Believer's Voice of Victory Audio Podcast
Episode: Our Covenant Is Backed by Jesus
Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Kenneth Copeland, with Professor Greg Stephens
Episode Overview
This episode centers on the biblical concept of covenant, specifically how God’s covenants with His people are irrevocably established and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Kenneth Copeland and Greg Stephens discuss “God, the Covenant, and the Contradiction,” exploring the origins of God’s promises to Abraham, the necessity of faith over law, and the power of the blood covenant. They underscore that believers today participate in these eternal promises through faith in Jesus—the fulfillment of the covenant.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. God as Covenant-Maker—The Encounter with Abram
- Genesis 17: Copeland walks through God’s appearance to Abram, introducing Himself as El Shaddai (“the God who is more than enough”) and making the covenant promise.
- Significance of Name Change:
"This is the first known time any kind of covenant where a name was changed and both the man and the wife, their names were changed. They're one."
—Kenneth Copeland (05:35) - God changes Abram to Abraham, signifying a new identity in covenant; this was also extended to Sarah.
2. The Contradiction—Faith Amidst the Impossible
- Contradiction Defined: Abraham is called "father of many nations" while being 99 years old—naturally impossible.
"Now he is obligated in front of everybody else at 100 years old to start telling people, 'I'm the father of many nations.' ... How could this possibly be? That's the key. How could this possibly be?"
—Kenneth Copeland (06:00) "That's the contradiction."
—Greg Stephens (06:38) - Abraham responds not by doubting, but by faith, accepting God's word over human reasoning.
3. The Covenant Ritual—Blood and Faith
- The covenant’s outward sign (circumcision) traces back to a blood sacrifice, which is a recurring motif.
"Their blood was innocent. They didn't do anything. They paid the price for Adam's sin."
—Kenneth Copeland (09:06) - The practice of circumcision is described as a token of the covenant, not the covenant itself.
"The circumcision is A token. Abraham cannot offer himself to fulfill the covenant, nor can he offer Isaac. It's a token of the Promised One that'll come through the seed of Abraham."
—Greg Stephens (16:15) - Copeland analogizes this to water baptism for Christians—a mark of identification, not the basis for righteousness.
4. Faith, Not Law, Activates the Covenant
- Referencing Romans 4, Stephens and Copeland draw out Paul's teaching that the promise was received by faith, not by law.
"The covenant was faith."
—Kenneth Copeland (16:14) "Faith is the connector."
—Kenneth Copeland (18:22) - Righteousness comes through faith in God’s promise, not the external act (the law).
- "Blood promise" is the foundation—Old and New Covenant promises are blood-based.
5. Connection to New Testament and Jesus
- The fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant is in Christ; believers are included in God’s family by faith, as underscored in Galatians 3:29.
- Faith in God's Covenant: Just as Abraham believed in the promise, modern Christians believe in the promises God made through Jesus.
"Now we have a blood union between God and a man and a woman. In order to produce an impossible child, a very special child..."
—Kenneth Copeland (18:36)
6. Honesty in Covenant Relationship
- Copeland shares a story involving a lie detector to illustrate honesty and transparency needed in a relationship with God, referencing 1 John.
"We are in a blood relationship with God. We need to be so brutally honest with Him because His machine will do that."
—Kenneth Copeland (23:24) - Confession restores fellowship—not because God becomes aware, but because the believer is cleansed and restored.
"When you confessed, it's not when I found out about it. ... It's when you got rid of it."
—Kenneth Copeland (24:16)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the contradiction of faith:
"How could this possibly be? That's the key. How could this possibly be?"
—Kenneth Copeland (06:24) -
On Abraham’s immediate obedience:
"He didn't wait and think about it and think how this is going to hurt. ... He would teach his children and he'd do it. Now he didn't wait."
—Kenneth Copeland (10:17) -
The role of faith over ritual:
"The circumcision is A token. Abraham cannot offer himself to fulfill the covenant, nor can he offer Isaac. ... For us, it'd be water baptism. I was crucified with him. I was buried with him. I rose with him."
—Greg Stephens (16:15-16:49) -
On covenant honesty:
"We need to be so brutally honest with Him because His machine will do that."
—Kenneth Copeland (23:24) -
On confession and cleansing:
"When you confessed, it is not when I found out about it. It is when you got rid of it."
—Kenneth Copeland (24:16)
Key Scriptural References
- Genesis 16–17: Abraham's covenant, name change, and circumcision.
- Romans 4: Faith of Abraham, righteousness by faith.
- Galatians 3:29: Believers as Abraham's seed through Christ.
- 1 John: Confessing sin and God's faithfulness.
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Introduction and background to El Shaddai and Covenant – 00:02–05:50
- Name changes and the meaning of covenant – 05:51–08:13
- The contradiction of faith (age and promise) – 06:40–08:00
- Blood, covenant ritual, and faith vs. law – 09:04–16:49
- Faith is the connector: Paul's explanation – 16:50–18:34
- New Testament application: Blood union in Jesus – 18:36–21:25
- Personal story & importance of honesty in covenant – 21:25–24:24
- Confession and restoration – 24:16–24:57
- Episode wrap-up and encouragement – 27:27–28:15
Episode Tone
Conversational and instructive, with personal anecdotes and scriptural exposition. The style is passionate, direct, and faith-focused, aiming to build confidence in God’s promises and encourage practical application in listeners’ everyday lives.
Summary for Listeners
This episode expertly connects Old Testament covenant history with the believer's life today, stressing that faith—not legalism or ritual—enables us to fully receive what God has promised through Jesus. The conversation illustrates how the “contradiction” between God’s promises and appearances in our lives is resolved through unwavering faith, much like Abraham’s, and underscores the importance of living honestly before God within the security of a covenant relationship.
For more resources or to obtain the discussed book, listeners are encouraged to visit kcm.org.