SD 7.2
Savoy Declaration
7.2. Of God's Covenant with Man
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.
Proof texts
- Gal. 3:12 — [12] But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
- Rom. 10:5, Rom. 5:12–20 — [5] For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
- Gen. 2:17 — [17] but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
- Gal. 3:10 — [10] For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Gal. 3:12 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 7.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?