Of God's Covenant
Savoy Declaration · 7.1–7.5
7.1. Of God's Covenant with Man
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 attained the reward of life, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.
Proof texts
- Isa. 40:13, 14, 15, 16, 17 — [13] Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? [14] Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? [15] Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. [16] Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. [17] All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.
- Job. 9:32, 33 — [32] For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together. [33] There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.
- 1 Sam. 2:25 — [25] If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death.
- Ps. 113:5, 6 — [5] Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, [6] who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
- Ps. 100:2, 3 — [2] Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! [3] Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
- Job. 22:2, 3 — [2] “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. [3] Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
- Job 35:7, 8 — [7] If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? [8] Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.
- Luke 17:10 — [10] So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
- Acts 17:24, 25 — [24] The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25] nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Isa. 40:13, 14, 15, 16, 17 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 9 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?
Read alongside
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?
Read alongside
7.3. Of God's Covenant with Man
Man by his fall having made himself incapable 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, requiring of them faith in him that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.
Proof texts
- Gal. 3:21 — [21] Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
- Rom. 8:3 — [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
- Rom. 3:20, 21 — [20] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. [21] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it —
- Gen. 3:15 — [15] I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
- Isa. 42:6 — [6] “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
- Mark 16:15, 16 — [15] And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. [16] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
- John 3:16 — [16] “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
- Rom. 10:6, 9 — [6] But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) [9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
- Gal. 3:11 — [11] Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
- Ezek. 36:26, 27 — [26] And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
- John 6:44, 45 — [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me —
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Gal. 3:21 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 11 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?
Read alongside
7.4. Of God's Covenant with Man
This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in the Scripture by the name of a Testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.
Proof texts
- Heb. 9:15, 16, 17 — [15] Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. [16] For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. [17] For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
- Heb. 7:22 — [22] This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
- Luke 22:20 — [20] And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
- 1 Cor. 11:25 — [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Heb. 9:15, 16, 17 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?
Read alongside
7.5. Of God's Covenant with Man
Although this covenant hath been differently and variously administered in respect of ordinances and institutions in the time of the law, and since the coming of Christ in the flesh; yet for the substance and efficacy of it, to all its spiritual and saving ends, it is one and the same; upon the account of which various dispensations, it is called the Old and New Testament.
Proof texts
- 2 Cor. 3:6, 7, 8, 9. — [6] who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. [7] Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, [8] will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? [9] For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
- Heb. 8, 9, 10 chapters
- Rom. 4:11 — [11] He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
- Col. 2:11, 12 — [11] In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, [12] having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
- 1 Cor. 5:7 — [7] Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
- 1 Cor. 10:1, 2, 3, 4 — [1] For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, [2] and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, [3] and all ate the same spiritual food, [4] and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
- Heb. 11:13 — [13] These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
- John 8:56 — [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
- Gal. 3:7, 8, 9, 14 — [7] Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. [8] And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” [9] So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. [14] so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited 2 Cor. 3:6, 7, 8, 9. in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 9 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?