God's Covenant with Adam

In the timelessness of eternity, God sovereignly decided to create humankind in His image. The apostle Paul said it well in Ephesians 1:4, "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love" (The Message). Ultimately, the central purpose for our existence is to have fellowship with God. As the Westminster Confession of Faith so clearly states: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

Even though the word "covenant" is not found in the Genesis account of how God created man and woman, it is in Hosea 6:7 where the prophet says, "Like Adam, they have broken the covenant." The implied meaning here is that Adam was disobedient to God's original covenant commandment that was given in the Garden of Eden. God's promise to Adam was to provide a "covenant of life" (Williams) through His permission for the man and woman to eat from the tree of life.

But Adam disobeyed by eating from the wrong tree - the knowledge of good and evil. As a result, he and all those who would follow him in the line of humanity would be condemned to die. And yet, our God is a good God, for He promised Adam that a Redeemer would one day be raised up who would crush the head of satan and provide all people an opportunity to receive new life. This means that through Christ the covenant of life has been restored to the people who choose to live for God! Today, the continuation of this covenant of life is found in Christ, for He has become for us the Tree of Life, containing fruit on which we must continually feed.