In the Word of God, the covenant of grace is identified by numerous titles: "The Better Covenant", "The New Covenant", "The Covenant of Life", and "The Covenant of Peace". But this covenant by which we are saved is most frequently called "The Everlasting Covenant" (II Sam. 23:5; Isa. 55:3; 61:8; Jer. 32:40; Ezek. 16:60; 37:26; Heb. 13:20). Here are four reasons why the Holy Spirit so constantly uses the word "everlasting" to describe the covenant of grace.
1. TO IDENTIFY ITS ANTIQUITY - The covenant of grace is the oldest of all God's works. It is from everlasting. The covenant of works had a beginning and an end. The covenant of grace has neither beginning nor ending. Think about this, child of God. Before anything that is was, God loved you and made a covenant of grace with his Son to save you! Does that thought not ravish your heart? Before the mountains, the stars, and the seas were brought forth, God thought of you! Before Adam fell, before you went astray, before you were lost, the Lord God laid help upon One that is mighty and found a way to bring you home to himself! Before he created his holy angels to minister to you, God devoted himself to you in covenant love! Realize this too - God who has had his heart upon you from eternity will never forget you (Isa. 54:7-10).
2. TO ASSURE US OF ITS SURENESS (II Sam. 23:5) - The covenant of grace is everlasting. It stands forever. All its mercies are sure mercies. All its promises are sure promises. All its blessings are sure blessings. It is a covenant "ordered in all things and sure," ordered by God's decree and made sure by God's power. In the language of this covenant there are no "ifs", "maybes", "buts", or "peradventures". Every line is punctuated by God's "shalls" and "wills". Nothing is left to chance or man's imaginary freewill!
3. TO DEMONSTRATE ITS IMMUTABILITY (Eccles.3:14) - Anything everlasting must be immutable. Not one line of or word of the covenant can be altered or erased.
4. TO TEACH US THAT IT WILL NEVER CEASE TO BE ENFORCED - It shall soon be consummated, but never terminated. All the heirs of grace shall be the heirs of grace forever. All shall inherit all things, to the same degree, for the same reason, in fulfilment of the same covenant.
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