Reformed Theology includes “Covenant Theology”, and Covenant Theology includes a “Covenant of Works”. Here is how Theopedia summarizes it.
“In brief, Covenant Theology teaches that God has established two great covenants with mankind and a covenant within the Godhead to deal with how the other two relate. The first covenant in logical order, usually called the Covenant of Redemption, is the agreement within the Godhead that the Father would appoint his son Jesus to give up his life for mankind and that Jesus would do so (cf. Titus 1:1-3). The second, called the Covenant of Works, was made in the Garden of Eden between God and Adam and promised life for obedience and death for disobedience. Adam disobeyed God and broke the covenant, and so the third covenant was made between God and all of mankind, who also fell with Adam according to Romans 5:12-21.”
But when we look at the actual words of God to Adam, we do not see any “Covenant of Works”. So there is really no such thing as a Covenant of Works, and it is another man-made invention.
1. Everything that Adam received from God was purely a gift of God’s grace:
a) Man was created in the image and likeness of God – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:26)
b) Man was given dominion over the earth and all its creatures – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:26)
c) Man was blessed by God – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:28)
d) Man was given a mandate to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:28)
e) Man was given all fruits, vegetables and herbs as food – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:29). [All of God’s creatures were also created as herbivores (Gen 1:30)]
f) Additionally Man was given a unique and very special orchard called the Garden of Eden, with a river flowing through it (to become four rivers) – purely by God’s grace (Gen 2:8-14)
g) Man was given the stewardship of the Garden of Eden and could freely eat of all that was in the Garden – purely by God’s grace (Gen 2:15).
2. The commandment given to Adam held a severe warning, but there were no promises in that commandment, and there was no covenant either:
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
So what do we see here?
1. The creature Man – the pinnacle of God’s creation -- was given every privilege and blessing freely by God’s grace -- Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat
2. Man received JUST ONE COMMAND which was not grievous -- And the LORD God commanded the man, saying... But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it
3. Man was then given a very severe warning (also by God’s grace) -- for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
So how could anyone conjure up the idea that a “covenant” was made “between God and Adam and promised life for obedience and death for disobedience.”?
There is absolutely no “promise” of “life for obedience". And a warning for disobedience cannot be construed as a “promise” of "death for disobedience". It should be clear that this is another man-made doctrine which simply misrepresents Bible truth.
“In brief, Covenant Theology teaches that God has established two great covenants with mankind and a covenant within the Godhead to deal with how the other two relate. The first covenant in logical order, usually called the Covenant of Redemption, is the agreement within the Godhead that the Father would appoint his son Jesus to give up his life for mankind and that Jesus would do so (cf. Titus 1:1-3). The second, called the Covenant of Works, was made in the Garden of Eden between God and Adam and promised life for obedience and death for disobedience. Adam disobeyed God and broke the covenant, and so the third covenant was made between God and all of mankind, who also fell with Adam according to Romans 5:12-21.”
But when we look at the actual words of God to Adam, we do not see any “Covenant of Works”. So there is really no such thing as a Covenant of Works, and it is another man-made invention.
1. Everything that Adam received from God was purely a gift of God’s grace:
a) Man was created in the image and likeness of God – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:26)
b) Man was given dominion over the earth and all its creatures – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:26)
c) Man was blessed by God – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:28)
d) Man was given a mandate to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:28)
e) Man was given all fruits, vegetables and herbs as food – purely by God’s grace (Gen 1:29). [All of God’s creatures were also created as herbivores (Gen 1:30)]
f) Additionally Man was given a unique and very special orchard called the Garden of Eden, with a river flowing through it (to become four rivers) – purely by God’s grace (Gen 2:8-14)
g) Man was given the stewardship of the Garden of Eden and could freely eat of all that was in the Garden – purely by God’s grace (Gen 2:15).
2. The commandment given to Adam held a severe warning, but there were no promises in that commandment, and there was no covenant either:
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
So what do we see here?
1. The creature Man – the pinnacle of God’s creation -- was given every privilege and blessing freely by God’s grace -- Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat
2. Man received JUST ONE COMMAND which was not grievous -- And the LORD God commanded the man, saying... But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it
3. Man was then given a very severe warning (also by God’s grace) -- for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
So how could anyone conjure up the idea that a “covenant” was made “between God and Adam and promised life for obedience and death for disobedience.”?
There is absolutely no “promise” of “life for obedience". And a warning for disobedience cannot be construed as a “promise” of "death for disobedience". It should be clear that this is another man-made doctrine which simply misrepresents Bible truth.