I think you are very correct in your OPINION. That is why I referred to the eternal state & the New Jerusalem as heaven on earth.

GT said: "I think you are very correct in your OPINION."
Jim, please mark that down on my account. I got something right about eschatology (or is it scatalogy?) and I'm not even educated.

"Where Jesus Is, Tis Heaven There"

Since Christ my soul from sin set free,
This world has been a Heav’n to me;
And ’mid earth’s sorrows and its woe,
’Tis Heav’n my Jesus here to know.

Once Heaven seemed a far off place,
Till Jesus showed His smiling face;
Now it’s begun within my soul,
’Twill last while endless ages roll.

What matters where on earth we dwell?
On mountain top, or in the dell,
In cottage, or a mansion fair,
Where Jesus is, ’tis Heaven there.

O hallelujah, yes, ’tis Heav’n,
’Tis Heav’n to know my sins forgiv’n,
On land or sea, what matters where?
Where Jesus is, ’tis Heaven there.

-Charles J. But­ler

This post was last modified: Wed May 14, 2008 12:00 AM by Brother Tim.

Are Covenant Theology & Dispensational Theology necessarily in opposition?

Basically, a Covenant is a unilateral declaration of protection by a superior, on condition of obedience of the inferior. Often a shared meal or sacrifice ratifies the covenant.

Covenants between peoples are recorded, but we are concerned with God's covenants. See Gen. 21:22ff, Josh. 9 (league is the same word as covenant.)

While there are many covenants in Scripture, many are typical of the overarching New or Everlasting Covenant by which we are saved.

The covenant with Adam was conditional on his obedience. He disobeyed & fell into sin, taking all his posterity with him. Imediately God gave a promise of redemption, actually spoken to the Serpent. (Gen. 3:15)

The Noahic or Rainbow Covenant was an undertaking by God to preserve the earth, with fruitful seasons, while it remained. No conditions were stated.

The land covenant of Gen. 15 was that the descendants of Abraham would return & possess the land after 400 years. No conditions are given, & there is no promise of perpetuity.

The Circumcision Covenant of Gen. 17 is an everlasting covenant; it includes the land, but also includes a condition for breach of covenant. (Failure to circumcise.) The covenant included all his household including Ishmael.

The Sinai Covenant was on the condition of obedience. Ex. 24.
Exd 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

Leviticus 26 states aspects of that covenant, with blessings, curses and a promise of reinstatement. It includes the wonderful & oft-repeated covenant promise that is fully realised in the New Heaven & New Earth (Rev. 21):

Lev 26:11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Jeremiah prophesied a New Covenant, that was fully ratified by the cross, and declared to be the Everlasting Covenant. (Heb. 13)

The various covenants are typical of the New & Everlasting Covenant, for everyone saved from Adam onwards was saved by the blood of Jesus & faith in him.

Every covenant involving man was broken. We deserve only death for our disobedience.

Jesus Christ came as our surety under the Covenant & kept every detail to perfection. As man he took the sins of his people on himself, so that he suffered death for our breach of covenant. We are no longer considered guilty for breach of covenant - we are saved by Jesus' death & resurrection. He was obedient under the Old Covenant, and his New Covenant gives us every spiritual blessing in him.

Our baptism into Christ applies the symbolised shed blood to our consciences, & ratifies the New Covenant to us, as the sprinkled blood of Ex. 24 did to the Israelites. (See Heb. 9)

Hbr 13:20 ¶ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Belief in dispensationalism does not stop you fully accepting Covenant Theology.

This post was last modified: Sat May 31, 2008 10:03 AM by Ebenezer.