Our Position On Covenant Theology
(Also Known As Reformed Theology)
(Part 2)
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
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Popular Forms of Theology
that Redefines and Corrupts
God's Word
Covenant theologians allegorizes (spiritualizes) the Scriptures, which includes Bible prophecy. We often call it; 'twisting Scripture'. But, its actually an attempt to make God's Word say something ... that it does not say. This allows ministers who embrace Covenant theology to apply extra-biblical interpretations and conclusions in their sermons and teachings. The reason there can be no resolution in the ongoing debate with Calvinists and those that embrace Covenant Theology is because of these 'twisted' methods of Bible interpretation. You can never discuss the principles of gravity or thermodynamics with a person who does not respect the "literal" laws of Physics. For the same reason, you can never discuss the details of salvation or Bible prophecy with someone who does not respect the literal interpretation of Scripture.
According to Covenant Theology, the
Church has always existed since the
creation of man ... and that the
"invisible church" began with Adam
and later became "visible" during
Abraham's life. As a result, they
reject any teaching that suggests
that 'The Church' began on the day
of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 - as
the Scriptures teach.
What causes this erroneous type
of Bible interpretation?
Rather than keeping Scripture 'rightly divided' as Saint Paul commanded, Covenant theologians mix together (or intermingle) the Old Testament program of Israel and the New Testament program of the Church. They believe Israel represents "the church" of the Old Testament, while The Church of the New Testament (made up of mainly Gentile believers in Christ) is "the new Israel". As a result, they believe that national Israel is cursed and eternally rejected by God because of her sin ... and, for this reason, the New Testament Church, which they now call "the new Israel", has replaced national Israel and inherited all her laws and promises.
This wrong and disastrous way of believing the Bible is also found in "Replacement theology", which is established on the idea that the New Testament Church REPLACES national Israel in God's overall prophetic program. This is not a 'minority' belief held by a fringe group. It's a dangerous and widely accepted theology that empowers various expressions of anti-Semitism toward the modern state of Israel - miraculously re-established in 1948. This is one reason we now see major Christian denominations and their members occasionally take the side of terrorist organizations who are committed to the destruction of the recently reborn Jewish state.
For anyone who honestly reads and studies the Bible, this popular attitude toward Israel is quite appalling. Since the New Testament Church is considered to be the "new Israel" (according to Covenant - Replacement doctrine), national Israel is viewed as "evil and unnecessary" ... and must therefore be destroyed. Those that preach Covenant theology tend to see themselves as an extension of God's judgment upon Israel for her sin of crucifying Christ. This is a very dangerous and toxic doctrine that does not come from our Heavenly Father - and needs to be firmly confronted and exposed. Some church leaders claim that Replacement theology is actually 'a demonic doctrine'. You can read our commentary on "Avoiding the Error of Replacement Theology" HERE.
Important Note: To simplify things, we tend to combine Covenant Theology, Calvinism, Reformed Theology and Replacement Theology together in this study because they are related and interconnected doctrines that makes the Bible appear to have only one message. As a result, they contradict the command of the apostle Paul that God's Word must be "rightly divided" (2 Timothy 2:15). We believe they are all variants of what Bible scholars refer to as; 'Galatian Religion' ... which was the error that nearly destroyed the Galatian Church under the care of Saint Paul. It is not our intention to misrepresent these different beliefs. They are all embraced by various different churches and denominations that may not teach them exactly the same way. However, according to our research, the principles presented above are common within this group.
Dispensationalism
Rather than the "uniform view of history" taught by Covenant theology ... Dispensationalists see Biblical history as different dispensations or administrations. In each dispensation God accomplishes something totally different. Covenant theologians teach a "sameness" or uniformity of God's program in the Bible for man throughout history, while Dispensationalists reveal the unique differences of each Divine administration. Covenant Theology (or Reformed Theology) spiritualizes Scripture to achieve agreement with the Biblical text. Dispensationalists use a "literal" interpretation of the Scripture, which makes it difficult to "theorize" their own interpretation to achieve Scriptural harmony.
