18. What does God hope to accomplish through his chosen people? God wants his chosen people to show forth his goodness & light to all around them.
19. What did God promise Abraham as a “great reward”? God promised Abraham that his great reward would be God himself.