Toby’s metaphor of the Jews as an “apostate older brother” is sentimental but misleading. Not only is it misleading, but to make the claims he does necessarily distracts from those whom God has declared are actually the true Israel: the church.

A covenant serves as a way for man, not to fully comprehend God, but to know Him to the extent that he is willing to reveal Himself to us (Deut. 29:29).

The confession articulates – in no uncertain terms – that salvation is within God’s covenant, yet it is only a possibility, not a guarantee. One way Jesus articulated this truth was by his parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-43).

Well, there is, yet again, and with an ever-pressing vigor, another undeniable relation between God, the creator, and all the universe, his creation - a covenantal relationship.

Here, we will see how the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth carry on the covenant theme by depicting Israel’s conquest of Canaan and perseverance as a nation.

Where Adam’s disobedience imputes a sin nature to his posterity, Christ’s perfect obedience imputes righteousness to those the Father has given him