Lesson 2

Question 1

1. What scriptural basis does Berkhof supply for the Covenant of Redemption?

Answer 1

1) The Bible speaks of an eternal decree which included a plan of redemption (Eph 1:4 3:11 2 Tim 1:9 and in Ps 2:7-9 it has all the elements of a covenant (parties, a condition (ask), and a promise).

2) The economic Trinity assumes agreement and the Father and Son are both said to have taken up their roles before the foundation of the earth.

3) Christ speaks of promises made to Him before His incarnation, and of a commission He had received from the Father (John 5:30, 43, 6:38-40, 17): covenant. Luke 22:29 “appointed a Kingdom” is the same word as “appoint by covenant”. In John 17 Jesus claims a reward from the Father: covenant.

Question 2

2. What are the three ordinances that have ordered God’s creation?

Answer 2

Sabbath
Marriage and multiplication
Labor and dominion

Question 3

3. According to Macleod, who is included in the Covenant of Works

Answer 3

1. God and Adam
2. Christ fulfills it
3. It still stands over all mankind. However, we are incapable of fulfilling it.

Question 4

4. How does Macleod summarize the promises and stipulations of the Noahic Covenant?

Answer 4

Promises:
1) No all-killing-flood again.
2) The ground will never again be cursed because of man (seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease
3) Both these ensure the replenishment and preservation of man until the Seed could come and return again.

Stipulations:
1) Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth
2) Do not eat flesh with the blood
3) Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood shall be shed.

Question 5

5. Macleod argues that the Law of Israel was a part of which great Covenant and why?

Answer 5

1) The covenant of grace, because
2) The Abrahamic Covenant, which was of grace, was still binding
3) The Law of Israel supplemented the covenant of grace by showing sin, and foreshadowing the work of Christ in the ceremonial system (both of which drive men to Christ)

Question 6

6. What scriptural passages are used to support the Covenant of Works?

Answer 6

1) Genesis 1-2 (esp 1:26, 28), the elements of a covenant are there (relational parties, blessings & promises, conditions, penalty, sign/sacrament).
2) The witness of the Adam/Christ parallel as being covenantal heads (Rom 5, 1 Cor 15)
3) Hosea 6:7
4) Gen 6:18 (and the repetition of the commands to multiply and have dominion) speak of a “renewal” of a previous covenant.
5) 2 Sam 7 is later spoken of as being a covenant even though the word is not used there.

Question 7

7. What are the covenantal elements found in the Covenant of Works?

Answer 7

Specifics of the covenant elements
a. Parties
b. Promises/Blessings
c. Conditions
d. Penalty
e. Sign(s)

Question 8

8. How are the blessings of the Covenant of Works also commands?

Answer 8

• Gen 1:28 says that God blessed them but then gave them commands about mulitiplying the earth and having dominion over it.
• By giving Adam and Eve parameters to live within God’s obedience, he blessed them.
• There was, however, a promise of a new stage of blessing if our first parents passed the test.

Question 9

9. What is the doctrinal point of the Fall?

Answer 9

Sin came into the world through one man and thus death through sin.

Question 10

10. In Genesis 3, what is taught about God’s relationship to sin?

Answer 10

• God is not the author or the chargeable cause of sin.
• The temptation is a challenge on God’s Lordship.