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Covenants-Part4a-Covenant-Theology-And COVENANTS OF GOD There are 7 main covenants of God with man that most Christians recognise: 1. Edenic covenant 2. Adamic covenant 3. Noahic covenant 4. Abrahamic covenant 5. Mosaic covenant (Old Testament) 6. Davidic covenant 7. New covenant (New Testament) BIBLICAL FRAMEWORKS There are 3 main Protestant views on covenantal frameworks for biblical interpretation: 1. Covenant Theology (17th century) 2. Dispensationalism (19th century) 3. New Covenant Theology (20th century) Catholics have also recently developed a covenantal framework. .Covenantal Theology (mid-20th century) COVENANT OF REDEMPTION What is called Covenant Theology stems from the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly … to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the "subordinate standard" of doctrine in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide. It was modified and adopted by Congregationalists in England in the form of the Savoy Declaration (1658). * * https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Confession_of_Faith COVENANT THEOLOGY Covenant theology views the history of God’s dealings with man under the framework of 2 or 3 “theological covenants”: • COVENANT OF REDEMPTION 1 FATHER AND SON • COVENANT OF WORKS 2 GOD AND ADAM • COVENANT OF GRACE 3 GOD AND THE ELECT COVENANT OF REDEMPTION 1) The Covenant of Redemption is the eternal agreement within the Godhead in which the Father appointed the Son to become incarnate, suffer, and die as a federal head of mankind to make an atonement for their sin. In return, the Father promised to raise Christ from the dead, glorify him, and give him a people. * * https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_theology COVENANT OF WORKS 2)The Covenant of Works made between God and Adam who represented all mankind as a federal head. According to the Westminster Confession of Faith: .The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. * * Chapter VII. II COVENANT OF GRACE 3. Upon Adam’s failure, God established the Covenant of Grace in the promised seed of Genesis 3:15. .Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe. * * Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter VII. III ADAM & CHRIST Jesus (Rom 5, 1 Cor 15:45) is contrasted with Adam as a covenant head (although these terms are not used) so Covenant Theology is not entirely without merit. • Rom 5:19 (ESV) For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. PROBLEMS - COVENANT THEOLOGY However the name suggests that it was developed based on the many distinct covenants which God made with men (e.g., Abrahamic, Davidic, Mosaic, New). .But this is not the case. Nowhere does the Bible directly (or indirectly) mention a Covenant of Redemption between the Father and the Son. Lack of explicit biblical references gives no warrant to speak about such covenants. .The original Westminster Confession of Faith did not include this covenant either. * * Even Reformed theologian, O.P. Robertson doubts its existence and suspects it is “artificial” (Christ of the Covenants, 54). UMBRELLA COVENANT The Covenant of Works equates to the Edenic COVENANT OF WORKS covenant. Edenic The Covenant of Grace is an umbrella covenant covering the Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic and New covenants. COVENANT OF GRACE Abra- Mosaic Adamic Noahic Davidic NEW hamic (OLD) MOSAIC COVENANT The Covenant of Grace commences after the Fall and includes the Mosaic Covenant (Law). Speaking of “the time of the law” and being “under the gospel” the Westminster Confession of Faith states: .This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel... There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations. * * Chapter VII. V,VI, Interestingly it refers to these periods as “dispensations.” MOSAIC COVENANT But in the New Testament writings, the Mosaic Covenant is clearly regarded as a Covenant of Works. • Rom 10:5 (ESV) For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. In fact, the Mosaic Covenant is contrasted with grace. • John 1:17 (ESV) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. MOSAIC COVENANT The Westminster Confession of Faith refers to the periods of the Law and Gospel as the “Old Testament” and “New Testament” but includes them in one covenant (of grace) - despite the fact that a testament is already a covenant. This meta-covenant idea - covenants on top of covenants – is both awkward and unbiblical. MOSAIC COVENANT The New Covenant is most often contrasted with the Old Covenant, particularly in the epistles of Paul and the Book of Hebrews. .This makes it difficult to believe that these two covenants were both simply sub-covenants of a Covenant of Grace. Moreover the Old Covenant is said to be obsolete and replaced by the New Covenant. • Heb 8:13 (NIV) By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear. MOSAIC COVENANT After John the Baptist, the proclamation of the Law was replaced by the preaching of the gospel. • Luke 16:16 (NASB) "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached…” Christ is the end of the Law: • Rom 10:4 (ESV) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. But the righteousness based on faith says … VARIATIONS - COVENANT THEOLOGY There are variants within Covenant Theology. 1. The most well-known form of Covenant Theology is associated with Reformed and Presbyterian theologians (the Westminster Confession of Faith). 2. Another form called Baptist Covenant Theology (aka 1689 Federalism *) is associated with Reformed Baptists. 3. Methodists use a variation known as Wesleyan Covenant Theology. * Adapted from the Congregationalists’ Savoy Declaration (1658) which was derived from the Westminster Confession of Faith. PREDOMINANTLY CALVINIST Reformed orthodox theologians taught that the Covenant of Grace was primarily unilateral on the part of God, but also entailed conditions on the part of men. * Wesleyan Covenant Theology emphasizes the fact that though God initiates a covenant with humanity, humans are given the free will to follow him, and “God is always the innocent party in cases where salvation is lost.” * .It is thus frequent for Methodist churches to conduct Covenant Renewal Services, so that Methodists can personally renew their covenant with the Creator. * * https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_theology PAEDO-BAPTISM Because the OT and NT are part of the same covenant, OT practices are read forward into the NT. This leads to the practice of Paedo-baptism (baptising babies). PAEDO-BAPTISM Covenant theologians argue that the Abrahamic Covenant is still in force, and that God’s covenantal promise “to be your God and the God of your descendants after you” still stands. Baptism has replaced circumcision as the visible sign of entrance into the covenant and therefore may be administered to new believers but also to infants. On this point, Baptist Covenant Theology disagrees. CREDO-BAPTISM In contrast, Dispensationalists believe in Credo- baptism (baptising believers). CREDO-BAPTISM Only those who are born again are members of the New Covenant and baptism is only for those who can understand and profess their faith. • Mark 16:16 (ESV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved… While baptism is a covenant sign similar to circumcision, it is also notably different e.g. while circumcision was allowed for infants, unlike baptism - it was only for males. THE HOLY SPIRIT In Covenant Theology, NT And I will ask the Father, principles are read back into and he will give you the OT. E.g., the filling of the another Helper, to be with Holy Spirit is applied equally you forever, even the Spirit to NT and OT believers. of truth… he dwells with * But then why did Jesus you and will be in you. say that after his ascension, he would send the Holy Spirit to live with believers? * John 14:16-17 (ESV) THE HOLY SPIRIT In the OT, the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell * believers but came upon temporarily for special enabling. • 1 Sam 10:10 (NIV) When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him[Saul], and he joined in their prophesying. * With the possible exception of David: 1 Sam 16:31, Ps 51:11 • Judg 6:34 (NIV) Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. • Ezek 11:5 (ESV) And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.” DISPENSATIONALISM Dispensationalists believe that God’s dealings with men can be divided into discrete dispensations (various distinct ages to each of which God has allotted distinctive administrative principles).
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