Hebrews
1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many
ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has
spoken to us by his Son.
The distance between God and
his creation is so great, that, although reasoning creatures owe him obedience
as their creator, they nonetheless could never realize any blessedness or
reward from him without his willingly condescending to them. And so it pleased
God to provide for
man by means of covenants. (Isaiah
40.13-17)
The first covenant made with
man was a covenant of works. In it life was promised to Adam and through him to
his descendants, on the condition of perfect, personal obedience. (Genesis 2:16-17)
By his fall, man made
himself incapable of life under that covenant, and so the Lord made a second,
the covenant of grace. In it he freely offers sinners life and salvation
through Jesus Christ. In order to be saved, he requires faith in Jesus and
promises to give his Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to life so that they
may be willing and able to believe. (Romans 3:20-24)
This covenant of grace was
administered differently in the time of the law and in the time of the gospel. Under
the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the
paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances given to the Jewish people, all
foreshadowing Christ.
Under the gospel Christ
himself, the substance of God’s grace, was revealed. The ordinances of this New
Testament are the preaching of the Word and the administration of the
sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They are available to all nations,
Jews and Gentiles, and in them the spiritual power of the covenant of grace is
more fully developed. There are not then two essentially different covenants of
grace, but one and the same covenant.
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith
