Romans 4:13-25

Pentecost +4 – Year A

Romans 4:13-25

Promise.
Covenant.
Contract.

Three different relationships.

How do you rank them?
Which do you live out of most?

In which do your own actions make a difference to a perceived outcome? Can your works change a promise? covenant? contract?

In which might someone else's actions make a difference to a perceived outcome? Can Jesus' "sacrifice" change a promise? covenant? contract?

If a corollary to Promise is Trust, what are the corollaries for Covenant and Contract? For the moment, playing with Obedience and Responsibility, what might this thought do to such an old standard as "Trust and Obey"?

In today's world we are politically driven to issues of verification in treaties. Presume that "Heaven" is on its way to "Earth", does verification remain an issue for those who are disposed toward promise? covenant? contract?