The Meaning of Legal Ratification: How God Seals His Covenants

What is legal ratification?

Legal ratification in Scripture signifies the formal, binding acceptance of a covenant between God and His people, as seen in pivotal moments like Exodus 24:3-8.

In Exodus 24:3-8, the Israelites publicly affirm God’s law, and the covenant is sealed with sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood - a ritual act symbolizing irrevocable commitment. This passage establishes a foundational pattern for how biblical covenants are ratified and upheld.

Exodus 24:3-8 and the Covenant Ratification

Exodus 24:3-8 vividly illustrates the ratification of the Mosaic Covenant as a binding agreement between God and Israel.

In this passage, the Israelites publicly affirm their acceptance of God’s law by declaring, 'All that the Lord has spoken we will do' (Exodus 24:3, 7). Moses then builds an altar and offers sacrifices, with the blood of the animals collected in basins and sprinkled on the altar and the people (Exodus 24:5-6). The sprinkled blood serves as a symbolic seal of the covenant, representing the irrevocable commitment of both parties to its terms. This ritual underscores the gravity of the agreement, as blood in biblical theology often signifies life and the cost of breaking sacred obligations.

The act of sprinkling blood on the people and the altar (Exodus 24:8) transforms the covenant into a mutual, binding contract. For the Israelites, it signifies their pledge to obey God’s law, while for God, it demonstrates His acceptance of their commitment and His promise to dwell among them.

This moment shows a basic pattern for biblical covenant-making: legal ratification requires both verbal assent and symbolic acts that reflect the agreement's seriousness. It also foreshadows later covenantal themes, such as the New Covenant in Christ, where blood again plays a central role in sealing God’s promises. Understanding this ritual helps clarify how Scripture frames the ethical and relational obligations inherent in divine covenants.

Theological Implications of Legal Ratification

The ratification of covenants in Scripture underscores the binding nature of divine agreements and their reflection of God’s holiness and justice.

In Exodus 24:3-8, the Israelites’ covenant with God is sealed through the sprinkling of blood, a ritual that symbolizes both the gravity of their commitment and the life-giving cost of obedience. This act, where Moses declares, 'This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words' (Exodus 24:8), highlights the mutual obligations between God and His people. The blood serves as a reminder of the covenant’s irrevocable terms and the consequences of breaking them, thereby emphasizing God’s holiness and the seriousness of His promises.

Hebrews 9:15-22 contrasts this by presenting Jesus’ sacrifice as the ultimate ratification of the New Covenant, fulfilling the symbolic patterns of the Old Testament. By quoting the high priest’s sprinkling of blood in the holy place, the author affirms that 'without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins' (Hebrews 9:22), while Jesus’ death secures eternal redemption. This bridge from Exodus to Hebrews reveals both continuity and fulfillment in God’s covenantal faithfulness.

Legal Ratification in the New Covenant

The New Covenant, sealed by Christ’s shed blood, redefines legal ratification through internal transformation rather than external ritual.

In Matthew 26:28 and 1 Corinthians 11:25, Jesus explicitly declares His blood as the covenant’s ratification, fulfilling the Exodus 24 pattern but transcending it. Unlike the Mosaic Covenant’s blood sprinkled on altars and people, Christ’s sacrifice establishes a new relationship where His death becomes the eternal basis for forgiveness and covenant faithfulness. This act underscores both continuity with Old Testament covenantal symbolism and a radical shift in how God’s law operates.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies this transformation, emphasizing a covenant written on hearts rather than stone tablets. The New Covenant’s ratification through Christ thus replaces external legalism with internal renewal, reflecting God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s role in empowering obedience.

Why legal ratification matters today

Understanding legal ratification in Scripture helps modern believers grasp the enduring significance of God’s covenants and their personal spiritual identity.

In 2 Corinthians 3:6-18, Paul explains that believers are ministers of the New Covenant, which is not based on the written code but on the Spirit. This covenant’s ratification through Christ’s sacrifice ensures its permanence, affirming that God remains faithful to His promises. Furthermore, believers are transformed into His image, reflecting their identity as part of a ratified covenant community.

This transformation empowers believers to live with confidence in God’s unchanging faithfulness. As such, legal ratification is not a historical concept but a living reality that shapes Christian identity and practice today.

Going deeper

To deepen your understanding of legal ratification, consider exploring related themes and their implications across Scripture and Christian practice.

A comparative analysis of the covenants in Genesis 15 and Exodus 24 reveals distinct yet interconnected rituals, such as Abram’s walk-through-sacrificed animals (Genesis 15:18-21) and Israel’s blood-sprinkled covenant (Exodus 24:3-8). The role of blood in ratification, as seen in Exodus 24:5-8, also invites reflection on modern applications of covenantal fidelity, such as the transformative power of the New Covenant described in 2 Corinthians 3:6-18.