Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, May 26, 2010, I leave for a five day college reunion at Harvard University. I do not anticipate that I will send you devotions until about June 1, 2010. So, this is my parting message.
God has blessed me so much through Professor David J. Engelsma’s book Trinity and Covenant. I recommend that you buy it and read it –
Here is what I gleaned from it (he and others may have other thoughts).
On page 117 of his book, Trinity and Covenant, he states: “The covenant is family fellowship. God is Father to the covenant people. …”
This reminds me of Galatians Chapter 3, particularly verses 24 through 26: “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Emphasis added.)
This last sentence has seemed to me in the past to be a non-sequitor at best. “Why is that sentence there?”: I thought.
However, it seems to me that this “family fellowship” understanding and teaching explains why that sentence is there. The goal of the Law and indeed the whole covenant is to draw us into this family fellowship.
But, there is even more. As God draws me within the love, joy, and peace of the family relationship within the Trinity, He showed me a full rainbow tonight. The rainbow is a symbol of the covenant with Noah, and through Noah, to all of us. “On the basis of Christ’s cosmic (but not common grace) redemption, the Spirit of God will renew the heaven and earth. … All things will then be reconciled to God.” Pages 133 and 134 of Professor Engelsma’s book, Trinity and Covenant. (Parenthetical remark is mine.) It is wonderful to be reminded that we will not just be sitting on colorless and otherwise senseless clouds, playing harps. There will be trees. There will be fruit. See Revelations Chapter 22. As spectacular as creation now is in its corrupted state, we can expect much more as to what such a renewal will produce.
In conclusion, “The covenant of God with the creature is the creature’s sharing in God’s own life.
‘Through the band of the covenant, God lets His own absolute covenant life continue to vibrate (natrillen) in the creature, and through the vibrating of that band man echoes the life of God in his life.’ (quoting Danhof, ‘Covenant of Grace’)” Page 125 of Professor Engelsma’s book, Trinity and Covenant.
So, this morning, I read God’s Word, and through His Word, His covenant life continued to vibrate within me. Tonight, I saw a rainbow, and through His rainbow, His covenant life continued to vibrate within me. Throughout this week, I read parts of Professor Engelsma’s book, Trinity and Covenant, and His covenant life continued to vibrate within me. I look forward to hearing from you what you conclude is God’s covenant life vibrating within you, and thus, also receiving those vibrations of His covenant life. Thank you.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 