JAN 18

Genesis 2:16-17
Memorise Romans 5:19
“thou shalt not eat of it”

A covenant is a formal or informal arrangement, agreement, contract or treaty made between two or more parties. The Westminster Confession of Faith states that “The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.” Although we do not see the phrase “covenant of work” in the account in Genesis 2, nonetheless the commands and prohibitions that God gave to Adam, along with the promise of blessing upon obedience shows that here was certainly a covenant in operation here.

Adam was given the command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This prohibition was clearly spelt out for Adam in no uncertain terms, that he must certainly not eat of the fruit, and that if he eats of it, he will surely die (Genesis 2:17). This command therefore formed the basis of the covenant that God made with not just Adam, but as the federal head of all mankind, it was also with all his posterity. If he had passed the test and not taken of the fruit, he and all his descendants would have been awarded with eternal life. We see the significance of what is going on here in Romans 5:12, where in describing the sin of Adam, Paul explains that “as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” In failing to pass the test, Adam broke the agreements of the covenant, and as a result of that, all of mankind was now lost in sin.

However, all was not lost, for though the covenant was broken by Adam, God sent Jesus Christ, the second Adam, who was able to fulfil all the requirements of the covenant perfectly through his sinless life, and thus attain salvation for us. The Westminster Confession of Faith continues to explain “Man, by his fall, having made himself uncapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ…”. As Romans 5:19 tells us, “for as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous”.

Thought: Not by works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:5).

Prayer: Lord I thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ who lived the perfect life and died for my sins to fulfil the requirements of the law!