FEB 25

Hosea 6:7
Memorise Romans 5:14
“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses…”

Although we have examined covenant theology before, it is good to refresh our minds with this crucial doctrine. Before the fall of Adam, God had an agreement with him. In this agreement, God said that as long as Adam obeyed God, he would continue to enjoy life and blessings. However, if he failed to do so, there would be death and suffering for him (Genesis 2:16-17). Because this agreement, or covenant, requires Adam to actually conduct himself in exactly the manner which God had commanded him, it is considered a “work” on Adam’s part. Hence, it is known as the Covenant of Works.

This covenant is found in Genesis 2:16-17, God made his requirements clearly known to Adam and Eve. God gave Adam and Eve a prohibition, that they must not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Continued obedience on Adam’s part would mean continued blessings. Disobedience would however bring death and suffering. The Covenant of Works required Adam to fulfill his part of the agreement. Adam broke this covenant by eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in an act of rebellion against God. Hosea 6:7 confirms that in Adam all have sinned, meaning all of us have also sinned against God because Adam represented the entire human race. Romans 5:14 also says that death continued to reign beyond Adam’s earthly lifetime to affect all his descendants. However, believers who put their faith and trust in Jesus, the Second Adam are only affected by death in this life but not beyond as death has been defeated by Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:26).

Dear Teen, sometimes it may seem like God’s dealings with Adam and Eve were confined to the Covenant of Works, and that there was no love in their interactions with each other. This could not be further from the truth. Love was the reason God created Adam and Eve. Everything else He made, He did so for the benefit of man. God was gracious and loving then even as He is and always will be for God is love (1 John 4:8).

Thought: Even today we can look at all of God’s creation and wonder “what is man that thou art mindful of him?”
Prayer: O Lord, thank You for being an unchanging and gracious God of love.