My assertion is that there is no biblical basis for the doctrine of the covenant of works. There is no indication anywhere (1) that Adam was under probation, (2) that this probation was for a definite amount of time, (3) that some promotion or higher life was promised for obedience throughout this probation, and (4) that what God said to Adam can be called a covenant. It appears that these points were completely made up.

The Westminster Confession of Faith says: “The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.”

The biblical proofs cited are:

Galatians 3:12
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Romans 10:5
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Romans 5:12-20
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

Genesis 2:17
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.

Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

There is nothing – nothing at all – in these passages that even hints at the above four points in the doctrine of the covenant of works.

“The Covenant of Works”; Sermonettes, Volume 2

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