Session 23: WCF Chapter VII - Of God’s Covenant with Man, Sections 1&2

Bema, Part 2 Romans 14:10b – “For we (believers) will all stand before the judgment seat (bemati) of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we (believers) must all appear before the judgment seat (bematos) of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Bema: (1) a step, pace, (2) a raised place mounted by steps; a platform, tribune: used of the official seat of a judge Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament

The bema at the Pnyx, Athens, Greece

The bema at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar

The bema at Temple Aaron, Trinidad, Colorado

Isaiah 40:13-17 Job 9:32,33 1 Samuel 2:25 Psalm 113:5,6 Psalm 100:2,3 Job 22:2,3 Job 35:7,8 Luke 17:10 Acts 17:24,25

CHAPTER VII - Of God’s Covenant with Man 1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which He hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.

God Man

The Facts of Life We, as intelligent creatures, owe an inalienable and complete duty to our Creator: We are created, so we are totally dependent upon God. God rules over our wills, but receives no authority from us. God gave us eyes, which implies that He will give us light, but He is not obligated to give us light. God gave us a religious nature, but He is not obligated to give us a relationship with Him.

The Facts of Life However, God is pleased to offer us a relationship with Him by means of an arrangement commonly called a “covenant.” God’s offer requires Him to condescend an infinite chasm to reach us. We cannot meet Him anywhere in the middle. We’re dead. We can’t even pick up our head. Both the relationship and our inability to attain it, except by His work, are to His glory.

Law School Professor Charles W. Kingsfield, Jr., Harvard Law School

Covenants 101 Covenant: \ˈkəv-nənt\ 1 :  a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement 2a :  a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covenant

Covenants 101 Generally speaking, covenants are of two types: (1) Promissory (unconditional, donative) (2) Obligatory (conditional, contractual) An obligatory covenants has the following stated or implied elements: (a) Parties (b) A promise (c) A condition (d) A penalty for breach

Covenants 101 Contract of Adhesion: A standard form contract drafted by one party and signed by the weaker party, who must adhere to the contract and therefore does not have the power to negotiate or modify the terms of the contract. Cable/Internet contracts Insurance contracts Credit card customer contracts https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ adhesion_contract_contract_of_adhesion

“The Art of the Deal” Because God is the King, He sets the terms of the covenant (its promises, commands, and penalties) and calls us to respond by believing His promises and obeying His commands.

“The Art of the Deal” The objective: Fellowship with God Genesis 17:7 – “I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”

“The Art of the Deal” This promise of fellowship is reiterated throughout Scripture, e.g., Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 29:13; II Samuel 7:14; Jeremiah 31, 33; Hebrews 8:10. The promise of fellowship is consummated in Revelation 21:3 – “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

“The Art of the Deal” The word covenant appears about 297 times in the Bible. Some key passages: Genesis 9:8-17 – The Noahic Covenant (Promissory) Genesis 12:1-3 – The Abrahamic Covenant (Promissory) Deuteronomy 30:1-10 – The Palestinian Covenant (Promissory) Exodus 19 – The Mosaic Covenant (Obligatory) II Samuel 7:1-14 – The Davidic Covenant (Promissory) Jeremiah 31:31-34 – The New Covenant (Promissory)

Galatians 3:12 Romans 10:5 Romans 5:12-20 Genesis 2:17 Galatians 3:10

CHAPTER VII - Of God’s Covenant with Man 2. 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.

Controversy of the Week!

Where is the Covenant of Works stated in the Bible? Why is the Covenant of Works not called the “Covenant of Grace?”

The Covenant of Works Covenants have the following stated or implied elements: (a) Parties: Who are the parties to the Covenant of Works? (Romans 5:12-21) (b) A promise: Who makes the promise, and what is it? (Genesis 2:16) (c) A condition: What is the condition on which the promise is premised? (Genesis 2:17) (d) A penalty for breach: What is the penalty for breaching the condition? (Genesis 2:17)

Personal Personal Focus Focus

The Covenant of Works is still in force (in fact, for most of mankind). Do you wish Adam had complied with the Covenant of Works? Do you still try to comply with the Covenant of Works?