What is the Covenant of Works?

Answer

The Covenant of Works, also known as the Edenic Covenant, is the initial agreement between God and humanity. God established the Covenant of Works with Adam in Genesis 2:16–17: “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” In Covenant Theology, the Covenant of Works goes beyond the Edenic Covenant, serves as the foundation of the Mosaic Law, and is juxtaposed with the Covenant of Grace.

According to Biblical history, some of God’s covenants are conditional while others are unconditional. The Covenant of Works is a conditional covenant. The Westminster Confession of Faith describes this covenant as one “wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience” (VII.2). In other words, eternal life was pledged to Adam and all his descendants if they obeyed God.

Unfortunately, Adam failed in his responsibilities and violated the Covenant of Works. Satan, disguised as a serpent, deceived Adam’s wife, Eve, into disobeying God with the falsehood: “You will not certainly die. . . . For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). Tempted by this offer, Eve consumed the forbidden fruit. Adam, who chose to follow his own desires instead of obeying God, joined his wife in sin, leading to their fall from innocence.

The repercussions of Adam’s failure to obey God were severe. Adam and Eve, along with all their descendants, forfeited their communion with God, their pure nature, and their paradise. Humanity was destined to escalate its transgressions as time went on. Adam and Eve’s firstborn son commi

Committed murder «And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. », (Genesis 4:8), and before long “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” «And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. », (Genesis 6:5).

In mankind’s fallen condition, a Covenant of Works had only the ability to bring misery and punishment upon people. Since the reward for mankind, under the covenant of Eden, was determined by their behavior, they could only reap negative consequences. Mankind was in dire need of redemption that would bring his account out of a negative status. Mankind needed rescue from punishment, and that’s exactly what God provided after the Covenant of Works was broken.

After the fall, before Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” «Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. », (Genesis 3:21), an action that implies the shedding of an animal’s blood. At the same time, God made a second, unconditional promise of redemption with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:14-24), which also contains the first prophecy of Christ’s coming, with hints of the gospel (verse 15).

What mankind needed was redemption from their hopeless condition. Jesus Christ came and obeyed the Covenant of Works perfectly in our stead, filling man’s account with good deeds. He was able to do this because He is God in human flesh and had not infringed.Inherited a sinful nature from Adam. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” «For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. », (1 Corinthians 15:22). The outcome of Christ’s work becomes the possession of anyone who accepts Christ in the New Covenant, a covenant of grace and redemption. “And since Christ fulfilled the terms of the covenant of works, individuals can now receive the benefits of the original agreement through faith in Jesus Christ” (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, First Banner of Truth, 1958, page 214).

Theologians sometimes distinguish Christ’s work in two parts: His active and passive obedience. His obedience was active in that His actions aligned with God’s will. This active obedience, including His miracles, obedience to God’s Spirit, and good deeds, serves as a substitute for a lifetime of disobedience. Christ’s passive obedience is evident in His decision to submit to God and bear mankind’s punishment on Himself. Christ’s passive obedience is adequate to atone for all sinful lives, regardless of the extent of sin committed. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the Covenant of Works and absolved all who place their faith in Him.