A comparison between the three systems [Covenant, dispensational and new covenant theology]

A brief intro to covenant theology by R Scott Clark 

Classic covenant theology by R Scott Clark  

A covenant theology primer By Rev Dale K. Dykema

What is Covenant theology? Part A By Darren Middleton

The Unwanted Truth: Why Evangelicals are rejecting Covenant theology By Darren Middleton

Covenant theology and the atonement By Darren Middleton

Covenant Vs dispensational critique (1) Rev Darren Middleton  [Using Hoekema]               

Covenant Vs dispensational critique (2) Rev Darren Middleton  [Using Hoekema]  

Definition of a covenant by Rev C.A Schouls

Intro to the Bible covenants 1: Central theme By Ralph A Smith

Intro to the Bible covenants 2: What is a covenant (1) By Rev Ralph A Smith

Intro to the Bible covenants 3: What is a covenant (2) By Rev Ralph A Smith

Intro to the Bible covenants 3: What is a covenant (3) By Rev Ralph A Smith

Intro to the Bible covenants 4: History of the Covenants (1) By Rev Ralph A Smith

Intro to the Bible covenants 5: History of the Covenants (2) By Rev Ralph A Smith                              

What is Covenant Theology? By Dr Ligon Duncan III

A Brief introduction to Covenant Theology By Dr Ligon Duncan III

Covenant Theology is historic Christianity By Dr Ligon Duncan III

Everlasting covenant By Lloyd Jones

Covenant theology By Ben Sasse

Covenant of works by Arthur Allen

Covenant of grace By C Hodge

God's covenants with man By AA Hodge

Covenant and creation: Covenant theology in outline

Outline of covenant of grace By Thornwell

An historical perspective on federalism by K Hartley

Towards a concise definition of Covenant theology by K Hartley

Clarity on the Covenants By gregory Reynolds (off site)

The covenant of grace By Dabney (off site)

My shift to covenant theology By David White (off site)

An overview of O Palmer Robertson By Dr M McMahon

Introduction to covenant theology by mslick (off site)

Introduction to covenant theology by Dr Iain Campbell (off site) 

Geerhardus Vos on covenant (off site)

Geerhardus Vos on the history of covenant theology (off site)

Treatise on the Covenant of redemption By Patrick Gillespie (off site)

Covenant Concepts in Dr. Francis Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology By M McMahon (off site)
John Owen and the Covenant of Redemption By M McMahon (off site)

Covenant theology illustrated through Rom 5  by Dr S Baugh (off site)

5 arguments for the unity of the covenant of grace By R Reymond (off site)

The covenant of grace: Its scriptural origins and development on the continent By Rev CA Schouls (off site)

Covenant Sign and Seal: The Symbolic Significance of Circumcision, and Its Application to the New Testament Believer Part 1 of 2 By M. Glodo

Covenant Sign and Seal: The Symbolic Significance of Circumcision, and Its Application to the New Testament Believer Part 1 of 2 By M. Glodo

What is a Covenant by J I packer

 

An Explanation and Defense of Covenant Theology

The Covenant of Redemption by Dr. King Counts (2)

The Covenant of Works by Dr. King Counts (3)

The test and fall by Dr King Counts (4)

Covenant Implication for Children.

Gill on Federal Headship 

David Dickson on Covenant                                                  

The Covenant of Works Dr Faber

John Owen and Federal Theology by Steve Griffiths

Creation & Covenant: Covenant Theology in Outline By Dr Rowland Ward

God's Covenant Unfolded: Creation to New Creation By Dr Rowland Ward

Jonathan Edwards on Covenant By John Gerstner (off site)

Does Covenant Of Works/Covenant Of Grace Confuse The Law/Gospel Distinction By Dr Horton (off site)

The Covenantal Summons: When God Gathers His People By Dr Horton (off site)

How Covenant Theology Protects the Doctrine of Justification  By Dr Horton (off site)

Covenant theology under attack By Dr Meredith Kline (off site)

Two Adam, two covenants of works By Dr Meredith Kline (off site)

Kline answering objections to the Covenant of works By Meredith Kline (off site)

An Introduction to covenant theology by Stephen Geard (off site)

"A Summary of Institutes of Elentic Theology, 'Twelfth Topic: The Covenant of Grace and Its Twofold Economy in the Old and New Testaments,'" by Francis Turretin (off site)

Dialogue within Covenant Theology

Covenant theology in the Scottish experience by Dr Peter Barnes

Some thoughts on covenant and justification 1 (Cov of works) By Dr Rowland Ward

Some thoughts on covenant and justification 2 (Issue of merit) By Dr Rowland Ward

Some thoughts on covenant and justification 3 (NP justification) By Dr Rowland Ward

