THE CONTRACT
- UnstoppableRevKev
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
📖Scripture: “When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.” Genesis 15:17
🔎Reflection: In Genesis 12:1–4 God said, “Go,” and Abram went—no hesitation. But after much time around God, proximity’s peril appears: “What will You give me?” (Gen 15:2), and “How am I to know?” (Gen 15:8). The Lord answers not with flattery but with a covenant “cut.” In the Ancient Near East, greater and lesser parties (suzerain and vassal) would both walk the bloodpath, invoking a self-maledictory oath (a promise where the person making the oath invokes a curse upon themselves if they fail to keep their word, making the oath binding, cf. Jer 34:18–20). Here, God puts Abram into a deep sleep (Gen 15:12). Only the smoking firepot and flaming torch—symbols of God’s presence and faithfulness (a likely theophany; compare Exod 13:21, Deut 4:24)—pass between the pieces. God swears by Himself (cf. Heb 6:13–18). The covenant is unilaterally secured; God assumes the curse for covenant violation.
This foreshadows Christ who “became a curse for us” (Gal 3:13–14; Isa 53:5–6). Humanity, as the lesser party, can only benefit from this covenant—received by faith, evidenced in obedience within Christ’s Body & Bride (Eph 1:22–23; 5:25–27; 1 Cor 12:12–27; Heb 10:24–25). But like opting out of a class-action settlement, those who reject Jesus—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; 14:6; Acts 4:12)—they forfeit all covenant benefits. For such, “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment” (Heb 10:26–27). The inevitable destination of self-righteous, idolatrous autonomy is the lake that burns with fire and sulfur (Rev 20:14–15; 21:8). Unlike consumer religion and private, experience-driven “belief,” God’s unilateral grace produces total, corporate, obedient faith in and devotion to Christ Jesus.
🤺Action: Examine yourself (2 Cor 13:5) in the objective light of God’s unchanging and perfect WORD. Repent of the sin of autonomy and any rejection—practical or explicit—of Christ’s Lordship. Submit to Christ’s headship by becoming a devoted, accountable, serving member of His local church: confess sin, seek shepherding from legitimate, qualified church elders (don’t be embarrassed to interview them about biblical qualifications and standards), commit to gathered worship in spirit and truth, sacrificial giving, discipleship, and gospel witness.
🙏Prayer: Holy God of Trinity, worthy and faithful, I praise You for swearing by Yourself and sealing the covenant with blood. I confess my inclination for self-rule, my questions (like Abram) born of familiarity and fear, and my drift into consumer religion. Thank You LORD Jesus, the Christ, for bearing the curse in my place and being for me the only living way. Holy Spirit, please grant me godly sorrow, repentance, and steadfast faith. Graft me into Christ’s Body unto joyful obedience, and keep me holy until that day of revelation, for the glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
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