Genesis 2:9-3:24 – The Covenant of Works: In Adam we die, in Christ we live

Introduction

Today we are going to start a 6-part mini-series entitled, Our Faithful God. In this series we are going to look at the two covenants that are found in the Bible. The first covenant is called the Covenant of Works, which is the subject of this sermon. The second is called the Covenant of Grace. Both covenants are seen in Genesis 2-3.

But before I begin, you might be asking, “Why are we doing a series on the Covenant?” J.I. Packer said, “We cannot understand the gospel, the bible, or the reality of God without a covenantal framework.” The idea of a covenantal framework in Scripture allows us to read and understand it more clearly and love God more dearly.

You also might be asking, “What is a covenant?” Ligon Duncan, the Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, and a professor I had for several classes, including Covenant Theology, defines a covenant (involving God) as “…a God-initiated, binding, living relationship with blessings and obligations. …It is a relationship between two living parties as to what they are to do...” He goes on to say that a covenant, “…secures or confirms mutual commitments that constitute and characterize a special kind of relationship.” In other words, a covenant is all about relationship. It essentially “defines the relationship.” And this, when it comes to knowing and loving our God is of utmost importance.

The idea behind the covenant is most clearly seen throughout Scripture in the phrase, "I will be your God, and you will be my people." This phrase has been called the Covenant Formula. It can be seen throughout the Scriptures at every major covenant. It is at the center of God's dealing and purpose for mankind. It is at the heart of the Scriptures and is the heart of the Gospel. God wants to be His people’s (yours and mine) God and wants His people (you and me) to be with Him. God wants His people to share in the joy of His presence, to live as if God is truly among us, and to know that he will keep his promises.

The Covenant Formula is the essence of what Adam and Eve lost in the Fall in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:8). It is seen in the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 17:7), the Mosaic covenant (Ex. 19:5-6), the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7), the New Covenant (Jer. 31, Ezek. 36), the birth and life of Christ, Immanuel, “God with us” who “tabernacled among us” (Is. 7:14, Matt. 1:21-25, Jn. 1:9-18), and then finally at the end of history in eternity (Rev. 21:1-7).

The presence and communion of God was lost in the Fall of mankind. The Old and New Testaments are the unified story of God going through the greatest of all lengths (John 3:16; Rom. 8:32) to restore His fellowship or relationship with mankind. In Christ, God’s people have been brought back into fellowship or relationship with God (Eph. 2:13) and now can enjoy the reality of the Covenant Formula in our union with Christ (Eph. 1:3-14).

Today, what we will see is that though Adam broke the covenant of works and plunged humanity into a life of sin and misery (which is separation from God), our faithful God made a covenant of grace to redeem us through Christ to a life of joy and fellowship with him.

Background

By way of background, so far, in the first chapter of Genesis and the first few verses of chapter 2, God created and then brought order to the entire universe. He created an entire framework for his creatures to live and thrive. God finished creating a universe that displays his glory as it is reflected in humanity, who is created in his image. Then, in a kind of conclusion to it all, God showed its point...rest in him.

Genesis chapter 2 shows humanity’s purpose, to worship, love, obey, and be with God. In doing so, humanity finds perfect rest and perfect purpose.  Now, let’s look at Genesis 2:9-3:24.

Exposition

What makes you feel alive? For some, it might be the thrill of a rocky mountain climb; for others, it might be a warm embrace, or travelling around the world in exploration. For others, something completely different. But what was it that was designed to make you feel alive? I believe that it is being with God in his place and enjoying his blessings.

Before I continue, I want you to know that the idea of these first four points were extracted from Vos’ Biblical Theology. With that said, our first point is found in verses 8-9a. Humanity’s life in God. We can remember this by the word Relation. Humanity was meant to live in relationship with God. The garden and tree of life show this.

Verse 8 says, “And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden in the east. And he put the man there, the one that he formed.” This garden of God was planted in the eastern part of the region of Eden. The word Eden expresses the idea of luxury and delight, essentially paradise.

