WCF 7.1

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 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.

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

1. 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?
2. 9 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q12 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q20 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q12 · WSC Q20 · WLC Q20 · WLC Q30 · WLC Q31 · HC Q29 · BC 5.2 · BC 5.3 · BC 5.4 · BC 5.5 · BC 5.6 · SC60 2.2 · IAR 4.5 · SHC 2.3 · SHC 2.4