Covenant of grace
A view held among orthodox Christians
God's gracious promise, first announced after the fall, to save sinners through Christ by faith.
Also called: gracious covenant
What it means
After Adam fell, God did not leave humanity under the broken covenant of works. He promised that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent's head. Reformed theology calls the unfolding of that promise the covenant of grace: God freely offers life and salvation through Jesus Christ, requiring faith in him, and promises his Spirit to make his chosen people willing and able to believe.
The covenant of grace is how believers in every age are saved. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness, and Paul says the gospel was preached to Abraham beforehand. The sacrifices and promises of the old covenant pointed to Christ, and the new covenant brings what they promised.
Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists both confess the covenant of grace. They differ on how it relates to the old covenant: Westminster sees one covenant of grace in two administrations, while the 1689 confession sees the covenant of grace revealed by promise in the Old Testament and formally established in the new covenant. Some writers also distinguish an eternal covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son, which underlies the covenant of grace.
In Scripture
God promises that the woman's offspring will crush the serpent's head.
Abraham believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
Scripture announced the gospel in advance to Abraham, and those of faith are blessed with him.
Christ is the mediator of a better covenant enacted on better promises.
Gentiles once strangers to the covenants of promise are brought near by Christ's blood.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 7.3; WCF 7.5-6; LBCF 1689 7.2-3
Related terms
Covenant theologyA view held among orthodox Christians
A way of reading the whole Bible as the story of God's covenants, centred on one covenant of grace administered across both testaments.
Covenant of worksA view held among orthodox Christians
The arrangement Reformed theology sees God making with Adam before the fall, promising life on condition of perfect obedience.
1689 FederalismA view held among orthodox Christians
The covenant theology of the 1689 London Baptist Confession, which sees the covenant of grace promised in the Old Testament and established in the new covenant.
The gospelHistoric orthodoxy
The good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and freely forgives and accepts all who turn from sin and trust in Him.
Justification by faith aloneHistoric orthodoxy
God declares sinners righteous in His sight not because of anything they do, but only because of Christ's righteousness, received through faith alone.