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BRUSHFIRES | WEEK 18

A Discipleship Series from Brushwood Press | BrushwoodPress.com

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Core Doctrine:

God’s Redemptive Plan – Covenant Theology

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Verse:

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Genesis 17:7 (CSB)

“I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.”

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Book Context:

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Genesis 17 marks a turning point in God's covenantal dealings with Abraham. After calling him in Genesis 12, God here expands the promise—not just to Abraham, but to his descendants. This is not a temporary agreement or a conditional deal. It is a permanent covenant of grace, in which God commits to be their God, and to form a people for Himself. This covenant is not just for Abraham—it becomes the backbone of redemptive history, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

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Core Doctrine Explanation:

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The doctrine of Covenant Theology teaches that God relates to humanity through covenants—not random acts, but a unified plan of redemption that unfolds across time. From Adam to Christ, from promise to fulfillment, God's dealings with His people follow a cohesive storyline.

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Genesis 17:7 is a cornerstone of this understanding. God promises not just blessing, but belonging. He says, “I will be your God.” This thread runs from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob, through Moses and David, and culminates in the New Covenant, where Christ secures what the old covenants pointed toward.

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This is the beauty of God’s plan: it is not a series of disconnected events. It is one redemptive story—one covenant of grace unfolding through multiple stages, all leading to Christ, the perfect covenant-keeper.

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Danger of Not Holding to the Core Doctrine – Week 18: God’s Redemptive Plan – Covenant Theology

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If we treat the Bible as a collection of unrelated stories or disconnected testaments, we lose the beauty and clarity of God's single, sovereign plan. Without covenant theology, we see salvation as a reaction to sin instead of a plan formed before time. We view grace as a New Testament invention rather than an eternal promise.

The danger is fragmentation. We begin to view God as different in the Old Testament than He is in the New. Harsh then, kind now. Distant before, close today. But this dishonors God’s unchanging character and blinds us to the richness of His mercy throughout Scripture.

We also lose our confidence. If God’s plan changed before, how do we know it won’t change again? But when we understand the covenantal storyline, we see that everything—from the garden to the cross—was God's idea. His plan has never wavered, and His promises have never failed.

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To deny this doctrine is to misunderstand the Bible’s unity. To embrace it is to rest in the faithfulness of a God who keeps His word from generation to generation.

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Conversational Evangelism:

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If someone says, “The Old Testament God seems angry,” you can respond:

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“What if the same God who gave the Law is the One who made the promise—and kept it? What if the whole story is leading to Jesus?”

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Then show how God's covenant to Abraham was never cancelled—it was fulfilled in Christ. This builds trust in a God who always keeps His word.

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Call to Action:

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This week, trace the thread of God's faithfulness in your life. Where can you see His long-term commitment to you?

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Then, reflect on the truth that you are part of the same covenant family—brought in by grace, kept by Christ, and sealed by the Spirit.

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Fire Starter Question:

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When did you first realize the Bible was one connected story of redemption—and how did that change your confidence in God’s promises?