The Covenant of Works

We discuss the doctrine of the covenant of works, including its biblical basis (Gen. 2:15–17 et al) as well as common objections to it. The Reformed tradition has spoken of the relationship between God and Adam as a covenantal relationship. The Westminster Shorter Catechism 12 asks:

• Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created?
• A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

Without the covenant of works, we cannot rightly understand man’s relationship to God in the garden. Neither can we understand the gospel, for the work of our Lord Jesus Christ was a redeeming work necessitated by the fall into sin.

Discussion handoutDownload Links

• Christ the Center, episode 516 — The Tree of Life and the Covenant of Works
• Introduction to Covenant Theology course

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington