Kline on Covenant of Works

In his very useful study, God & Adam: Reformed Theology and the Creation Covenant , Rowland S. Ward has this to say about Meredith Kline’s views on the un-gracious character of the covenant of works: “Contrary to his position in 1968, Kline does not wish now to admit any concept of ‘grace’ in the pre-fall relationship lest it cloud the reality that life was to be gained only in the way of obedience. After all, Christ finished the work he was given to do and claimed the reward on that account.

“The classic position recognised (non-redemptive) grace or favour in the pre-fall relationship, but nevertheless insisted that faithful obedience was required, and that God had by covenant bound himself to reward it. Kline’s concern is to avoid undermining the necessity of Christ’s active obedience in our place, and modifying the nature of justification, a major issue in the current theological climate. This concern is valid, but admitting what the virtually unanimous voice of Reformed theology has regarded as scriptural for 400 years is hardly likely to open the floodgates to error.”