Introducing Covenant Theology

Instead of the regular shepherding notes this week, I thought I would give everyone a heads-up on what will be Paul's main subject matter from the middle of Chapter 3 to the end of Chapter 4 in Galatians. The name that theologians tack on to it is "Covenant Theology." Seeing it in an extended passage of Scripture as Paul sets it forth makes it rather difficult for people to poke at as some "arbitrary," "speculative," "systematic" category. Here are the main points:

1. God is a promise-keeping God. His faithfulness is not rooted in anything going on down here, but in his very nature as a covenanting God. There is even perfect agreement within the three Persons of the Trinity on who does what in Creation, Redemption, and Restoration.

2. There are only two kinds of religion in the world; only two that are possible, really: relating to God by His promises, or, relating to God by your performance.

3. In the redemptive history of the Bible, these two religions are represented in two main covenants that weave through the whole fabric of Scripture. Theologians have given these names as well: The Abrahamic and the Mosaic Covenant. Their main features are as follows

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  Through Abraham - grace, unconditional, promise, to spiritual descendents, blessing


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  Through Moses - law, conditional, performance, to physical descdendents, blessing/cursing

Of course, this all brings up a lot of questions like: Can you give me some verses? or, Does this mean I have to baptize my infant or become a postmillenialist and purchase a bunker in northern Idaho? or, How does Jesus as the Mediator fit into this? or, How does this handle the distinctions between law and gospel or between Old and New Covenants? or, OK, I recognize those story lines, but why do theologians have to start naming and boxing off everything? or just flat out--So what?

All good questions. That's why I look forward to preaching through this section of Galatians. I hope it whets your appetite as well.

By the way, the best resource I know of on the issue is Michael Horton's book God of Promise.