Reformed interpretations of the Covenant of Works 1: Introduction By Ralph Allan Smith

Reformed interpretations of the Covenant of Works 2: Morecraft By Ralph A Smith

Reformed interpretations of the Covenant of Works 3: Kline By Ralph A smith

Reformed interpretations of the Covenant of Works 4: Murray By Ralph A Smith

Reformed interpretations of the Covenant of Works 5: Jordan By Ralph A Smith

Reformed interpretations of the Covenant of Works 6: Conclusion By Ralph A Smith

Decalogue: Covenant of works or Grace By Herman Witsuis

Covenant Theology: The need for a reappraisal and reaffirmation Rev. John N. MacLeod 1926 - 2002.

Should the Covenant of works be a litmus test of orthodoxy? By Ralph A Smith

John 17 and the Covenant of Redemption 1: Introduction By Ralph A Smith

John 17 and the Covenant of Redemption 2: Non covenantal view By Ralph A Smith

John 17 and the Covenant of Redemption 3: Covenantal view (1) By Ralph A Smith

John 17 and the Covenant of Redemption 4: Covenantal view (2) By Ralph A Smith

John 17 and the Covenant of Redemption 5: Conclusion By Ralph A Smith

Biblical Proof that the Mosaic Administration is part of the unfolding Covenant of Grace between God and Man" off site

Prelapsarian Federalism and the shape of Reformed Theology. By David Gibson

The Puritan Concept of Merit. By Andrew Moody

Mark Karlberg's book 'covenant theology in Reformed perspective' pdf (off site)

Several quick arguments that the Covenant of works is not gracious By Bill Baldwin (off site)

Redefining Merit: An Examination of Medieval Presuppositions in Covenant Theology By Lee Irons (off site)

A brief answer on the conditionality of the covenants by Ra McLaughlin (off site)

New Covenant Theology - A Challenge to Reformed Theology

The history of new covenant theology by Kevin Hartley

Is there a covenant of grace? By John Zens

What is new covenant theology? by Geoff Volker, Bill Knaub, and Mike Adams

Notes on new covenant theology by Geoff Volker  

Defining new covenant theology and some conclusions by Kevin Hartley

A response to Mike Adams' "In Defense of the New Covenant" by Greg Welty

What is the difference between covenant theology, and new covenant theology? (off site)

Justification (Including the challenges of New Perspective etc)

Justification - The imputation of the active and passive obedience of Jesus Christ to the elect alone through faith alone (Rom 3:25; 5:1, 9-10), Though saving faith is in fact, never alone, but adorned with good works that the Father prepared in advance for the elect to do (Eph 2:10).

Some thoughts on covenant theology and justification By Dr R Ward

New Perspective and its Pastoral Implications By Rev D R  Middleton      

Book review on N.T Wright's "What St Paul Really Said" By Rev D R Middleton

A short note on N.T Wright & his critics (defense of sola fide)

Justification in Paul's Letters - Philip Eveson (off site)
Justification in Other New Testament Books - Philip Eveson (off site)
Justification in the Old Testament - Philip Eveson (off site)
Justification: the 'Right Words' - Philip Eveson (off site)
Justification: Right with God - Philip Eveson (off site)

Two men deciding our lives for us By David Linden (off site)

Righteousness for the unrighteous By Lee Irons (off site)

Raised for our justification By Lee Irons (off site)

Reformed quotes on Justification By Lee Irons (off site)

The very serious matter of imputed righteousness By David Linden (off site)

Dangers of a falling Church By Dr R S Clarke [On the dangers of confusing justification and sanctification]

An address to the student on justification and perseverance by Dr D Garlington [A defense of his NP position]

The Norman Shepherd Controversy 

Norman Shepherd (by all accounts a fine Christian man) taught at WTS east following on from John Murray from 1963-1981. Controversial in his articulation of reformed theology, in particular his view on covenant and justification, he was embroiled in controversy from 1975-81 until the board of WTS finally relieved him of his teaching position. Charges then were filed against Mr Shepherd with his OPC Presbytery, however, Mr Shepherd left the OPC and joined the Christian Reformed Church where he is now a Minister Emeritus without these charges been pursued. The implications of this controversy are still being felt to this day in various reformed denominations while many of the faculty of WTS still remain sympathetic to Shepherd's teaching.

