|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Renovation Covenant (Genesis 1:2-31; Job 38:4-7; Isaiah 24:4-6; Jeremiah 33:19-26) |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Church scholars have often presumed that the early chapters of Genesis contain evidence of both an “Edenic Covenant” and an “Adamic Covenant” (Genesis 1:28-30; 2:15-17; 3:14-19). From the human perspective it is not difficult to defend their proposition.
When viewed from the divine rather than human perspective, however, it is clear that the early chapters of Genesis are not descriptive of two covenants. Instead, they reveal the essential elements of only one covenant. Some have chosen to call the solitary covenant in early Genesis the Creation Covenant. Nevertheless, both context and covenantal elements revealed in Genesis do not support a creation covenant any more than an Edenic or Adamic covenant. The covenant described in early Genesis should more aptly be called the Renovation Covenant (Genesis 1:2b-2:25). Original Creation In the beginning, the original, eternal heavens and earth were created to exist within the kingdom of God as a habitat for angelic beings (Genesis 1:1). Angelic perseverance on the original earth was not predicated on the fulfillment of legal condition, but free choice. The angels were created in a state of holiness and provided with the freedom to choose whether or not to remain in a state of submission to divine authority. Rebellion and Chaos Despite their privileged position in the kingdom, a large number of the angelic beings chose to rebel against God. Concordant with divine justice, judgment was swift and the rebellious angels were banished from the kingdom of God. Consequent to the rebellion and banishment of the angels, their abode, the original heavens and earth, became chaotic. It was transformed into a state of ruin, emptiness and darkness (Genesis 1:2). Renovation Covenant The renovation of the chaotic heavens and earth was key to the eternal plan of God (Genesis 1:3-2:3; cf. Isaiah 45:18; Jeremiah 31:35-36; 33:19-26). It was designed to vindicate His nature from angelic challenge and repopulate His kingdom with willing citizens. Within the protective framework of the Renovation Covenant, God renovated chaotic heavens and earth in spatiotemporal form. He accomplished the renovation in seven days: |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Essential Elements
The first two chapters of Genesis reveal the essential elements of the Renovation Covenant as follows: |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Rather than reflective of the essential elements of an Adamic Covenant, Genesis chapter three provides a description of the fall of mankind. It gives a detailed account of the manner in which Adam, the representative head of the human race, chose to disobey the stipulation of the Renovation Covenant (Genesis 3:1-13). In addition, it reveals the characteristics of his consequential death and degeneration and thus, the death and degeneration of the entire human race (Genesis 3:14-24).
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Covenantal Condition
The Renovation Covenant was a conditional covenant of law. However, it had only one condition. The perseverance of its blessed benefit required Adam to value the privilege of fellowship with God above all else. Choosing to guard, cultivate and enjoy fellowship with God, Adam would serve in the vindication of the divine nature to the angelic host. It would demonstrate that the human race could freely and willingly choose submission to divine authority on earth. Conversely, Adam could choose not to value his fellowship with God. He was free to choose the path of “self-enlightenment”, eat from the forbidden tree and “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). However, Adam’s source of information regarding God would then be selfish and rebellious in origination and, thus, unreliable. His lack of obedience would constitute a conscious rejection of the stipulations of the Renovation covenant and, ultimately, another rebellious challenge to the divine nature. By disobedience to the stipulation of the Renovation Covenant, Adam and his descendants, the human race, would experience separation from God. As a consequence, humanity would no longer enjoy the immediate presence and provision of God and thus, intimate fellowship with God. In addition, the earth would be subject to death and degeneration and no longer paradisiacal. In fact, God had forewarned Adam that the choice of rebellion would lead to death. He clarified, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Aware of a strategic opportunity, Satan schemed to deceive Adam. Knowing that Adam’s desire for Eve made him vulnerable to deception he convinced Eve to disobey God and eat from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. As Adam had been forewarned, she suffered separation from God, immediate spiritual death and, as a consequence, began the slow decline to physical death. Eve’s fallen countenance and behavior made the reality of her death painfully obvious to Adam. Thus, he was forced to make an unenviable choice. He had to choose whether he valued his relationship with Eve more than the privilege of intimate fellowship with God. Obeying the stipulation of the Renovation Covenant by not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the divinely appointed means by which Adam and Eve could guard and protect their privilege of intimate fellowship with God. Contingent on their willingness to fellowship with God, the nature of God would be vindicated from angelic accusation. Conversely, disobedience to covenantal stipulation would constitute rebellion against God. Therefore, Adam and Eve would experience separation from God or spiritual death (Genesis 2:18). Much to the delight of Satan, Adam chose to value Eve above God and joined his beloved bride in a state of rebellion against God. Therefore, the first man and representative head of the human race became a sinner, outlaw and criminal. Through his choice of rebellion, Adam abdicated his God-given authority to rule the earth. He willingly traded it to Satan for a future with Eve (cf. Luke 4:6). As a result of the abdication and consequent judgment of God, the renovated earth became characterized by degeneration and darkness (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:19-21; Colossians 1:13). |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Covenantal Consequences
Rather than descriptive of the essential elements of the Renovation Covenant, Genesis chapter three and following provides the consequences of disobedience to the stipulation of the covenant; death. Thus, it dictated the parameters for spiritually dead human beings separated from the immediate presence of God on the degenerated earth. In a general sense: |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Beyond the more general consequences related to spiritual death, the human race, represented by Adam and Eve, experienced some specific effects of separation from God:
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Outline of Genesis 1-3
The early chapters of Genesis are not reflective of two different covenants, the Edenic and Adamic, but one, the Renovation Covenant. In light of the renovation of the earth rather than its original creation, the early chapters of Genesis can be outlined as follows: |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
Within the arena of space and time on the renovated earth, the heavenly host, comprised of angels holy and unholy, would witness a progressive demonstration of the attributes of the divine nature and the gradual repopulation of the kingdom of God. For the holy angels, the fulfillment of the eternal plan of God is nothing less than awe-inspiring (cf. 1 Peter 1:12). In contrast, the fallen angels view it with burning anger and intense jealousy.
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
© 2020 James Hiatt |
