Covenant Theology
Vs
Dispensationalism
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INTRODUCTION
EXPLANATION
EXPLORATION
CLARIFICATION
APPLICATION
INFORMATION
:- The Topic
:- Why
:- What is taught
:- Where we stand
:- What we do
:- Further Study
INTRODUCTION
COVENANT THEOLOGY
Historical Reformed Teaching. Early Church Fathers
Calvin, Reformers and Puritans.
SOVERIGN GRACE :-God’s eternal plan of salvation.
(Presbyterians)
DISPENSATIONALISM
A new view of God’s plan of salvation which
surfaced mid 19th century
(Plymouth Brethren et al)
EXPLANATION :-WHY?
We will meet others with conflicting views
They also will refer to scripture texts
These will be fellow believers who share our
faith
They may be sincere and may have arrived at
these views prayerfully
They may be dogmatic in their views
We must treat them (fellow believers) with
courtesy when in discussion
Jesus said “Abraham rejoiced to see my day” John 8 v 56
History of Church From Pentecost
3 Competing Views Emerge
CAVINISM (Presbyterians etc.) 1600s
ARMINIANISM (Methodists etc.) 1700s
DESPENSATIONALISM (Brethren etc) 1800s
EXPLORATION
DISPENSATIONALISTS believe that God’s plan of salvation went
through seven different time periods or dispensations.
Father Ribera 1591 AD
(RC Jesuit priest)
Emmanuel Lacunza 1731 -1801
(Jesuit priest from Chile)
Edward Irving 1792 – 1834
(Charismatic Scottish minister)
• Margaret McDonald 1830
• (15 year old Scottish girl vision of the rapture)
• John Nelson Darby 1800 -1882
• (Anglo/Irish Evangelist)
• Cyrus Scofield 1843 – 1921
• (American evangelist and
• Scofield Reference Bible)
7 DISPENSATIONS:1. INNOCENCE (From creation to the
fall of man)
2. CONSCIENCE (From the fall of
man until the flood)
3. HUMAN GOVERNMENT (From
the flood until the call of Abraham)
4. PROMISE ( From the call of Abraham until the
Mosaic Law)
5. MOSIAC LAW ( From the Mosaic Law until Christ
was crucified)
6. GRACE ( From Christ was crucified until the
rapture of the church)
7. MILLINNIUM (From the rapture of the church
until Satan is released from the abyss)
Covenant Theology teaches that God
had only one plan for man’s salvation
from all eternity
Covenant Theology is the tenant of the Free
Presbyterian Church. The Westminster
Confession of Faith enshrines this
doctrine and all ministers and elders
must subscribe to it at their ordination
• Covenant Theology recognises only 2
Covenants in the Bible
• 1. Covenant of Works(obedience) made with
Adam and his posterity
• 2. Covenant of Grace made with men upon
condition of accepting Christ by faith.
• God had no plan ‘B’ . The plan of redemption
through Christ was in place from all eternity
Dispensationalists see the church believers and
Israel as two different sets of believers with
two different purposes and two different
destinations in eternity
ONE WAY
CALVARY
OT Believers
• In faith through shadows,
• types & ordinances etc
N T Believers
By Faith alone
God’s Plan :- being revealed
by the sacrifice of a lamb
For an
Individual
For a
Family
For a
Nation
For the
World
The Believer and the Law
There are 3 types of law in the
CIVIL LAW
CEREMONIAL LAW
CANON LAW
YES !
APPLICATION
Avoid
Remember
Be
Know
Always
&
CONCLUSION
READ
&
RESEARCH
“Study to show thyself approved unto God” (2Tim2v15)