… for he (Abraham) was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (v.10)

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (v.16)

“And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there.” (Ezekiel 48:35)

“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY SHALL NAME HIM IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” (Matthew 1:23)

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. (John 14:1-3)

It is clear that the Bible does not support the Covenant Theology (CT) or the Active Obedience of Christ (AOC). Adam was never given a chance to become the head of the church by obeying God’s command. From the beginning, the relationship between the saints and God is built on love and mercy, which is summed up in justification by faith. This faith is not from men’s own will and efforts. If so, grace is not grace. With CT and AOC, we naturally focus on Adam and the law. But the writer of the Book of Hebrews speaks of Christ and faith instead.

Adam’s sin and our sins have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Sacrifices and offerings could not satisfy God but only the ultimate sacrifice prepared by Himself. Christ’s being the High Priest and the ultimate sacrifice signifies more than just atonement. Christ is the foundation of the new city and our new relationship with God. Therefore, all covenants point to the eternal covenant, the Covenant of Grace. With Federalism, all covenants exist for Adam’s covenant, and our righteousness is tied to the law. Then our righteousness can be lost upon one disobedient act. Theologians and ministers say that Christ kept the law for us. But the AOC can only lead us to either legalism or antinomianism.

Recently, I came across the Satisfaction Theory of Atonement by Anselm. It has influenced many Reformed theologians. Theologians and ministers say that God is just so He cannot let sinners go unpunished. However, this idea needs to be carefully examined. Was God satisfied with Adam being obedient to Him in the garden of Eden? As we read the Book of Job, righteousness that depends on the law and works produces only pride.

Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. (Job 32:1)

In many ways, Job was upright as Adam.

Behold, I have found only this, that God made people upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. (Job 1:1)

The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:8)

But that uprightness was not righteousness that Abraham had by faith in God. Was God going to give Adam the eternal life if he kept His command during the probation period?

If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him?

If you are righteous, what do you give to Him,
Or what does He receive from your hand?
Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man. (Job 35:6-8)

At the end of the Book of Job, Job came to know God because God has revealed Himself. Job confesses that he is nothing. We must remember that God has sent His only begotten Son so that we would know Him. It is not a coincidence that the books of wisdom are in the center of the Bible. When the law is focused, people disregard Christ. They keep saying, “If only Adam had kept the command!” They love Adam (people). They do not know Christ.

The reason God was angry at the three friends of Job is that they spoke lies about God. They appeared to speak on behalf of God and rebuked Job. But they spoke of their ideas of a god. Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle spoke of a god, not God. Many theologians read their writings and considered that they knew God. But the philosophers did not know God. Anselm believed that everyone could know God by reasoning. He also did not know God because he rejected 100% grace.

Christ came as the consequence of Adam’s sin. But we must remember that His coming as a man was ordained before creation. The whole purpose of creation is to build the city of God with Christ as the cornerstone. Adam’s sin and our sins tell us that our righteousness can never come from the law. If so, we are not the adopted children of God through Christ. It is only natural that the children of God obey His commands because of the Holy Spirit. We do not need the unorthodox doctrines for us to keep the law.

The Lord has said to you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day that you have gone astray at the cost of your lives. For you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the Lord our God, and whatever the Lord our God says, declare to us and we will do it.’ And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God in anything that he sent me to tell you. Now therefore know for a certainty that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to live.” (Jeremiah 42:19-22)