THE DISTINCT CHURCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
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Renovation Covenant
(Genesis 1:2-31; Job 38:4-7; Isaiah 24:4-6; Jeremiah 33:19-26)
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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:

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Day
Temporal Renovation
Reference
1
Light.
Genesis 1:3-5
2
Space.
Genesis 1:6-8
3
Land and vegetation.
Genesis 1:9-10
4
Time. 
Genesis 1:14-19
5
Fish and fowl. 
Genesis 1:20-23
6
Land animals and mankind. 
Genesis 1:24-31
7
Rest. 
Genesis 2:1-3
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                                           Essential Elements
 
The first two chapters of Genesis reveal the essential elements of the Renovation Covenant as follows: 
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Essential Elements
Definition
​Preamble:
(identification of the covenant participants)
  • God: Genesis 1:2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 2:2-3.
  • Mankind: Genesis 1:28-30. 
Background:
(covenant participation clarified)
  • God: Genesis 1:2b; 26-27. 
  • ​Mankind: Genesis 2:7. 
Stipulations:
(obligations of covenant participants elucidated)
  • God: renovate the earth, create mankind to cultivate and keep fellowship with God (Genesis 2:15-17; willingness to fellowship with mankind implied). 
  • Mankind: cultivate and keep fellowship with God by not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17). 
​Ratification:
(obligation of covenant participant validated by means of oath and blessing)  
  • God: 
  1. Oath - “Let there be….”
  2. Blessing - “And God blessed….”
  3. "God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:3; 6; 9; 11; 14; 20; 22; 24; 26; 28; 2:3).
  • Man: 
  1. Oath - promise to value fellowship with God more than eating from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (cf. Genesis 2:16-17; obedience implied). 
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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).                       
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                                     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).

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                            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:
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Parameters
Reference
​Fallen human life on earth was separated from divine life (zoe).  Therefore, it no longer existed under gracious rule of divine life (zoe), but rule of divine law.  
Genesis 3:5
Concordant with the rule of law (Adamic law), fallen human life on earth separated from God could discern between good and evil.  Thus, humanity became aware of nakedness and shame.  
Genesis 3:7; cf. 5; 22
As a result of shame, fear became a natural characteristic of fallen human life.  Consequently, mankind discovered a newfound desire to hide from God and to pass blame.
Genesis 3:8, 10, 12
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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:
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Parameters
Reference
Fallen life on earth separated from God became characterized by enmity with Satan.  
Genesis 3:15
Fallen life on earth separated from God became characterized by painful childbirth.
(Adam and Eve had been commanded to be fruitful and multiply.  However,      the joy of procreation was to be accompanied with a serious reminder of            the pain they had introduced into the world.  Further, the painful                          consequence of rebellion against divine authority would be evident to all            humanity.  From generation to generation, life on the degenerated earth            would begin with pain and suffering).  
Genesis 3:16a
Fallen life on earth separated from God became characterized by rebellion against authority.
(Adam and Eve had chosen to rebel against the kingdom authority  of God.        His punishment fit their crime. God established a hierarchy of authority for        earthly conduct by which Adam and Eve would learn the consequences of          rebellion firsthand. In the hierarchy, Eve was to submit to the leadership of        Adam, yet her fallen nature would possess an inherent desire to challenge        and reject his leadership).
​(Understanding Genesis 3:16b is aided by the close context of Genesis 4:7.        The same Hebrew noun for “desire” (teshuwqah - tesh-oo-kaw') is used in          both verses. In Genesis 4:7 it refers to the desire of Cain’s fallen sin nature        seeking to control him after killing Abel.  Similarly, in Genesis 3:16b it can          be understood to refer to the desire of Eve’s fallen nature seeking to exert        control over her husband, Adam).
Genesis 3:16b
Fallen life on earth separated from God became characterized by physical labor.
(Not only would Adam have to manage the reality of insubordination by his        family, but also the futility of providing sustenance for them. The earth was        cursed. Therefore, finding physical sustenance for his family would require        Adam to engage in unfulfilling toil and labor. Making it even more                        challenging, he would gradually experience the loss of physical vitality                throughout his days on earth).
Genesis 3:17
Fallen life on earth separated from God became characterized by gradual physical death.
(The vitality of the physical body would fade and eventually return to the dust of the ground from which it was taken. Clarified by the end of life, sin causes death).  
Genesis 3:19b
Fallen life on earth separated from God would no longer be reproduced in the image and likeness of God, but in the image and likeness of fallen Adam.
(However, it would retain, in gradually diminishing capacity, the image of God).
Genesis 5:3
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                                      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: 
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Outline
Reference
​The divine creation of the original, eternal earth. 
1:1
The condition of the earth after the angelic rebellion and subsequent judgment. 
1:2
The divine, covenantal renovation and initial repopulation of the earth.
1:3-2:3
Important historical notes regarding the covenantal renovation. 
2:4-25
Narrative of satanic deception, the original sin and the fall of mankind. 
3:1-13
Consequences of the original sin and the fall of mankind. 
3:14-24
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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. 
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​© 2020 James Hiatt

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