Dispensationalists also disagree on issues because there are so many different "flavors". We attempt to keep things simple for the sake of brevity.
Dispensationalists believe Biblical history is divided into seven periods:
- Innocence - Adam
- Conscience - After Adam sinned, up to the flood
- Government - After the flood
- Promise - Abraham to Moses (the giving of the Law)
- Law - Moses to Calvary
- Grace - Calvary to the Millennial Kingdom
- Millennial Kingdom - The literal 1000 year reign of Christ on earth
Note: Since this commentary is not
intended as a defense, but an
examination of the differences, we
will limit our discussion to the two
major dispensations (or covenants)
of Law and Grace which dominates
a vast portion of the Bible.
In his Epistle to the Galatians,
Saint Paul clearly describes this
Scriptural division.
"Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic.
For these are the two covenants:
The one from mount sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar - for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children (speaking of the first covenant) - but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all...
Paul contines ...
Now we, Brethren, as Isaac was, are children of Promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free (speaking of the second covenant - or the new covenant of Christ)." (Galatians 4:21-31)
Paul is describing these two
major covenants of the Bible:
- The first covenant is according to Hagar, the bondwoman, who gives birth to children of bondage. It was established at Mount Sinai ... and is known as the Mosaic Covenant of the Law.
- The second covenant is according to Isaac, the Son of Promise who was born from the "Jerusalem above which is free" ... and called "the freewoman". The second covenant refers to the New Covenant of Christ established upon Grace at Mount Calvary. God's Grace is based on freedom and liberty, which is why - after the cross - salvation (or eternal life) is no longer obtained through personal merit and good works, but given as; "the unmerited free gift of God".
All of these thoughts are brought
together in one concise statement
that provides the key to correct
Bible interpretation.
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. (Galatians 4:30-31)
In the next chapter of this same Epistle,
Paul repeats these same two opposing
characteristics of the first and second
covenants when he said ...
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free (the New Covenant of Christ), and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (or Old Covenant Law)." (Galatians 5:1)
Lastly, Paul made the following
statement to the Ephesian Church:
"For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles - if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power." (Ephesians 3:1-7)
By carefully reading all of Paul's
statements, it becomes obvious that
the Bible is dispensational - and
must be 'rightly divided' as he
commanded. Otherwise, we will
misinterpret its message and create
a counterfeit salvation doctrine
that God ultimately rejects; often
without our knowledge.
This is why the Bible translators inserted special title pages (which were not included in the original manuscripts) ... that separates Scripture into its two major components; the Old and New Testaments (or the Old and New Covenants). Saint Paul refers to this practice of keeping the Holy Scriptures separated as; 'rightly dividing the Word" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Unlike Covenant Theology,
Dispensationalism Correctly
Treats Israel and the New
Testament Gentile Church
as Separate Entities in
Scripture
During the dispensation of Law, God deals only with Israel as his chosen people. He gave them the Mosaic Law, which is an exclusively 'Jewish institution' at Mount Sinai. Only circumcised Jews as the seed of Abraham are permitted to practice its rituals. As a general rule, Gentiles are not welcomed into this religious system ... even though there were some notable exceptions in the Old Testament - such as Rahab at Jericho. The Mosaic Law wasn't designed for the entire human race, but only for Israel as Abraham's offspring. In the Old Testament, God was known by the name of "The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel" (1 Kings 18:36, 1 Chron. 29:18, 2 Chron. 30:6). God's original intention was for Israel to be the custodians of His Law - and for salvation to flow from them ... to the rest of the Gentile nations of the world (Isaiah 49:6). But, because they were disobedient and crucified their Messiah, God went around their failure and extended salvation directly to the Gentiles through Grace (unmerited and undeserved favor). Old Testament prophets foretell this outcome. The Pauline Revelation reveals that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides the legal foundation for the next part (dispensation) of God's plan. The blood of Christ fulfills the just requirements of the Law and pays the price for the redemption of - not just the Jews - but also the remaining non-Jewish part of the human race.
