On the Covenant of Grace 3

Essentially the Covenant of Grace is Unconditional and Eternal. Because it is Unconditional therefore it not based upon man's own willing or work. The promises of God ensures that the Creature will recieve the gifts of salvation. Through my reading of David J. Engelsma's book Covenant and Election in the Reformed Tradition I have learned that the Covenant of Grace is governed by God's election what this means is that God's free elective choice essentially gives the scope and intent of the Covenant so that it is not for anyone outside of the elect and therefore is not conditional. Because God's election is not based upon man's goodness or badness (unconditional) therefore God's covenant promises being interwined with election is also unconditional. In Genesis 15 we read how God establishes His covenant with Abraham - this covenant is seen to be apart from works. Nor was Abraham involved in this covenant. Abraham recieved the circumcision after he recieved the covenant not before. So as Paul says it depends not on the one who willeth or who runs, but on Him who chooses sovereignly and most freely.
Because the Covenant was made in eternity past, it therefore means it is unchanging. Nothing in this world will cause the covenant that God so wills to establish to break. God is faithful Romans 3 says. This is the purpose of the world to display this covenant life that God has within himself and which he graciously gives most freely to His elect people in Christ to enjoy by the power of the Holy Spirit. Truly it is because of this that the atonement is effectual and will fail in its purposes.
In summary there is only one covenant that is being established throughout salvation history. The covenant is made between God and Christ and all those in Him as sureties or promises so that the covenant includes election salvation and all things that pertains to eternal life. Praise God.
It is important to understand the Covenant aspect of Calvinism for from it all the other doctrines make more sense and also one is able to respond/answer those who see that the covenant is conditional and seperated from divine election. Anyways I hope I have given some help for those who are wanting understand this part of theology. I am by no means able to explain sufficiently enough this doctrine.