And this doth and must determine the difference between the Jews and Christians about the promises of the Old Testament. They are all made unto the church. No individual person hath any interest in them but by virtue of his membership therewith. . . . Continue reading →
covenant of grace
Walter Marshall: Abraham Is Not Moses
The end which God aimed at in giving the law of Moses, was not, that any should ever attain to holiness or salvation by condition of perfect or sincere obedience to it; though, if there had been any such way of salvation . . . Continue reading →
Should We Talk About Breaking The Covenant Of Grace?
Introduction Two correspondents have written in recent days to ask about whether those who confess the Reformed confessions (e.g., the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Westminster Standards) and the Reformed confession, which is a broader category . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 139: Of Megachurches, Busses, And Woodchippers
More than a decade ago I noted on the HB that one of the dominant stories in American Christianity in the last 25 years has been the rise of the “megachurch.” According to a recent study published in June, 2009, in USA . . . Continue reading →
Sibbes: At Sinai God Renewed The Covenant Of Works
The communion and fellowship of man with God, was first founded on a covenant of works made with Adam in paradise. If he did obey, and did not eat of the forbidden fruit, he should have life both for himself and his . . . Continue reading →
New Audio: With Theology Gals On Covenant Theology And The Church
It is a pleasure to talk with Colleen Sharp and Rachel Miller, the Theology Gals. Recently, we talked about covenant theology. We talked about what covenant theology is, how it differs from Dispensationalism, from where it comes, why it matters, what it . . . Continue reading →
Brakel: If You Deny The Covenant Of Works, You Will Not Understand The Covenant Of Grace
Update: John Owen Is Still Not A Baptist
Obs. III. Divine institutions cease not without an express divine abrogation.—Where they are once granted and erected by the authority of God, they can never cease without an express act of the same authority taking them away. So was it with the . . . Continue reading →
Brakel: The Substance Of The Covenant Of Grace Is Identical In The Old And New Testaments
The Covenant of Grace Identical in both Old and New Testaments Question #1: When was this covenant of grace initiated? Answer: Due to a misunderstanding concerning the nature of the covenant of grace, the Socinians and Arminians, who are in this respect . . . Continue reading →
Ursinus: Christ Was The Author And Mediator Of The Old Covenant
IV. IN WHAT DO THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANT AGREE, AND IN WHAT DO THEY DIFFER? Since there is but one covenant, and the Scriptures speak of it as though it were two, we must consider in what particulars the old . . . Continue reading →
Witsius: One Covenant Of Grace, Multiple Administrations
I. It is a matter of the greatest moment, that we learn distinctly to consider the covenant of grace, either as it is in its substance or essence, as they call it, or as it is in diverse ways proposed by God, . . . Continue reading →
Vos: The Substance Of The One Covenant Of Grace Was In The Old Covenant
What Augustine so strikingly formulated concerning the relation of the two historic economies of the history of redemption: “Novum Testamentum in Vetere latet, Vetus in Novo patet” [The New Testament hides in the old, the Old reveals itself in the New] permits . . . Continue reading →
Bavinck: The Reformers Taught One Covenant Of Grace In Two Administrations Against The Anabaptists
Calvin On The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace
5. Now, if we choose to investigate whether it is right to administer baptism to infants, shall we not say that a man is talking nonsense or indeed raving who would halt with the mere element of water and outward observance, but . . . Continue reading →
New Resource Page: On The Unity Of The Covenant Of Grace (Link Updated)
Reformed theology teaches and the Reformed Churches confess that the Old and New Testaments are fundamentally unified in important ways. The triune God of the New Testament is the God of the Old Testament. The Apostle John says that God the Son, . . . Continue reading →
Vos: The Covenant Of Grace Was Present In, With, And Through The Old Testament Types And Shadows
With An Extended Comment Replying To Some Recent Criticisms Of Reformed Theology
We shall now be prepared to understand how the recognition, that the two worlds exist and have existed side by side from the beginning, enables the author of Hebrews to solve the chief problem of the history of redemption and revelation. For . . . Continue reading →
What Is Covenant Theology? Harrison Perkins Explains In 7 Minutes And 43 Seconds
The Hebrew and Greek words for covenant occur hundreds of times in Scripture but for many Christians these concepts are unfamiliar and the idea of reading Scripture in light of what it says about covenant is unfamiliar. In a series of videos Dr Harrison Perkins, of London City Presbyterian Church, explains covenant theology simply and clearly. Continue reading →
What Are The Two Kinds Of Covenants In Scripture? Harrison Perkins Explains in 7 Minutes and 24 Seconds
Bible readers have always noticed that God made covenants explicitly with Noah, Abarahm, Moses, and David. Several second-century Christians wrote at some length about the covenant that God made with Adam after the fall (Gen 3:15) and since before Augustine Christians have seen that Scripture implicitly records a covenant with Adam before the fall. Then, of course, there is the New Covenant. How should we think about these covenants and how should we understand their relation to one another? Dr Harrison Perkins explains. Continue reading →
Harrison Perkins On Difference Between The Covenants Of Works And Grace In 10 Minutes And 16 Seconds
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise (Gal 3:10–18; ESV). Continue reading →
Calvin: We Need To Distinguish Between The Internal And The External Relation To The Covenant Of Grace
For when Scripture speaks of the sons of God, sometimes it has respect to eternal election, which extends only to the lawful heirs; sometimes to external vocation, according to which many wolves are within the fold; and though, in fact, they are . . . Continue reading →