This garden is where God was present and where he put his people to be with him there. It is the outworking of the Covenant Formula, and it is here that we first see this idea. God put the man that he had formed there. This was God’s person, in God’s place, and as we see in verse 9, it was where humanity should obey God’s rule and receive his blessing. And so, God was Adam’s God and Adam was God’s people.

The story continues in verse 9, where it says, “And out of the ground Yahweh God caused to grow every tree that was delightful to the sight and pleasant for food. And the tree of life was in the midst of the garden...” Notice the rich blessing and provision. God put every kind of tree that is delightful and pleasurable to the eye and to the taste in the garden. In other words, this speaks of God’s provision and care for the environment that humanity is to be in and shows his eye and love of beauty and diversity. God is the master craftsman who makes things that are truly pleasing, things that are truly paradise.

The point is that true life is with God and found in God. This was God’s Garden, and God would walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day here (3:8). Life was meant to be lived with and in God. 

Now, two particular trees are singled out, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Right now, we are focusing on the tree of life. This was located right in the center of the garden that God had planted. This tree of life was a symbol of life as it should be, life with God. In Revelation 22:1-4, at the end of history this tree shows up to bring healing to the nations, and it speaks of seeing God’s face and having his name written on our foreheads. This tree represents true life. To partake of the tree was to be with God, before his face. Apparently, based on Genesis 3:22 and Revelation 22, to eat of the Tree of Life would have resulted in immortality and eternal life with God forever. And so, here we see the purpose of this universe is Relation with God.

Our second point is found in verse 9b and 15-16. The Covenant of Works. We can remember this by the word Probation. Humanity must obey God’s law, choosing to love God above all else. This can be seen in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, God’s commission for humanity, and the prohibition of eating from the tree.

Verse 15 says, “And Yahweh God took the man and caused him to settle in the garden of Eden to serve and to keep.” Immediately after creation, God sets the parameters and purpose of our existence. The parameters are to obey God. And the purpose is to serve or worship God.

Without going into the exegetical detail, the phrase cultivate and keep the garden can be translated as “to serve and to obey.” In other words, Adam and Eve were put in the garden to serve and obey God in a loving relationship. In other words, humanity was to love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment according to Jesus, and it is here in the Garden of Eden.

This is why the Westminster Larger catechism asks, “What is the chief and highest end of man?” And answers, “Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God and fully to enjoy him for ever.”

But what does this translate to practically? Man is to worship God as he works. He is to take care of the perfect and beautiful garden that God has made and set him in and enjoy it and God while doing so. And this is our purpose…to worship God and live our lives enjoying him in our work and play. This is our perfect purpose. And this is why we see verses 16-17 say, “And Yahweh God commanded the man saying, ‘From every tree of the garden eating you may eat (you may surely eat). But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat from it. In that day you are eating from it dying you will die (you will surely die).’” Here Yahweh God gives Adam a command. But the command isn’t simply a prohibition. He tells him that he is free to eat everything but the fruit of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

This is what we term probation. Humanity was on probation. God was offering eternal life in the Tree of Life and death was a possibilty in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is where we see the Covenant of Works clearly. This is why the Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 7, section 2 says, “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.”

God provided life and his presence to Adam and his family. But it required of him to perfectly and perpetually obey, never eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil until this probational period was over. God required perfect obedience to his law. This law, as we have seen, was to love God with all his being, represented in obeying a seemingly arbitrary command out of delight and love for God alone.

There is a great deal of suspense here. Will humanity do what it is supposed to do? In other words, humanity’s purpose to serve and obey God is immediately put to the test. Will we fulfill our purpose?

And so, to lead humanity through a probationary period where they would prove whether they believed God was their life and would choose him as their life, God put a tree and called it the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This tree was not to be eaten from. This tree was not evil, it was neutral. God gave a seemingly arbitrary command, to teach humanity. Humanity would learn by whatever path they took.

