The Promise
God's Everlasting Covenant

In Lesson One we reviewed Genesis 1-3.
God created a perfect world. He created mankind in His own image and established a relationship with the happy pair. Adam was given the dominion over the newly created earth. Everything was for their enjoyment and care.
There was just one test -- to test their loyalty to their Creator: a forbidden tree.

Satan aspired to wrest the dominion from the sinless pair, and bring them under his control.
he had access to them at that forbidden tree, if he could lure them.
Eve wandered close and Satan spoke through a shimmering serpent, placing doubts in her mind about God. Was God fair? Was He withholding the key to their advancement?

God had given them everything, Satan had given them nothing. Yet, how could a serpent talk? Had the forbidden fruit given him the power to talk? Maybe God was withholding something from them? The serpent ate and didn't die, may they won't die either.
And so she ate. Sin at first filled her with a "thrill" and eagerly she invited her husband to eat as well.
Sadly he did.
By so doing Adam sold the dominion of earth to Satan. The robe of light and righteousness faded away and fear and dread filled the guilty pair as they ran and hid from their Creator.

This could have been the end of the story for the human race.
Sin, separating them from God would have brought death.

THE COVENANT


" Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding their great sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of God had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression. A period of probation would be granted them, and through repentance, and faith in Christ, they might again become the children of God. {FLB 75.2}

The instant man accepted the temptations of Satan, and did the very things God had said he should not do, Christ, the Son of God, stood between the living and the dead, saying, "Let the punishment fall on Me. I will stand in man's place. He shall have another chance." {FLB 75.3}

As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour. Christ knew that He would have to suffer, yet He became man's substitute. As soon as Adam sinned, the Son of God presented Himself as surety for the human race, with just as much power to avert the doom pronounced upon the guilty as when He died upon the cross of Calvary. {FLB 75.4}

Although gloom and darkness hung, like the pall of death, over the future, yet in the promise of the Redeemer, the Star of hope lighted up the dark future. The gospel was first preached to Adam by Christ. Adam and Eve felt sincere sorrow and repentance for their guilt. They believed the precious promise of God, and were saved from utter ruin.


Since the Fall the Lord has wrought out His will in the plan of redemption, a plan by which He is seeking to restore man to his original perfection. Christ's death on the cross has made it possible for God to receive and pardon every repentant soul. {FLB 76.2}

Father and Son are pledged to fulfill the terms of the everlasting covenant. God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Christ was not alone in making His great sacrifice. It was the fulfillment of the covenant made between Him and His Father before the foundation of the world was laid. With clasped hands they had entered into the solemn pledge that Christ would become the surety for the human race if they were overcome by Satan's sophistry. {FLB 76.3}

The salvation of the human race has ever been the object of the councils of heaven. The covenant of mercy was made before the foundation of the world. It has existed from all eternity, and is called the everlasting covenant {FLB 76.4}