Day 23: Of God's Covenant with Man, part 3

Westminster Larger Catechism Q.32
Confession of Faith Chapter 7, section 4

Larger Catechism
Q. 32 How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?
A. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in that he freely provideth and offereth to sinners a Mediator,[t] and life and salvation by him;[v] and requiring faith as the condition to interest them in him,[w] promiseth and giveth his Holy Spirit [x] to all his elect, to work in them that faith,[y] with all other saving graces;[z] and to enable them unto all holy obedience,[a] as the evidence of the truth of their faith [b] and thankfulness to God,[c] and as the way which he hath appointed them to salvation.[d]

[t] Genesis 3:15 — And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Isaiah 42:6 — I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and will give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.
John 6:27 — Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

[v] 1 John 5:11-12 — And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Ver.12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

[w] John 3:16 — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 1:12 — But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

[x] Proverbs 1:23 — Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

[y] 2 Corinthians 4:13 — We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.

[z] Galatians 5:22-23 — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

[a] Ezekiel 36:27 — And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

[b] James 2:18, 22 — Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Ver.22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

[c] 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 — For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: Ver.15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

[d] Ephesians 2:10 — For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Westminster Confession of Faith
7.4 This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed.(h)

(h) Hebrews 9:15-17 — And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Ver.16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Ver.17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Hebrews 7:22 — By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Luke 22:20 — Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
1 Corinthians 11:25 — After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

T » testament › 1828-dictionary.com

End Lesson, Day 23

For Further Study:

My father was not legally obligated to bequeath his estate to me because I earned it by doing the dishes and keeping my room cleaned up. I inherit by grace. Likewise, Adam, the son of God (Luke 3:38), was a son by grace, and had no meritorious basis for demanding that God create him, place him in paradise, and give him eternal life, even if he perfectly kept all of God's commands. Everything Adam had was by grace, not works.

Sunday