There are two types of covenants in the Bible: Conditional Covenants and Unconditional Covenants. There are two Conditional Covenants and six Unconditional Covenants.
A Conditional Covenant is one that is characterized by an “if-then” relationship. God says, “If you’ll do this, I will do this.” Both the Edenic Covenant and Mosaic Covenant are Conditional Covenants. Israel did not keep their part of the bargain, breaking both covenants.
An Unconditional Covenant is a covenant in which God simply says, “This is what I am going to do, irrespective of what you do.” The Adamic Covenant, the Noahic Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Palestinian Covenant (also called the land Covenant), and the Davidic Covenants are Unconditional Covenants.
Five of these eight covenants were made exclusively with Israel while the others were made with mankind in general. Only one of the five covenants made with Israel is conditional: the Mosaic Covenant. The other four covenants with Israel are all unconditional: the Abrahamic Covenant, the Land Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant.
Four things should be noted concerning the nature of the unconditional covenants made with Israel.
First: they are literal covenants and their contents must be interpreted literally as well.
Second: the covenants that God has made with Israel are ETERNAL and are not in any way restricted or altered by time.
Third: it is necessary to re-emphasize that these are UNCONDITIONAL COVENANTS that were not abrogated because of Israel's disobedience; because the covenants are unconditional and totally dependent upon God for fulfillment, their ultimate fulfillment can be expected.
Fourth: these covenants were MADE WITH A SPECIFIC PEOPLE: ISRAEL. This point is brought out by Paul in Romans 9:4: who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.
This passage clearly points out that these covenants were made with the covenanted people and are Israel's possession.
The Edenic Covenant, made between God and Adam, is summed up in Genesis 2:17, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.” This covenant was conditional; if you eat, you will die. Adam ate and Adam died, introducing sin into the world.
The Adamic Covenant, made between God and Adam, is summed up in Genesis 3:17-19, “…to Adam he said, Because you have hearkened unto the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil shall you eat of it all the days of your life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return unto the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return.” It is an Unconditional Covenant and is very much in effect today.
The Noahic Covenant, made between God and Noah, is summed up in Genesis 9:13-17, “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” The Noahic Covenant is very much in effect today.
The Abrahamic Covenant, made between God and Abraham, is summed up in Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and be you a blessing: and I will bless them that bless you, and him that curses you will I curse: and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” The Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional, it is still very much in effect even though it has remained largely unfulfilled.
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