God’s image, and if merit for Adam means “covenantal faithfulness,” then what is required of Adam is that he persevere in the covenant by being faithful, living out his faith in God by doing works that correspond with it. In this way, though Adam has no sin nature and is not in a covenant of redeeming grace, he is in a position similar to ours. He is in covenant with God and what is required of him is just perseverance, faithfulness to the covenant. What is required of a Christian? We could say,
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