Some controversial aspects of Mr Shepherd's theology are his rejection of a covenant of works and the idea of merit, and as a consequence, the active obedience of Christ. His insistence that election and therefore salvation be viewed from the perspective of covenant as opposed to the eternal decrees of God and his role of baptism as marking ones entry into the covenant of grace and its benefits (which may be lost) have been well noted. However, it is his view of justification by faith and works (non meritorious) that have consistently caused concern and objection. Consequently, in 1981 many notable Christian theologians and leaders including Roger Nicole, RC Sproul, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, O Palmer Robertson, Robert Reymond, George Knight III, W Stanford Reid, Morton Smith, Albert Martin, Robert Godfrey, W Hendrickson and Meredith Kline among others sighed the infamous 'letter of forty five' expressing concern over Norman Shepherd's formulations (see below) that forced the board of WTS to act. Hence, the Norman Shepherd controversy.

Saving Faith in the Writings of Norman Shepherd and the WCF by Darren Middleton

[Pdf file only]

[This paper is around 15,000 words dealing with 'Covenant Context for Evangelism', '34 Thesis', 'Grace of justification', 'Call of Grace', 'Law and Gospel' and 'Justification by Faith Alone'. It concludes that Shepherd has departed from orthodoxy in his reformulation of saving faith. Whereas historically the Reformed have taught we are justified by Christ meritoriously, by faith instrumentally and works evidentially, Shepherd argues we are justified by Christ meritoriously and by faithfulness instrumentally.]

 

 

Norman Shepherd's article 'The Covenant Context for Evangelism'

[Given in 1975 at a  conference and then published in The N.T Student and Theology] (available for reading in PCA historical centre) 1976

          Sinclair Ferguson review of Norman Shepherd's 'The Covenant Context for Evangelism' (off site) 1977

          Norman Shepherd reply to Sinclair Ferguson's review (off site) 1977

 

Norman Shepherd's 'The Relationship of Good Works To Justification in the Westminster Standards'

[A Paper presented to the faculty of WTS ] ((available for reading in PCA historical centre) 1976

      Nineteen errors in Norman Shepherd's teaching on justification By O Palmer Robertson (off site)

 

Norman Shepherd's 34 Thesis on Justification in Relation To faith, repentance and Good works 1978

 

Norman Shepherd's 'The Grace of Justification' presented to the faculty (off site) 1979

 

The letter of the forty-five: An open letter expressing concern about Shepherd and for WTS 1981

Richard Gaffin's open letter to the letter of forty-five [in defense of Shepherd] 1981

Reasons for the removal of Norman Shepherd from WTS (off site) 1982

 

Norman Shepherd's 'My Understanding of Covenant' (off site)

 

Norman Shepherd's book 'The call of Grace' published by P&R 2000

         Review of Shepherd's "Call of Grace" by Dr Venema [An insightful review] 2002

         Review of Shepherd's "Call of Grace" by Norman Jones

         A short review of Norman Shepherd's "Call of Grace" by Darren Middleton 2004

         Justification by Faith in The Theology of Norman Shepherd by David Vandrunen (off site)

         Norman Shepherd on the faith that justifies by Calvin Beisner  (off site)

 

Norman Shepherd's 'Justification By faith Alone' 2002

[Reformation & Revival Journal Vol. 11, Number 2, Spring 2002]

         Review of Norman Shepherd thesis on justification alone by David Linden (off site) 2002        

         The PCA Presbytery of Mississippi Valley report on the reformulation of sola fide by AAT, Shepherd etc

 

Norman Shepherd's 'Justification by Faith in Pauline Theology' 2004

Norman Shepherd's 'Justification by works in Reformed Theology' 2004

[Articles in Backbone of the Bible: Covenant in Contemporary Perspective] CMP 2004

          Review of Backbone of the Bible: Covenant in Contemporary Perspective by Dr Mark Karlberg 2005

 

Norman Shepherd's 'The Law and the Gospel in Covenant Perspective' (off site) 2004

            "John Calvin Versus Norman Shepherd on Sola Fide", by Sam Waldron, 2005

 

Soteriology (Including challenges to the five solas

Supra or Infra? The eternal decree of God.

If God is sovereign what then? By Matt Perman

Monergism

Predestination By Barry Hofstetter

Sovereignty of God By John Murray

TULIP - summary of reformed theology

Was anyone saved on the cross? By James White

A defense of limited atonement

Did Jesus have to die? By Dr. David B. McWilliams

Decisional Regeneration By Jay Adams

GEORGE WHITEFIELD TO THE REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY (off site)

Sola gratia and sanctification By Rich Gilbert  (off site)

Grace alone: An evangelical problem? By Kim Riddlebarger (off site)

Who was Arminius? by Dr Robert Godfrey

 

Introduction to atonement

The current downgrade in the doctrine of atonement (off site) By David Linden

The nature of the atonement By Matt Perman (off site)

The glory of God in the cross of Christ By Matt Perman (off site)

Erroneous theories of atonement and their refutation (off site)

The everlasting righteousness By Horatius Bonar (off site)

The atonement By John Murray

 

A Brief Into to the four views of the end times By Darren Middleton 

The Coming and its precursors Dr G Vos (off site)

A critique of dispensational theology

Dispensational critique - Part A By Darren Middleton

Dispensational critique - Part B By Darren Middleton

Will there be a rapture?

