This is part two of a seven-part series on the covenants of God. I realize the entire Bible is His covenant with humanity, but I am going to focus on these seven.
“Before sin messed everything up, God made a pact with humanity—a deal that’s still in play, shaping who we are and what we’re called to do.” Author unknown by me.
What’s the first covenant God made with humans? It’s called the Creation Covenant (or Adamic Covenant or Covenant of Works), and it’s the foundation of our relationship with God. Set in the Garden of Eden, this agreement shows us God’s plan for humanity, what went wrong, and how Jesus fixes it. Let’s dive into Scripture to unpack what this covenant is, who’s involved, and why it still matters today.
The Creation Covenant is God’s contract with Adam, but here’s the key we must understand Adam isn’t just one person—he represents all of humanity. His name literally means “humanity,” so this promise applies to everyone, not just an ancient tribe in the middle east. It was set up before Adam and Eve sinned, built into the way God designed the world. When Adam sinned, it affected all of us. Romans 5:12 puts it plainly: “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned.”
But there’s hope. Jesus steps in as the second Adam, doing what Adam couldn’t. Adam’s disobedience brought death, but Jesus’ perfect obedience brings eternal life (Romans 5:18-19).
This covenant is called a Covenant of Works because God promised eternal life if Adam obeyed perfectly. Adam and Eve were created good—in God’s image, with the ability to make moral choices (Genesis 1:26-27). They weren’t robots; they could obey or rebel. God gave them one clear rule: don’t eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17). If they obeyed, they’d get to eat from the Tree of Life, which meant living forever with God. If they disobeyed, death was the consequence. (A future blog).
Were Adam and Eve perfect? They were innocent, like a blank slate, but they didn’t have righteousness yet—that comes from proving obedience over time. The Tree of Knowledge was their test. Some think eating it gave them moral knowledge, but they already knew right from wrong. The tree was about trusting God’s command, not gaining new information.
The serpent twisted this in Genesis 3:1-5 (NIV), asking Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” He pushed the idea that true freedom means doing whatever you want, not following God’s rules. Sound familiar? It’s the same lie we hear today: “You’re not free unless you’re in charge.” We are told that we have to be autonomous (self-law) in order to be truly free. Eve bought the lie, and the result was a curse—death, both spiritual and physical. But God didn’t enforce instant death, showing grace and setting the stage for redemption.
The Creation Covenant’s rules are baked into the world’s design and haven’t been canceled in the Old or New Testament. Things like the value of marriage, the sanctity of life, and taking care of the earth (stewardship) aren’t just Christian ideas—they’re part of God’s original plan. That’s why the Church recognizes non-Christian marriages; marriage is an idea based on the rules of creation, not a church exclusive.
What about stuff like modesty or family roles? Are they just old customs, or are they principles we still follow? Look at 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, where Paul ties head coverings to creation, not culture. Unless the Bible clearly says something’s a custom (like wearing sandals or robes), we should treat it as a principle. If you think it’s just cultural, search to scriptures for clarity. Otherwise, ignoring it’s a risk (Romans 14:23, NIV: “everything that does not come from faith is sin”).
When God made Adam and Eve, they reflected His image—His character, creativity, and ability to make choices. Were they perfect? They were good (Genesis 1:31), but they could change, for better or worse. Even after the fall, we still carry God’s image, though it’s damaged by sin (Genesis 9:6). That’s why we’re still accountable to God’s standards.
Here’s the tough part for us to take in: God doesn’t owe us anything. No one’s entitled to health, money, or a perfect life. We owe God perfect obedience, but we have nothing to offer on our own. The Covenant of Works shows we’re in debt, but God’s grace steps in through Jesus, who pays it all.
When Adam and Eve sinned, the curse hit hard: work became a grind with thorns and sweat (Genesis 3:17-19), childbirth got painful (Genesis 3:16), and the serpent was doomed to crawl. But in that curse, God ensured a promise—called the protoevangelium or “first gospel” (Genesis 3:15). The seed of the woman (Jesus) would crush the serpent’s head, though He’d be wounded (think: the cross). Right there, in the middle of judgment, God foretells a Savior.
God’s first act of grace? He made clothes for Adam and Eve to cover their shame (Genesis 3:21). It’s a picture of what Jesus does—covering our sin and giving us His righteousness.
Adam’s failure locked us out of the Tree of Life, but Jesus opens the gate. Unlike Adam, Jesus faced Satan’s temptation in the wilderness and won (Matthew 4:1-11). He earned what Adam couldn’t: access to eternal life. Revelation 2:7 (NIV) says, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV) shows a restored world—no curse, just life flowing from God’s throne.
The life Jesus offers isn’t just a reset to Eden; it’s better—eternal, sin-free, and full. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV). That’s for us, the living, not the dead.
The Creation Covenant shows us who we are: created for God, accountable to His rules, but totally dependent on His grace. Its principles—like marriage, work, and respect for authority—aren’t outdated; they’re how we thrive in God’s world. It also points to Jesus, the second Adam, who nails the test we flunked and shares His victory with us.
This covenant shuts down the idea that we’re the boss of our lives. Real freedom isn’t doing whatever we want; it’s living for the God who made us. In a world that pushes self-rule, the Creation Covenant calls us to humility and trust in the One who’s already won the fight.