What we believe
about Covenant Theology at PressieChurch.org
This site is a
vociferous advocate of Covenant theology
because it is our opinion that this is the most faithful
framework to understand God and his redemptive purposes in Christ.
As a response to the spreading indifference and ambivalence towards reformed
theology within the Presbyterian Church of Australia this site
hopes to encourage and engage many on this most important
issue.
Covenant Theology, Biblical
Theology and Systematic Theology
Covenant theology
is Biblical theology. At its best, it's inherently sensitive
to redemptive history and as a consequence provides the
redemptive lens in which the various covenants in the Old
Testament are understood to be fulfilled through the person
and work of Jesus Christ our righteousness. However, Covenant
theology not only relies on biblical theology but also
systematic theology.
Indeed, biblical theology
requires systematic theology, if biblical theology follows
salvation history, then it requires systematic theology to
traverse salvation history and correlate truths and then by
inference and deduction formulate our systematic theology.
That's not only how you get the
theological covenants (of
redemption, works and grace) but how we get the doctrine of
the Trinity or much of our Christology, not through proof
text, but by inference and deduction from the biblical texts.
Covenant Theology
and the Gospel
PressieChurch.org is committed to
the teachings of covenant theology and in particular a vociferous commitment to the active obedience of Christ as our
law keeper and our righteousness. This is the
basis of our acceptance and assurance as the people of God and
the centrepiece of the good news of Jesus Christ to a world
dead in sin.
Covenant Theology
and the Presbyterian Church
Consequently this site wants to
encourage an examination of and a return to reformed theology
as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith and to
once again popularise its teaching in the Presbyterian Church
of Australia.
Reformed
Theology is Covenant Theology
Reformed soteriology is really two Adam theology, two federal
representatives, the first man Adam and the last man Jesus.
-
"So it is written
: the first man Adam became a living being the last Adam, a
life giving spirit. The first man was from the dust of the
earth, the second man from heaven." (1 Cor 15:45,47)
-
"...sin entered
the world through one man and death through sin and in this
way death came to all men.." (Rom 5:12]
-
"For if many die
through the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's
grace and the gift [righteousness] that came by the grace of
the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many." (Rom 5:15)
-
Just as the
result of the one trespass was condemnation for all men [in
Adam], so also the result of one act of righteousness was
justification that brings life to all men [in Christ] (Rom
5:18)
In this way these two men represent all people. A man is
either in the first man Adam or the last man Jesus, the man of
the earth or the man of heaven.
-
The first Adam
broke the covenant [of works] in Eden and brought sin, death
and judgment upon us all (Hos 6:7; Rom 5:12f).
-
The second Adam
kept the covenant [of works] with perfect obedience and then
gave up his righteous life as a propitiation for sin and
through him brought righteousness and life to all who who
trust in him. [Rom 3:25; Rom 5:12ff]
Covenant Theology
"What is covenant theology? The
straightforward, if provocative answer to that question is that
it is what is nowadays called a hermeneutic - that is, a way of
reading the whole Bible that is itself part of the overall
interpretation of the Bible that it under girds. A successful
hermeneutic is a consistent interpretation procedure yielding a
consistent understanding of Scripture that in turn confirms the
proprietary of the procedure itself. Covenant theology is a case
in point. It is a hermeneutic that forces itself upon every
thoughtful Bible reader..."
James Packer, Introduction
to covenant theology in Witsius' "The economy of the covenants
between man and God"
"Acquaintance with this covenant is
of the greatest importance, for whoever errs here or denies the
existence of the covenant of works, will not understand the
covenant of grace, and will readily err concerning the mediatorship of the Lord Jesus. Such a person will very readily
deny that Christ by His active obedience has merited a right to
eternal life for the elect."
Wilhelmus á Brakel, 'The
Christian’s Reasonable Service' Vol 1, pg 355.
“The doctrine of the
covenant lies at the root of all true theology. It has been said
that he who well understands the distinction between the
covenant of works and the covenant of grace, is a master of
divinity. I am persuaded that most of the mistakes which men
make concerning the doctrines of Scripture, are based upon
fundamental errors with regard to the covenant of law and of
grace. May God grant us now the power to instruct, and you the
grace to receive instruction on this vital subject.” He also
said If anyone should
ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, "I should reply, 'He is one
who says, Salvation is of the Lord.'"
Charles Spurgeon,
addressing the Pastors College Conference in 1891 a few years
before his death.
At Caringbah
Presbyterian church we have
Recommended 40 Books for God's people and leaders
Books marked with an * are reading specifically for
leadership.
|
Knowing God -
J Packer
The Holy
Spirit - J Owen
Chosen By
God - RC Sproul
Potters
Freedom - R White
Saved by Grace
- A Hoekema
Sovereignty
of God - A W Pink*
On the
Freedom of the Will - J Edwards*
Reformed
Doctrine of Predestination - L Boettner*
Justification
by Faith Alone - C Hodge
Justification by Faith Alone - J Edwards*
Redemption
Accomplished and Applied - J Murray
Death of
Death in the Death of Christ - J Owen*
The
Everlasting Righteousness - H Bonar*
The Bruised
Reed - R Sibbes
The Enemy
Within – K Lungaard
Mortification of Sin – J Edwards*
The Bible and
the Future - A Hoekma
A Case for
Amillennialism - K Riddlebarger*
Economy of
Covenants- H Witsuis*
Christ of
the Covenants – O Palmer Robertson* |
Israel of God
– O Palmer Robertson
Pilgrims
Progress – J Bunyan
Gospel and the
Kingdom – G Goldsworthy
Truth For All
time - J Calvin
Biblical
Theology - G Vos*
Systematic
Theology – W Grudem*
New
Systematic Theology – R Reymond*
Depression: A
Stubborn Darkness – E Welch
Addiction: A
Banquet in the Grave – E Welch
Baptism Mode
and Meaning – J Adams
Shepherding a
Childs Heart – T Tripp
Darwin on
Trial - P Johnstone
Decision
Making and Will of God - G Frieson
Today's
Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic – W Chantry
Tell the Truth
- W Metzger
Biblical
Preaching - H Robbinson*
Lectures to
my Students – C Spurgeon*
Preachers
and Preaching – M Lloyd-Jones*
The
Imperative of preaching – J Carrick*
Preaching
with Freshness – B Mawhinney* |