What is the Kingdom of God/Heaven?

The doctrine of Premillenial Dispensationalsim

The Kingdom of God is now a rebuttal of dispensational teaching

My shift to covenant theology and Amillennialism by David L. White          

Explanation and defense of A Millennialism (Realised Millennialism)

Amillenialism By A Hoekema

Realised mill defense against post millennium - Part A

Realised mill defense against post millennium - Part B

Realised mill defense against post millennium - Part C

Realised mill defense against post millennium - Part D

Realised mill defense against post millennium - Part E

Realised mill defense against post millennium - Part F

How you might preach through Revelation By Darren Middleton

Evangelism

Gospel Preaching Commanded By A W Pink

Gospel workshops based on Metzger's "Tell the Truth" by Darren Middleton

 

The Gospel in four simple steps

1. God made us (Creator). He has the right to rule over us:

“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalms 100:3)

“Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'? Woe to him who says to his father, 'What have you begotten?' or to his mother, 'What have you brought to birth?' "This is what the LORD says - the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it.” (Isaiah 45:10-12)

2. Man rebelled (Creature). We wanted to throw off God's rule & live as if there is no creator God.

“..for all have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good.” (Romans 3:10-12)

3. God's gracious response to man's rebellion is to give his son Jesus Christ as the ransom for our rebellion through Jesus, God reconciles (deals with our rebellion and sin) people to himself

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

4. We are commanded to respond to the gospel through repentance & faith. To repent is to recognise his Lordship over us (now as our creator & redeemer) by turning from our sin & rebellion & placing our trust in Christ as our Saviour.

“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

On the Moral Law

The eternal moral law of God was written upon the heart of Adam, proclaimed by word through preachers and prophets from Adam till Sinai. And then at Sinai written on tablets of stone as the eternal revelation of God's moral will for his creatures. As new creations in Christ this law is once again restored on our hearts by the Holy  Spirit that we might delight in pleasing God through sanctified and obedient lives. (from EC Reisinger "Law and the Gospel")

Introduction to law and Gospel

All 613 Laws of the O.T

The Law & the Gospel (off site) by Michael S. Horton

Explanation and defense of the law and gospel

Calvin on Law 1: Introduction

Calvin on Law 2: Natural law

Calvin on Law 3: Covenant law

Calvin on Law 4: Judicial

Calvin on Law 5: Judicial

Calvin on Law 6: conclusion

Calvin and the Law-Gospel Hermeneutic (off site) by Michael S. Horton

Herman Bavnick on the Law Gospel distinction and preaching Translated by Dr. Nelson D. Kloosterman

Law Issues: moral law and theonomy

The moral law  by William Huntington 

Is Moses the Answer? By Darren Middleton

The death of the Decalogue by Richard Barcellos

Origins of reconstructionists By Dr Ligon Duncan III

Law not abrogated by Christ to believers By Dr E Kevan

Moral law and its relationship to believers By Dr E Kevan

Some uses of the moral law in preaching by Darren Middleton

Preaching the moral law - reformers and puritans  by GEOFF THOMAS

The Decalogue: Covenant of Works or Covenant of Grace by Herman Witsius

 

CENC report on infant baptism

Why baptise infants? By Larry Edison

Children in the administration of the covenant of grace By Thomas Shepard (off site)

Explanation and defense of covenant baptism

Infant baptism By Alan Harman

Covenant sign and seal Part 1 By Rev Glodo

Covenant sign and seal Part 2 By Rev Glodo

Children for Christ By Douglas Macmillian

Covenant Baptism explained by Prof Scott

Baptism and covenant theology By Walter Chantry

A case for infant baptism By Rev. Scott J. Simmons

Infant baptism & sovereign grace By Ronald Hanko

Defense of infant baptism By Bill Baldwin (off site)

MV Presbytery letter to Russian presbytery on covenant baptism (off site)

Introduction to Lord's Supper

The Lord's supper By Donald Mcleod

Introduction to Incarnation

The Incarnation By Brian Schwertley (off site)
Understanding the Incarnation By Matt Perman (off site)

A Meditation on the Incarnation By Matthew McMahon (off site)

How could Jesus be both God and Man [emptied himself] By RC Sproul (off site)

The virgin birth and history By James Montgomery Boice (off site)

Christ and Chalcedon: Nature, Minds, and Pluralism (off site)

Incarnation - God Sent His Son, to Save Us  By J.I. Packer