For the [Mosiac] covenant was a legal covenant solemnly agreed, by which the people were obligated to present, by their own strength, perfect obedience to the Law (Matthew 22). Since the Law is the eternal rule of righteousness in the divine mind . . . Continue reading →
Covenant of Works
Finals and the Covenant of Works
It’s the season for final exams at Westminster Seminary California. I always get a little nervous during a final, even though I’m the one giving it and not the one taking it. Naturally I want the students to do well but by the . . . Continue reading →
The Old Covenant
One of the most difficult questions in describing the history of redemption is to give a clear, concise, account of the differences between the old and new covenants. When I say “old covenant” I’m not referring to everything that happened before the . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours—Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored
Too often, the way covenant theology is presented, it seems too complicated to understand or explain to others. It doesn’t have to be that way and it isn’t in this interview with Zach Keele and Mike Brown, authors of a new introduction . . . Continue reading →
Ames On Substantial Identity Of The Moral Law With The Decalogue
9. From this speciall and proper way of governing reasonable Creatures, there ariseth that covenant, which is between God and them. For this covenant is as it were a certaine transaction of God with the Creature, whereby God commandeth, promiseth, threatneth, fulfilleth, . . . Continue reading →
He Was To Repeat That Covenant Of Works With Israel
The covenant of works, which may also be called a legal or natural covenant, is founded in nature, which by creation was pure and holy, and in the law of God, which in the first creation was engraven in man’s heart. For . . . Continue reading →
The Context of the Republication Debate
Why is Such An Old Doctrine So Controversial Now?
A few correspondents have contacted me to ask about the continuing controversy over the doctrine of republication. It seems as if it might be useful to try to put this discussion in some context. In its most basic form, the doctrine of . . . Continue reading →
The Sacraments Of The Covenant Of Works
I. God made a double covenant with man, the one of works and the other of grace; the former before, the latter after the fall. II. The covenant of works was confirmed by a double sacrament, to wit, the Tree of Life, . . . Continue reading →
The Covenant Of Creation Was A Covenant Of Law
At the beginning of the human race that old serpent led humanity away from the word of the law, and thus from the covenant of creation by a false interpretation. . . . The summary of this law shining forth in the . . . Continue reading →
Perkins on the Two Covenants in Gal 4:24-25
(HT: Particular Voices) The two testaments are the Covenant of works and the Covenant of grace, one promising life eternal to him that does all things contained in the law; the other to him turns and believes in Christ. And it must . . . Continue reading →
In By Grace, Stay in By Faithfulness? (3)
Part 2 Why is [Covenant] Nomism So Attractive? No one but God knows what’s is in the hearts of other people, so I’m not judging or speaking to personal intentions. We can, however, look at the history of Christian theology and draw . . . Continue reading →
In By Grace, Stay in By Faithfulness? (2)
In the first part we quickly introduced the basic doctrine of covenant nomism, namely that God has established a system whereby sinners are admitted to the covenant by grace and they stay in or they retain that status or they retain the . . . Continue reading →
Augustine On Grace Before and After the Fall
Chapter 29—What then? Did not Adam have the grace of God? Yes, truly, he had it largely, but of a different kind. He was placed in the midst of benefits which he had received from the goodness of his Creator; for he had . . . Continue reading →
By the Power of His Deity
Heidelberg Catechism Q. 17: 17. Why must he also be true God? That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God’s wrath,1 and so obtain for 2 and restore to us righteousness and life.3 . . . Continue reading →
Calvin on Romans 2:13
For the hearers of the law,” etc. This anticipates an objection which the Jews might have adduced. As they had heard that the law was the rule of righteousness, (Deuteronomy 4:1) they gloried in the mere knowledge of it: to obviate this . . . Continue reading →