Would humanity make a choice for God and God alone? Would humanity choose to be God’s people under God’s rule? This choice was a choice of personal attachment to God alone. Would man obey God’s command? Would he love God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength? Would he delight in purely obeying God? Here we see Probation in humanity’s original relationship with God. This probation was intended to show a true desire for Relation.

But you might be asking, how do you know this was a covenant? First, we see that this is a God-initiated, binding, living relationship with blessings and obligations. But secondly, the Bible simply says so. Listen to Hosea 6:4-7, “What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me.”

Notice how it says that like Adam (though some argue that the Hebrew word Adam, can simply mean “man”) Israel transgressed the covenant. How? They did not steadfastly love God. Adam was on probation to prove his love to God. Did he steadfastly love God? Did he really want God? No. Adam answered this question in the negative.

But how would this play out? Would this probation hang over Adam’s head forever? No, God allowed Adam to be tested.

Our third point is seen in chapter 3 verses 1-7. Temptation and sin. We can remember this by the word Violation. We see this in the temptation by the serpent and humanity falling for it.

Though God had allowed the serpent to be there for the purpose of probation, Satan used it for the purpose of temptation. God was not tempting Adam; he was testing him on his probation to see if he would violate the terms of the covenant, to see if he would choose death over life. Behind God’s probation was good. Behind Satan’s temptation was evil. But both good and evil were using the same material, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The serpent is compared with the other animals that God had made; the serpent was real. It appears that there was a sort of demonic possession or controlling of the serpent by Satan.

But why did the serpent tempt Eve and not Adam? It is possible that he did it because Eve did not personally receive the prohibition from God as Adam did.

The first thing Satan does is try to cause Eve to distrust God’s word. “Has God said?” Eve denies this but begins to land on the idea that God’s command might be too harsh. She begins to think that her rights may be different from God’s commands.

Next, Satan tries to cause Eve to doubt God’s pronouncement of death. Satan calls God a liar and tries to make Eve doubt the reliability of God’s word. Satan accuses God of selfishness, trying to get Eve to distrust God’s character.

Next, Eve decides to eat the fruit based on her sensual appetite. She thinks that the fruit is good for her. What has she done? She has judged God and determined that he is a miser who has poor character. She sees Satan as gracious and God as stingy or evil. Eve has put Satan in the place of God. She eats, gives it to Adam, and then he eats.

The Covenant of Works is now broken. Man has violated the gracious and life-giving Covenant. Humanity has chosen death and not life. They have chosen a life without God. They have chosen to live a life where God is not their God, they are (or Satan is), and they are not his people. They have violated the core idea of the Covenant. They have chosen not to love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. They have become transgressors and are in Violation of the law of God.

Our fourth point is seen in chapter 3, verses 19 and 22-24. Death apart from God. We can remember this by the word Damnation. We can see this in the expulsion from God’s presence.

God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they broke his covenant. Satan is cursed, and Adam and Eve are now going to experience death as the penalty for sin. Humanity will now be subject to death because of this broken covenant.

The principle of death has now entered humanity. Before breaking the covenant, death was only a possibility; now, it is an inevitability. Life in probation, carried with it the idea of a life in communion with God. Now, death in probation carries with it the idea of separation from God. They would live in exile from the garden and then eventually die, returning to the ground where they were formed from.

The entire idea of death here carries the idea of expulsion from the presence of God. True life is God’s presence. Death outside of union with Christ, true life, is exile from God.

The only result of all of this is that now, with no intervention, humanity would be damned. They would be cursed to live a somewhat miserable life apart from God and then spend eternity apart from him. And so, the result of falling for the temptation, living in violation of the covenant is Damnation.

Our fifth point is seen in chapter 3 verses 14-19. The Covenant of Grace. We can remember this by the word Restoration. We can see this in the curse on the serpent.

In these verses, we see both justice and grace. God’s justice is found in the two curses, the serpent and the ground. His grace is found in his seeking out Adam and Eve and cursing the Tempter.

