The Covenant of Grace Flashcards
Three working assumption of Covenant Theology
- Covenant theology is reformed theology. A framework for understanding redemption
- Is a result of theological reflection on the text of scripture as it relates to our relationship to the Godhead
- The covenant of redemption grounds the covenant of Grace, enabling continuity
Criticisms of Covenant Theology
- It pits Calvin against Calvinist. Calvin focused on grace, while Calvinists focus on covenant.
- ## Disregards the Historical development of the biblical narrative. By focusing on the overarching theme you disregard the distinctions between covenants
Theologoumena pantodapa” and the Federal Basis of Theology
- Author John Owen
- 1st attempt to organize theology under a covenantal lens from Adam to Christ
- asserts all theology is founded upon Covenantal knowledge of God and self
Prelapsarian vs Postlapsarian Theology
-Prelapsarian, pre fall.
Postlapsarian Post fall
- With the fall our theology on how we relate to God has to change because “Works” are impossible (Prelapsarian theology)
-Postlapsarian theology answers the problem with Grace through Christ
The role of supernatural revelation
- We need God to know God. As a transcendent spiritual being, He can only be known so far as He’s chosen to reveal Himself.
- If theology is knowing God then theology must be covenantal. God chooses to reveal himself through the covenants
- The Bible is where we meet God in covenant,
“The basic foundation of all revealed truths in Scripture is thus the covenant of God with believers in Christ”
- Heinrich Heppe, reformed dogmatics
- Asserts a covenantal framework for understanding scripture
- personal knowledge of God and Christ cannot be obtained outside of scripture, and that knowledge is expressed through covenants
Reformation and Post-Reformation Examples of CT
- William Tyndale 1494-1536, “the right way of scripture is to search the Covenants.
- Robert Rollock 1555-1599, “All of Gods words pertains to the covenants
- Francis Turretin 1623-1687, “Covenant forms the centerpiece of divine-human relationship
Early church example of CT
- Irenaeus c. 130-c. 200, “Zelaous for the Covenant of Christ”
Development of CT
- CT is aligned with the church from Irenaeus to Owen
- By the time you get to the reformation CT blossoms
- CT was not a new invention, it was a rediscovery of the OT!
Covenant of Grace
- Seeks to fulfill the covenant of works through Christ as our mediator
- Unifies all the parts of Scripture. God provides what we cannot provide ourselves
- received in Faith and repentance
- Gods covenant with the elect for their redemption
Covenant of Redemption
- Gods covenant with the Son regarding the elect
- The agreement between the trinity
- reflects the marching orders of the son
Patrick Gillespie
- Scottish Theologian
- Author of “The Ark of the Covenant Opened”,
- Asserts the Cov. of grace is founded on the Cov. of redemption
David Dickson and James Durham
- Scottish Theologians
- Co-Author of “The Summe of Saving
Knowledge” - Asserts the Sum of the Cov of redemption is that God has freely chosen to save some unto life. Through an agreement with Christ to take on human nature, satisfy the law and die in their stead.