What is New Covenant Theology?
We would recommend that you start with Murray’s article. Please click the link below.
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New Covenant Theology: An Introduction by Murray McLellan
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What is New Covenant Theology? by Geoff Volker, Bill Knaub, and Mike Adams
A Summary of New Covenant Theology by Geoff Volker, Bill Knaub, and Mike Adams
New Covenant Theology describes how the unfolding plan of salvation in Scripture is to be understood. It differs with both Covenant Theology and Historic Dispensationalism.
Relationship to Covenant Theology
Covenant Theology errs in trying to read the Old Covenant as though it were the New Covenant. It also errs in its view that the Ten Commandments are the essence of all of God’s law in every era.
Relationship to Dispensationalism
The Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant, also called the First Covenant) is a legal, conditional covenant, not another administration of the Covenant of Grace. Although God had a gracious purpose for giving the Mosaic Covenant the covenant itself is a legal covenant that was intended to show the Israelites their sin.
The Nation of Israel
The nation of Israel is the “unbelieving” people of God. Israel was a picture of the real people of God (the Church) that are fully revealed in the New Covenant era. Only a remnant of Israel were believers.
The 10 Commandments
The Ten Commandments are the essence or terms of the Old Covenant not the essence of all of God’s law in every era. Although the New Covenant does restate 9 of the 10 (the Sabbath is excluded) as individual commands, the Ten Commandments as a unit are not brought into the New Covenant era. The essence of all of God’s law is found in the 2 great commandments to love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself, not in the Ten Commandments:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
The Abrahamic Covenant
The Abrahamic Covenant is a revealing of God’s plan of salvation through Abraham and his physical descendants. The true seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ and the believers are the true children of Abraham.
The Law of Christ
The Law of Christ is the law in the New Covenant era. The issue is not whether or not believers in the New Covenant era are under law. The issue is which law are the believers under in this present era.