Lesson 9

Question 1

What is the evidence that God’s evidence with Adam and Eve is a covenant?

Answer 1

1. The word “covenant” does not occur until Gen 6:18
   a. Important elements of covenant in Gen 2
   i. God takes the initiative; it is a divine administration
   ii. There are stipulations
   iii. Adam is a representative for all his posterity
   b. The word “covenant” does not have to appear for the covenant concept to be present (2 Sam 7; Ps 89:3)
   c. “Like Adam,” (כְּאָדָם—kĕ’ādām) Hos 6:7
   i. Place name (at Adam they broke the covenant)?
   ii. Generic name (Adam = “mankind”)?
   iii. Person name (Like Adam they broke the covenant)?
2. The nature of a covenant is a treaty (Gen 2:15-17)
   a. The master imposes obligations
   b. The master promises benefits, which are all the provisions God had provided, along with life (Gen 3:22-24)
   c. The curse is directed towards the servant (Gen 3:15-16)
   d. An inducement for future loyalty (Gen 2:17)
   e. The covenant is conditional by nature
3. The traditional view sees a Covenant of Works with Adam in Eden
   a. WCF 7.2: Life offered upon condition of perfect obedience
   b. WLC 20 and WSC 12: Life and death set before Adam

Question 2

What is the relationship of the Covenant of Works to the Covenant of Grace? Discuss the nature of
the Covenant of Works.

Answer 2

B. A Bi-covenantal Framework: The Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace
1. The Covenant of Works
a. Adam is the key figure
b. Some aspects of it still continue
i. The imputation of Adam’s sin
ii. Men are born under the legal requirements of the Covenant of Works
2. The Covenant of Grace
a. Abraham, Moses, David, Christ are central figures
b. This covenant is the administration of God’s plan of redemption
c. Believers move from the Covenant of Works to the Covenant of Grace
3. Outworking of the Covenant of Grace
a. Adamic Covenant (post-fall)
i. Gen 3:15—the first mention of the Covenant of Grace
ii. God takes the initiative
iii. God makes a covering for them (3:22)
b. Noahic Covenant: To preserve the temporal realm so that there is a framework within which the Covenant of Grace can operate
i. Common Grace and Redemptive Grace
ii. Separation of godly and ungodly
iii. Elements of the covenant
c. Abrahamic Covenant: Promised in Gen 12, ratified in Gen 15, and confirmed in Gen 17
i. Land and Nations
ii. Self-maledictory oath (Gen 15)
iii. Elements of the covenant
d. Mosaic Covenant: Continues the promise of the Abrahamic covenant of land and nation and extends the Covenant of Grace with a redemptive character
i. Corporate participation (Ex 24:7-8; Deut 2:2-5)
ii. Distinctives of Mosaic Covenant: Law
iii. Difference of New Covenant
e. Davidic Covenant: Promises related to the kingdom and the seed of David
i. The Lord sovereignly establishes the reign of David (2 Sam 7:13; Ps 132:11)
ii. Father and Son ( 2 Sam 7:12; Ps 2:7)
iii. Mercy shall never depart from his house (2 Sam 7:14-15)

Question 3

What are the distinctives of each covenant within the Covenant of Grace?

Answer 3

B. A Bi-covenantal Framework: The Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace
1. The Covenant of Works
a. Adam is the key figure
b. Some aspects of it still continue
i. The imputation of Adam’s sin
ii. Men are born under the legal requirements of the Covenant of Works
2. The Covenant of Grace
a. Abraham, Moses, David, Christ are central figures
b. This covenant is the administration of God’s plan of redemption
c. Believers move from the Covenant of Works to the Covenant of Grace
3. Outworking of the Covenant of Grace
** a. Adamic Covenant (post-fall)**
i. Gen 3:15—the first mention of the Covenant of Grace
ii. God takes the initiative
iii. God makes a covering for them (3:22)
b. Noahic Covenant: To preserve the temporal realm so that there is a framework within which the Covenant of Grace can operate
i. Common Grace and Redemptive Grace
ii. Separation of godly and ungodly
iii. Elements of the covenant
c. Abrahamic Covenant: Promised in Gen 12, ratified in Gen 15, and confirmed in Gen 17
i. Land and Nations
ii. Self-maledictory oath (Gen 15)
iii. Elements of the covenant
d. Mosaic Covenant: Continues the promise of the Abrahamic covenant of land and nation and extends the Covenant of Grace with a redemptive character
i. Corporate participation (Ex 24:7-8; Deut 2:2-5)
ii. Distinctives of Mosaic Covenant: Law
iii. Difference of New Covenant
e. Davidic Covenant: Promises related to the kingdom and the seed of David
i. The Lord sovereignly establishes the reign of David (2 Sam 7:13; Ps 132:11)
ii. Father and Son ( 2 Sam 7:12; Ps 2:7)
iii. Mercy shall never depart from his house (2 Sam 7:14-15)