Lent - Day 12 (March 3)

Larger Catechism – Day 12 of Lent

Question 31:  With whom was the covenant of grace made?

Answer:  The covenant of grace was made with Christ as the second Adam and through him with all the elect as his seed.

Question 32:  How is God’s grace revealed in the second covenant?

Answer:  His grace is revealed in the second covenant by God freely providing and making available to sinners a mediator and through him life and salvation. God uses faith as the only way for sinners to become united to him; he promises and gives his Holy Spirit to all his elect in order to bring about this faith in them along with all the other saving graces and in order to make it possible for them to be holy and obedient, as proof of the truth of their faith and thankfulness to God and as the way he has established for them to be saved.

The covenant of works was made with Adam in Genesis 2.  God told Adam that there was one tree in the garden which he could not eat from.  Keeping that covenant demanded obedience.  Do not eat from that one tree!  Adam failed.  Eve failed.  The entirety of creation fell as a result of their disobedience.

The covenant of grace is foreshadowed in Genesis 3 where God kills an animal to make clothes for Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness.  That animal did not deserve to die!

All of the sacrifices of the Old Testament looked toward the covenant of grace provided through Jesus.

All too often I hear people say, “He was a good person” when thinking about a friend or relative that has recently died.  I often pause and wonder what they mean by that type of statement.  What does it take to make a person “good?”  If a person tells a lie once a week can he/she still be considered “good?”  If a person breaks the speed limit or fails to stop at a red light before making a right turn can he/she still be considered “good?”  If a person cheats on their income tax can he/she still be considered “good?”  If a person cusses can he/she still be considered “good?”  If a person is envious of another person’s things can he/she still be considered “good?”  How many “good” acts does it take to make a person “good?”

When it comes to measuring up to God’s standards we can never be “good,” enough unless we are PERFECT—that is the covenant of works. 

Each person needs to come realization that we can never be “good” enough to earn God’s favor.  We need a savior—someone to mediate between God and ourselves.  That mediator is Jesus!  Jesus takes our sin from us and places it upon himself and imputes his righteous to us. 

We are saved by grace through faith.  This is GREAT news!