WCF 7.2

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

1. The Assembly cited Gal. 3:12 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 4 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 Q30 · WLC Q31 · WLC Q33 · BC 5.2 · BC 5.3 · BC 5.4 · BC 5.5 · BC 5.6 · HC Q29 · 1689 7.1 · 1689 7.2 · 1689 7.3 · SD 7.1 · SD 7.2 · SD 7.3 · SD 7.4 · SD 7.5 · IAR 4.5 · SC60 2.2 · SHC 2.3 · SHC 2.4 · IAR 5.1 · IAR 5.2 · IAR 5.3 · IAR 5.4 · IAR 5.5 · SC60 3.1 · SHC 3.2