The covenant of works refers to God’s original agreement with humanity to live in obedience. The Bible explains how Jesus fulfilled what we could not. Today, we’ll explore what Scripture teaches about the covenant of works and how it points us to God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Covenant With My Eyes
What Does The Bible Say About Covenant Of Works
Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
This verse reveals the covenant of works, where God gave Adam a command to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It demonstrates the requirement for obedience and the consequence of disobedience, which was death. The covenant of works established a relationship between God and humanity based on obedience to God’s commands.
Leviticus 18:5
“Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.”
This verse emphasizes the covenant of works in the context of the Law given to the Israelites. It states that those who keep God’s decrees and laws will live by them, highlighting the importance of obedience in maintaining a covenantal relationship with God. The covenant of works, through the Law, set forth the standards for righteousness and the blessings that come with obedience.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God.”
This verse further illustrates the covenant of works, where obedience to God’s commands brings forth blessings and exaltation. It reinforces the covenantal relationship between God and His people, highlighting the rewards for faithful adherence to His laws.
Isaiah 1:19-20
“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”
In this verse, the covenant of works is reiterated as Isaiah states the consequences of obedience and disobedience. It emphasizes the choice individuals have in determining their fate by either embracing obedience and enjoying the blessings of God or resisting and facing destruction.
Jeremiah 11:4
“Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God.”
This verse highlights the covenantal relationship established through obedience. By obeying God’s commands, individuals become His people, and He becomes their God. It emphasizes the requirement for faithful adherence to the covenant of works in order to experience a close relationship with God.
Ezekiel 20:19-20
“I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”
Here, the covenant of works is reaffirmed through the command to keep God’s laws and observe the Sabbath as a sign of the covenantal relationship. It emphasizes the importance of obedience as a distinguishing mark of God’s people and a means of recognizing His lordship.
Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
This verse spoken by Jesus emphasizes the primacy of obedience in the covenant of works. Mere acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord is insufficient; true entrance into the kingdom of heaven is reserved for those who do the will of the Father. It reinforces the requirement for obedience as a demonstration of genuine faith.
Luke 10:28
“Do this and you will live.”
Jesus uses these words in response to a question about inheriting eternal life, highlighting the covenant of works. He clarifies that by fulfilling the commands of loving God and neighbor, one can experience true life. It underscores the importance of obedience to the covenantal requirements set by God.
Romans 2:13
“For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”
Paul emphasizes the role of obedience in the covenant of works. Hearing and knowing the law is insufficient; righteousness before God is granted to those who obey it. It reinforces the idea that adherence to God’s commands is the basis for righteousness and favor in God’s sight.
Galatians 3:10
“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’
This verse highlights the limited nature of the covenant of works by emphasizing that those who rely solely on their obedience to the law are under a curse. It demonstrates the inability of humans to fulfill the covenant perfectly and points to the need for the covenant of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
James 2:10
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
James echoes the comprehensive demands of the covenant of works, stating that even a single transgression renders one guilty of breaking the entirety of the law. This verse underscores the standard of perfection required by the covenant and highlights the impossibility of complete obedience apart from God’s grace.
Revelation 22:14
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”
In this verse, the covenant of works is contrasted with the covenant of grace. The focus shifts from obedience to the works of the law to the cleansing power of Christ’s blood. It highlights that entrance into the eternal city is granted to those who partake in the covenant of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 111:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.”
This verse underscores the importance of obedience in the covenant of works by stating that those who follow God’s precepts demonstrate wisdom and understanding. It reveals that obedience to God’s commands is intricately connected to our relationship with Him and our pursuit of His wisdom.
Proverbs 28:9
“If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.”
This verse highlights the significance of obedience in the covenant of works. It emphasizes that those who neglect or reject God’s instruction and choose disobedience render their prayers detestable to God. Obedience to His commands is required for a genuine relationship with God.
Matthew 19:17
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Jesus speaks these words in response to a question about attaining eternal life. He directs attention to the covenant of works, instructing the individual to keep the commandments as a means of entering life. It demonstrates the importance of obedience to the covenantal requirements set by God.
John 14:15
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
This verse further emphasizes the connection between love for Jesus and obedience to His commandments. It underscores the significance of obedience in the covenant of works as a demonstration of genuine love and devotion to Christ.
1 John 2:3-4
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
This verse reiterates the covenantal relationship between knowing Christ and obedience to His commands. It emphasizes that true knowledge of Christ is evidenced by obedience, while claiming to know Him without obeying is deceptive. It highlights obedience as a defining aspect of the covenant of works.
Matthew 5:17-18
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
Jesus affirms the importance of the covenant of works by stating that He has come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. He emphasizes the enduring significance of God’s commands and their fulfillment through Himself. This verse highlights the continuity and completion of the covenantal relationship based on obedience.
Romans 3:20
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
Paul underscores the inability of the covenant of works to bring righteousness, stating that adherence to the law alone does not grant justification in God’s sight. Instead, the law reveals our sinfulness and need for a Savior. It highlights the insufficiency of human effort apart from the covenant of grace.
Galatians 3:21-22
“Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised… could be given through faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.”
Paul clarifies the relationship between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace, emphasizing that the law itself cannot impart life or grant righteousness. The law exposes the control of sin, underscoring the need for the promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It highlights the surpassing nature of the covenant of grace over the covenant of works.
Hebrews 10:28-29
“Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”
This verse contrasts the consequences within the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. It compares the severe punishment for rejecting the law of Moses with the even greater consequences for treating Jesus and His sacrifice with contempt. It highlights the superiority and gravity of the covenant of grace.
Philippians 3:9
“And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Paul expresses his understanding of the covenantal shift from works to grace, emphasizing that his righteousness is not based on his obedience to the law but on faith in Christ. It underscores the transformative nature of the covenant of grace, where righteousness is granted by God as a result of faith in Jesus Christ.