Father and Son Agree

That there is a covenant between the Father and the Son concerning our salvation, I willingly grant and shall open and confirm by Scripture. The whole business of our salvation was first transacted between the Father and Christ before it was revealed to us. Hence, we are said to be given unto Christ (Joh 17:6, 10), as if the Father should say to the Son, “These I take to be vessels of mercy, and these Thou shalt bring unto Me; for they will destroy themselves, but Thou shalt save them out of their lost estate.” And then the Son taketh them at His Father’s hand; and looking at His Father’s will (Joh 6:37-39), He taketh care that none be lost of them that His Father hath given Him.

This covenant is expressed in Scripture, first, on the Father’s part:

1. There is a designation and appointment of Christ the Son to the office of Mediator³⁵ to be a means of bringing us back to God and into a covenant with Him. Hence, Christ is said to be sealed by the Father (Joh 6:27), as marked out for such a purpose (1Pe 1:18). He was ordained in the counsel of the Father, before the foundation of the world. Hence, [He is] also said to be chosen of the Father (Isa 42:1), noting out His designation to this work.

2. There is a commandment from the Father to the Son, which He must submit unto and obey, thereby to effect the salvation of His people. As the Prophet of the Church, He had a commandment what to teach and instruct them in (Joh 12:49). He had a commandment to enlighten the elect with the knowledge of the truth (Isa 42:6-7), to be a light to the Gentiles, to open their eyes, etc. He also had a commandment to lay down His life for those that are given unto Him (Joh 10:18), and to be tender over the lambs, carrying them in His bosom (Isa 40:11).

3. There is a promise from the Father to the Son, [i.e.,] the Father covenants with Him:

(1) [He will] give Him the Spirit in an abundant measure. “The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him” (Isa 42:1; 11:1-2).

(2) [He gives] a promise of assistance and help in this great work of our redemption. “I will hold thy hand” (Isa 42:6). What is the meaning of that? God saith of Cyrus, “Whose right hand I have holden,” that is, I have strengthened him to conquer the nations (see Isa 45:1). So God promised [that] He would hold the hand of Christ: though He met with strong oppositions, yet [the Father] would so strengthen Him with His power that He should not be discouraged (Isa 42:4).

(3) [He gives] a promise of blessed success that He shall not labor in vain. He shall see His seed (Isa 53:10): the sufferings of Christ were as a woman with child; though she suffers many pains, yet she sees her child at last. So shall Christ see many believing on His name (Isa 55:5). They are the words of promise made by the Father to the Son that nations that know Him not should run unto Him.

(4) [He gives] a promise of rule and dominion that He shall have dominion over all those that are saved by Him. This sovereignty and rule is promised to Him in Isaiah 40:10: The Lord Christ shall come with power “and his arm shall rule for him.” And Isaiah 42:4: “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law,” to submit themselves unto it. Thence, it is said in Micah 4:3, “And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations…,” that is, rule, order, command, and direct as Judge and Ruler among His people; the which promise is now accomplished, all judgment being committed to the Son (Joh 5:22).

(5) [He gives] a promise of glory to follow, and that, first to Christ Himself and then to the members of Christ. To Christ Himself: “Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee” (Isa 55:5). They are the words of God the Father to Christ the Son, promising to Him glory—such glory as should make the nations of the world run unto Him! So also to the members of Christ: there is a promise of glory unto them, which promise was made known to Christ from the beginning. Christ brings out that secret, out of the bosom of the Father and reveals it to His disciples. “It is,” saith He, “your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luk 12:32). Christ knew the Father’s will by the covenant passing between the Father and Him, and this will of the Father, concerning the glory promised to them, Christ doth bring forth to light. Thus, we see there is a covenant on the Father’s part.

Now, see it on Christ’s part:

1.There is an acceptance of the office to which He was designed by the Father. He did not take the office of Mediator upon Himself, but first the Father called Him unto it; then the Son accepted it and saith, “Lo; I come” (Psa 40:7-8; Heb 10:7).

2. There is a promise on Christ’s part to depend and trust upon the Father for help, according to the promise made by the Father. Thus, [in] Hebrews 2:13, the apostle brings in Christ, promising confidence and affiance³⁶ in the Father: “I will put my trust in him.” And Isaiah brings Him in as looking for help from God: “For the Lord GOD will help me”; “Though I have many against me”—men and devils—“yet the Lord will help me (Isa 50:7-9). He promises to wait upon His Father for support and strength, whereto [He also agrees] in Isaiah 49:5, “My God shall be my strength.”

3. A promise of submission to His Father’s will, in bearing the reproaches and injuries that should be done unto Him, and to lay down His life for those that were given to Him by the Father (Isa 50:5-6; Joh 10:17-18). And according to all this that Christ thus covenanted with the Father, He was careful to discharge the same (Joh 17:4-6; 12:49-50).

4. According to all this covenant passed between the Father and Christ, Christ expects the glory that was promised to Him and to His members. To Himself: “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (Joh 17:5). And to His members: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (Joh 17:24). He expects the accomplishment of both from the Father.

Thus far then, I grant a covenant between God the Father and Christ. Hence it is that God is called “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 1:3), which is by reason of the covenant between them.

From The Gospel-Covenant, or The Covenant of Grace Opened, in the public domain.

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Peter Bulkeley (1583-1659): early Puritan minister, who left England for the American colony of Massachusetts; born in Odell, Bedfordshire, England, UK.