The Law of Life

Bible Text: Romans 7:10 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 2003, Romans

September 28, 2003                                                                                                                     Northwest Bible Church

Worship Service                                                                                                                            Alan Conner

Rom. 7:10

The Law of Life?

 

 

INTRO

If the law is a ministry of death and condemnation (2 Cor. 3:7, 9), how could the commandment have resulted in life?             To understand this, we must learn about two important covenants: the covenant of works, and the covenant of grace.

 

 

 

A.  THE COVENANT OF WORKS (= the covenant of meriting eternal life by works )

 

1) The original setting of the covenant of works – Gen. 2:7-9, 15-17.   For this being a covenant, see                              Hos. 6:7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; there they have dealt                                          treacherously against Me.

 

2) The terms of the covenant:

 

– two parties: God and Adam = covenant representative of the human race, cf. Rom. 5:12

– time of probation

– condition: a command to be obeyed –

– consequences:  life for obedience, death for disobedience

 

a) IF Adam  had not sinned, he would have earned eternal life for all.   See   Rom.                                                              7:10; 10:5; Gal. 3:12.

 

 

 

 

b) Was the Mosaic covenant also a part of the covenant of works? Yes and no.

 

 

 

 

 

c) The covenant of works was broken by Adam’s sin.

 

 

 

 

 

d) The covenant of works is still in force.

 

 

B.  THE COVENANT OF GRACE (= the covenant of receiving eternal life by God’s grace through Jesus Christ )

 

1) A distinction between the covenant of redemption and the covenant of grace.

 

The covenant of redemption – a voluntary agreement and covenant made in eternity past                                                between the members of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) in which they devised a plan                         of salvation for the elect of God.  The Father originated the plan of redemption, the Son                                    executed it, and the Spirit applies it to the hearts of the elect.  Eph. 1:4f.; 3:9-11; 2 Thess.                                   2:13; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:1-2.

 

The covenant of grace – the outworking of the covenant of redemption in the historical                                      covenants – – –  the beginning of the covenant of grace in the garden of Eden, Noahic,                                          Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic  and New covenants.   See Gen. 3 – Rev. 22!

 

 

2) The nature of the covenant of redemption/grace for Christ was as a covenant of works.

 

– two parties: Father and Son (the last Adam) = covenant representative of the elect.

– time of probation – the earthly life of our Lord

– conditions:  sinless life and sacrifice

– consequences: 1) heavenly exaltation at the right hand of God for Jesus Christ,                                                               and   2) eternal life for the elect.

 

 

3) Theme: Christ fully meets the conditions of the covenant of works on behalf of His church by:

1) fully satisfying the perfect righteousness demanded by the law which is then imputed to the                                      believer as a free gift of grace (Rom. 3:21-24; 5:17-18), and
                                2) fully satisfying the just penalties of the law against us as covenant-breakers and thereby providing forgiveness for our sins.
 

4) The tale of four gardens.

 

Covenant of works –  garden of Eden

 

Covenant of grace –   1.  garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15) – protoevangelion; animal skins

2.  garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:42) –

3.  garden tomb (Jn. 19:41) –

4.  garden of paradise (Rev. 22:1-4) –

 

CONCLUSION