Westminster confession

1. Westminster confession CHAPTER 7 appliedapologetics.wordpress.com

2. OF GOD’S COVENANT WITH MAN • I. 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 has been pleased to express by way of covenant.[1] • II. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works,[2] wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity,[3] upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.[4] • “upon condition of perfect and personal obedience”

3. OF GOD’S COVENANT WITH MAN • III. Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second,[5] commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offers unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved,[6] and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe.[7] • IV. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in 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.

4. OF GOD’S COVENANT WITH MAN • V. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the Gospel:[9] under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all foresignifying Christ to come;[10] which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah,[11] by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament.[12] • VI. Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance,[13] was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper:[14] which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy,[15] to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles;[16] and is called the New Testament.[17] There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations.

5. THE COVENANT STRUCTURE • COVENANT OF REDEMPTION • Made between the Father and the Son whereby the Son would WILLINGLY sacrifice Himself for the sins of His people to the glory of the Triune God 2) THE COVENANT OF WORKS/CREATION/LIFE • Made between YHWH and Adam • Was a conditional covenant • Required perfect obedience • Was gracious in nature • Was FEDERAL in nature (headship) • Included Adam’s posterity

6. The covenant structure • THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION • THE COVENANT OF WORKS/CREATION/LIFE • THE COVENANT OF GRACE • Genesis 3 FALL • Protoevangelium • Genesis 3.15 ---> “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel”

7. The covenant of grace Genesis 3.15 Proclamation of the coming redeemer THE COVENANT OF GRACE (the basic structure) Noahic Covenant Abrahamic Covenant Mosaic Covenant Davidic Covenant New Covenant

8. NOAHIC COVENANT • GENESIS 6-7 • YHWH promises to never again destroy the world by flood • Noah used to replenish the world after God judged the wickedness of those around Noah • Genesis 7:1, God rescues not just Noah, but also his household • A theme that will continue to run through the duration of the Biblical covenants • Also, after Noah’s rescue, a covenant sign is given to Noah • The rainbow or “the bow in the sky”

9. The “bow in the clouds” • “The covenant is cosmic and universal, as seen from the great sign, the rainbow. As it arched over the horizon after the rains, it formed an all-embracing sign of God’s faithfulness to his word of grace. Von Rad observes that the bow (qešet) is the same word for the regular battle bow, and so it makes a vivid description of what was going on: God hung up his “battle bow” to be a sign of peace (Genesis, p. 134).” • Allen P. Ross, Creation and Blessing: a Guide to the Study and Exposition of Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998), 206.

10. Abrahamic covenant • Genesis 15, 17 • A restorative covenant • The forerunner of the “New Covenant” • Can be in covenant and breaking covenant at the same time • (Westminster Confession speaking decreedaly and not covenantaly) • God promises to make Abraham’s decedents as numerous as the sands of the sea • Genesis 17, includes Abraham’s household and offspring in the covenant promise • Sign of circumcision = covenant binding of family • Faith was/is the only way to lay hold of the covenant promises – “the tool”

11. Mosaic covenant • In one manner is a subset under Abraham • Identified the covenant people of God • Included circumcision • Similar to the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants due to household inclusion • (all the people of Israel were considered God’s people unless they were cut off – from the youngest to the oldest – • Unbeliever (in one sense) or true believer. • “faith” equaled covenant obedience • Not a covenant of obedience like the CoW • The giving of the law – • Law v. Grace???? Is law gracious in nature • Descriptive law = grace • Ceremonial redemptive law foreshadowed the work of Christ

12. Davidic Covenant • David’s household was included in this covenant by its declaration that someone from HIS house would always remain on the throne of Israel • Which was delivered in sign form during the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ • Who was and is in the seed or offspring line of David himself • So, like in all of the other covenants, we see the pattern of Household inclusion and sign

13. Eph 2.11-22 • 11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the so-called uncircumcision by the so-called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands, 12 that you were at that time apart from Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, not having hope, and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you, the ones who once were far away, have become near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition, the enmity, in his flesh, 15 invalidating the law of commandments in ordinances, in order that he might create the two in himself into one new man, thus* making peace, 16 and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in himself. 17 And coming, he proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to the ones who were near, 18 because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 Consequently, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are built up together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (LEB)