Under the dispensation of Grace, God no longer exclusively deals with Israel through the Mosaic Law. He is now dealing with all nations of the world through "Grace" (unmerited and undeserved favor), which is now provided by the New Covenant.
Paul tells us about this important
change that takes place at Mount
Calvary:
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith." (Rom 3:27-30)
"...Being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation BY HIS BLOOD, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:24-26)
This is why obedience to the exclusively Jewish Law can never be part of Gentile salvation. Through the Pauline Revelation, God unveils the Gospel of Grace, which the New Testament declares to be "a mystery". Saint Paul calls it "The Mystery of Christ". This gospel is known as the Gospel of Christ, or "Paul's gospel". It outlines salvation by Grace (unmerited favor) through faith in Christ alone ... without the need for works connected to the Law of Moses. Under the dispensation of Grace, the earned merits of obedience to Law are eliminated ... and salvation is granted as "the gift of God" on the basis of the believer's confession of faith in Christ alone (Rom. 10:9-10, 13 - Also see Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:24-25, Romans 4:1-8, Titus 3:5-7).
Saint Paul sheds some light on
why it is illegal to make the
exclusively Jewish Law part of
Gentile (New Covenant) salvation
in his various Epistles to the
Church.
Read these Scriptures carefully.
"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:11-22)
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of the requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." (Colossans 2:13-14)
"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the Law is not of faith ..." (Galatians 3:10-12)
"Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight". (Romans 3:20)
"You have become estranged (separated - cutoff) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from Grace." (Galatians 5:4)
"Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be married to another - to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter (or the Law of the Old Covenant)." (Romans 7:1-6)
To summarize: Under the dispensation of the Law (and the Old Testament Jewish covenants on which it was established), God dealt exclusively with the nation of Israel. Only under the dispensation of Grace, which didn't start until after Christ's crucifixion in the New Testament - does God deal with the entire human race (which includes the Jewish race) as a whole. The New Testament refers to this "entire human race group" as "the Gentiles". As a result, the New Testament Church (or all Holy Spirit indwelled believers in Christ) is commonly referred to as being "Gentile", which is a universal all-encompassing racial term. The "uniform history view" of Covenant Theology (or Reformed Theology), which teaches that God only dealt with the human race as a whole in the Old Testament is misleading and wrong. This can be proven by an honest study of the Old Testament using a literal interpretation of Scripture. In order to make their "uniform theory" of the Old Testament work, Covenant (or Reformed) theologians must allegorize - or apply non-literal interpretations to the Holy Scriptures.
The "Church" is mentioned on the day of Pentecost and later in the Epistles of Saint Paul when the Holy Spirit came to indwell believers. While the word "church" is used in the Old Testament before Christ, it generally meant; a religious congregational gathering. In The New Testament writings of Paul, the term "Church" is used in an entirely different way, meaning ... believers in Christ, who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
There are up to seven different definitions attached to the English word “church” in Scripture. Yet, Christians often make the mistake of thinking the word 'church' carries the same meaning every time it is used.
God's Holy Spirit, sent to indwell
all believers in Christ is a unique
characteristic of the New Testament
Church, which was not in operation
before the day of Pentecost as
recorded in Acts chapter 2.
Jesus spoke to His disciples about
these things when He said ...
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: For He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:7-14)
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for He dwelleth with you, AND SHALL BE IN YOU." (John 14:16-17 Also read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 John 4:4)
This means that the Church, representing
Holy Spirit indwelled believers didn't
exist in the days of Adam, Abraham or
Moses. It also means that Israel and the
New Testament Church are two separate and
distinct entities in Scripture, which must
never be confused or mixed together.
Contrary to popular fundamentalist and
Reformed teaching, Israel is not "the
Church of the Old Testament" ... and "The
Church of the New Testament" is not
"the new Israel".
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