Notice in verse 14 that God doesn’t dialogue with Satan or ask questions; he simply curses him. Why? In John 8:44, we see that Satan is a liar and a murderer. Satan was trying to get Adam and Eve killed.

But notice here God’s divine initiative. It is God who would put the enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman. God here gives a divine promise that shows his sovereignty. God is the one who brings about redemption, not man; humanity doesn’t even seek it. Instead, they hide in shame. God, however, shows his initiative in the curse.

The first part of the curse is that the serpent will no longer travel upon legs, but upon its belly, and the second is that Satan will be defeated. This defeat, however, will come at a cost. There will be war between the children of God (the woman) and the children of Satan. There will be hatred between those who live as God’s family and those who live as Satan’s. This war will be filled with death and pain. This theme of conflict, is seen throughout the history of the world. It plays out in the death of Abel by Cain, and is seen all throughout the Scripture.

We also see that God will bring about a reversal of attitude. The seed of the woman will be God’s ally against Satan. And this enmity will continue from generation to generation. Out of this human race, Satan’s mighty blow will come.

This offspring and the ultimate conflict will reach its crescendo in the greatest battle of all time, a battle between Jesus and Satan. And will ultimately be fulfilled in the second part of the curse. The offspring of the woman, Jesus, would have his heel bruised by dying upon the cross. And Satan would have his head crushed by being defeated by the life-giving power of Jesus. You see, Jesus would bear the guilt and shame of Adam and Eve’s sin upon the cross. God would pour out his wrath upon Jesus as he hung on the cross. Jesus would experience the death and punishment for humanity’s rebellion as he drank the full cup of God’s wrath for it on behalf of those who trust in him.

This verse, Genesis 3:15, is what we call the first Gospel. It is where we first learn about God’s grace toward rebellious sinners. God offers his only Son to live and die so we might find life. This is the first hint of the Covenant of Grace that will bring about ultimate restoration.

God promises here that he will defeat Satan through the ultimate act of grace. God will pour out the covenant curses, death, upon Jesus Christ. And since Jesus will fulfill the Covenant of Works through perfect obedience and perfect love to God, and those who trust in him will be united with him, we will receive the covenant blessing, life with God.

This life with God will be a life of intimate union and communion with God. It will be life in God, life with God. It will begin when Christ pours out his Spirit upon us, and God makes his home in us. We, our bodies, become the garden, the temple of the Holy Spirit. And God walks with us in the cool of the day, day by day.

This is why we are told in Galatians 5:16-23 to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh, to be led by the Spirit and not live under the penalty of the law, to live by the Spirit, and to keep in step with the Spirit. In other words, Paul is telling us that we should live the way that we were designed to live, walking with God as our true life.

Application

The rest of this series will walk through this second covenant, the Covenant of Grace. We will see how God slowly reveals more and more of his plan and purpose to the world through successive covenants (all part of one overarching covenant), until the promise of God’s grace, Jesus, the great fulfillment of the covenant appears on the scene.

So, what does any of this have to do with our lives? What is so significant about Covenant Theology that I would pause our series on Luke over it?

The answer is that everything we see in Luke fulfills the Covenant of Grace and the point of the Covenant of Works. God wants you and me to live in the reality that we are his people, and he is our God. He wants us to live in light of this covenant.

God wants us to live out the law that he has put in our hearts, loving him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, finding our greatest joy and life in him.

The point of Christ’s mission was to restore us to a place where we can walk with God not only during the cool of the day but all the time! Christ’s work of redemption has a purpose: to restore our lives to a place where we have true life, where God is our life.

Covenant Theology shows us that all of humanity is supposed to draw life from union and fellowship with God. You and I have been tasked to live out the reality of our union with God everywhere we go.

The reality is that all people are in covenant relationship with God whether they know it or not. They are either joined to Adam as their covenant head and in him die, or they are joined to Christ as their covenant head, with God living in them, and in him have true life.

Are you drawing your life from death? Or are you living in life that is true life?