WHAT IS A COVENANT?

A covenant is a formal, solemn and binding contract (agreement) between TWO PARTIES.

The essential elements being those of TWO PARTIES, a PROMISE solemnly given and an OBLIGATION in the covenant's maintenance and fulfilment

Because of the binding character of the promise a SEAL of the covenant is often attached.

E.g. (i) Covenant between God and Noah and the seal - RAINBOW (Gen.9)

(ii) Covenant between Abraham and God; seal - CIRCUMCISION (Gen.12, 17)

These make up a vertical covenant relationship. There is also the horizontal covenant relationship. E.g. between David and Jonathan (2 Samuel)

Marriage is a covenant made under God in the presence of members of His body - a covenant in which each party ( man & wife ) wholly commits himself / herself to God (vertical) and to the other (horizontal) permanently and irrevocably to serve and to love in full obedience to the word of God.

 

The covenant begins with COMMITMENT and is sustained by DISCIPLINE and is evaluated by its PRODUCTIVITY in making each person into someone better than what they were, when they began. The life they share together becomes their priority.

Marriage is not a contract but a covenant (Malachi. 2:13-16; Proverbs. 2:16, 17)

A contract is an agreement between two parties to fulfil certain acts.

1. Needs to provide legal security where trust is lacking.

2. Can be attired if circumstances change.

3. Intended to protect the lights of the individuals.