14. New covenant • A subset of the covenant of grace • “covenants of promise” • Gracious in nature • The fulfilment of the covenant made with Abraham • Inked in the blood of Christ and his redemptive work • OBTAINED BY FAITH – not by simple covenant inclusion • Promise expansion • Signs of baptism and the Lord’s Supper • Household inclusion repeated

15. IN COVENANT AND OUT OF COVENANT AT THE SAME TIME?

16. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And the slave does not remain in the household ⌊forever⌋; the son remains ⌊forever⌋. 36 So if the son sets you free, you will be truly free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you. 38 I speak the things that I have seen with the Father; so also you do the things that you have heard from the Father.” 39 They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus said to them, “If you are children of Abraham, do the deeds of Abraham! 40 But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who spoke to you the truth which I heard from God. This Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father!” They said to him, “We were not born from sexual immorality! We have one father, God!” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I have come forth from God and have come. For I have not come from myself, but that one sent me. 43 ⌊Why⌋ do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature,* because he is a liar and the father ⌊of lies⌋. (Jn 8.31-44)

17. Hebrews 6.4-8 • For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

18. John 15.1-6 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch that does not bear fruit in me, he removes it, and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it in order that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him—this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them* into the fire, and they are burned.” • Branches in Christ that were useless – someday removed • Branches in Christ that were fruitful – will remain

19. Calvin on covenant inclusion “And thy seed after thee - There is no doubt that the Lord distinguishes the race of Abraham from the rest of the world. We must now see what people he intends. Now they are deceived who think that his elect alone are here pointed out; and that all the faithful are indiscriminately comprehended, from whatever people, according to the flesh, they are descended. For, on the contrary, the Scripture declares that the race of Abraham, by lineal descent, had been peculiarly accepted by God. And it is the evident doctrine of Paul concerning the natural descendants of Abraham, that they are holy branches which have proceeded from a holy root…Wherefore, nothing is more certain, than that God made his covenant with those sons of Abraham who were naturally to be born of him…In this sense, they who were unbelievers among the Jews, are yet called the children of the celestial kingdom by Christ….

20. Here, then, a twofold class of sons presents itself to us, in the Church; for since the whole body of the people is gathered together into the fold of God, by one and the same voice, all without exception, are in this respects accounted children; the name of the Church is applicable in common to them all: but in the innermost sanctuary of God, none others are reckoned the sons of God, than they in whom the promise is ratified by faith. And although this difference flows from the fountain of gratuitous election, whence also faith itself springs; yet, since the counsel of God is in itself hidden from us, we therefore distinguish the true from the spurious children, by the respective marks of faith and of unbelief…” Calvin’s Commentary on Genesis 17

21. Cog continuity • Jer 31.31-33: 31 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

22. Jer 31.33 • Starting from the end of the citation, notice the language “I will be their God and they shall be my people” in reference to the new covenant people • This is the language of Genesis 17:8, where YHWH promises to be a God to Abraham and his household • So notice the covenant continuity that is present in the New Covenant with that of Abraham • Likewise, verses 31 and 33 declare that this New Covenant is being made with the house of Israel • And it’s a covenant that is unlike the covenant which they so often broke with God • Meaning, the New Covenant is made with the descendants of Abraham • And because of this, it is the fulfillment of those promises made to Abraham so long ago

23. Jer 31.35-36 • Covenant inclusion of offspring 35Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar--- the LORD of hosts is his name: 36 "If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever."

24. Abraham v. cog • First, while the Abrahamic covenant promised the land of Palestine to dwell in • The New Covenant expands this promise to include the entire earth • The meek shall inherit the earth • Next, the means of justification is the same (Habk 2.4) • Where in both covenants, a person is justified by faith alone in Christ alone • In the New Covenant, we look back on the finished work of Christ on the Cross • While in the Abrahamic covenant, the people looked forward to the coming Messiah in hope and in trust of God

25. Abraham v. cog • Circumcision = sign and seal, cut off sin, regeneration, covenant inclusion, forgiveness of sin, separation from the world, marked as the people of God • Baptism = sins washed away, regeneration, covenant inclusion, forgiveness of sin, separation from the world, marked as the people of God • Both are/were applied to the offspring of the covenant • Acts 2.38-39: “And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”