As we go to press this week, Pastor K. D. Ward and the Central Missionary Baptist Church, of Downey, California, are preparing to entertain a Bible Conference dealing with Covenant Theology. Much as I would like to attend this Conference, word was not received in time to make adequate preparation. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to meet with these brethren later.
    For the past 35 years it has been my deep conviction that there can be no adequate interpretation of the Scriptures - especially as related to God's ultimate purpose in the universe - apart from a firm Covenant foundation. In the covenants made to men God has progressively set forth His unwavering plan - both for man and for the universe.
    Though purposed before the world was created, God did not reveal His plan all at once. Rather, He revealed it in His covenants to men as the need arose for men to have a fuller view of His intention. Within the framework of the covenants, God is preparing a special, peculiar people to share the "inheritance" and rulership of the Kingdom of His dear Son.
    The experience of covenant fellowship is only for those whose lives are characterized by faithfulness in the way that God

    Though often passing for piety, an appetite of spiritual lust can only lead to disillusionment and despair. It never pays off; never satisfies; never fulfills.
    Jesus said that whoever believes in Him will never thirst. Thirst comes to the child of God who, turning from the "Fountain of Living Waters", seeks satisfaction elsewhere. In the name of "spirituality" some folk seek "blessing upon blessing" -- ever demanding more! Pre-occupied with the gifts, they ignore the Giver. Actually, they are pre-occupied with satisfying themselves.
    Such conduct is like drinking salt water: the more you drink the deeper your thirst! Every effort to quench it only increases it. Such spiritual lust leads to a jaded life -- satiated, but unsatisfied; dried out, wrinkled and barren.
    Anything more than Jesus, for satisfaction, turns out to be less than Jesus! But, when He is your satisfaction, you will never thirst again! He is more than adequate -- everything that man needs -- all that God gives. To understand His infinite, incomprehensible love and grace for mankind will require an eternity!
    Jesus offered Himself as "the Bread of life", saying: "I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst ....I

am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world", (Jn. 6:35, 51). In Him there is "enough and to spare", (comp. Lk. 15:17).
    On another occasion He offered Himself as the "Water of Life" - living water of which any man may freely drink, (Jn. 4:0; 7 38; Rev. 22:17).
    Since the fulness of deity dwells "bodily" in Christ, one finds in him the "fulness" of life! How tragically insane to miss this satisfying fulness while chasing after the alluringly deceptive fantasies of this world! Especially while piously pretending that one is on a spiritual pilgrimage!

Covenant Theology ... Continued
has appointed. In Old Testament times, following the constitution of Israel as a nation [at Mt. Small, covenant relationship was limited to those Israelites [and/or proselytes] who walked according to the Law - serving Jehovah, their God, with sincere and loving hearts.

    The editor would like to express his deep appreciation to Pastor Leonard C. Ford, and the beloved brethren at First Missionary Baptist Church, of Anchorage, Alaska, for their decision to support the CLARION HERALD on a monthly basis. Though we have never appealed for funds, we are most grateful to all those who so faithfully support this ministry - both with your prayers and offerings.
    Checks in support of the CLARION HERALD should be made out to "Landmark Missionary Baptist Church". E.G.
    In the New Testament era, the experience of covenant relationship is possible only for those who, through the obedience of faith, are properly identified with Jesus Christ as members of His body. This requires a commitment of their lives to His service and a faithful walk in the functioning fellowship of a local, New Testament church.
    Thank the Lord for those brethren who, not only recognize the vital importance of "Covenant Theology", but who are earnestly endeavoring to challenge others to consider it more seriously. -- Eugene L. Garner

    "The important thing to remember about faith is that it is the object upon which it is centered that validates it, not the inherent strength or weakness of the faith itself. If faith, no matter how weak, responds to and resides in God and in his Son Christ Jesus, it becomes strong, virile, unshakable". If ... centered in circumstances or changing human nature, then it is likely to be broken, crushed, and rendered of no avail simply because it is lodged in something unreliable.

    In discussing Covenant Theology, and the covenant relationship, we are not dealing with the initial step of salvation (as deliverance from the guilt and penalty of sin). Through the goodness and grace of God, salvation from hell is offered to all men - solely by grace, through faith; it is a gift from God. Not all saved people are in a relationship of covenant-fellowship with God. Covenant relationship is a privilege belonging only to those saved individuals who have devoted themselves to the Lord's service, in the way He has appointed. In this age that requires a faithful, functioning relationship in a scriptural, New Testament church.

    1. Covenant Theology is a model for interpreting the Bible as a whole unit and as having a singular objective. This model emphasizes the unity of the Scripture.

  2. Covenant Theology does recognize different eras or periods of time in which God has chosen to work with men in different ways. Yet, this is not what is meant by Dispensationalism.

    3. Under the model of Covenant Theology, one may see God's overall purpose - the establishment of His everlasting Kingdom.

    4. God's kingdom purpose, as set forth in the covenant He made to men, finds its roots in the call of Abraham, and the promises that God made to him and to his Seed.

    5. The Abrahamic covenant and its promises were renewed to Isaac and Jacob (Israel). This covenant was to be "AN EVERLASTING COVENANT".

    "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting

    1. Dispensationalism fails to recognize that God maintains a singular, unchanging purpose throughout the Scriptures. Thus, the Dispensational model cannot be trusted to set forth a united and consistent interpretation.

    2. Dispensationalism views God as having a totally different purpose, different promises, and a different destiny for faithful New Testament saints than He does for faithful Old Testament saints.

   3. Under the Dispensational model one is required to posture a fragmented purpose; under it Old Testament saints, however faithful, cannot qualify for the concept of "bridehood" as set forth in the New Testament.

    4. The Dispensationalist model finds its roots in the teachings of J. N. Darby, of the Plymouth Brethren, in the 1830's. Others who followed Darby's doctrine, and developed it even further were: C. I. Scofield, Lewis Sperry Chafer and Charles Ryrie.
    Today, everything that is written on ecclesiology and eschatology is written from the

Covenant", (Genesis 17:7).

    6. This covenant and its enjoining promises assured Abraham of a kingly line, which includes the kings that will reign with Christ in His kingdom.

    "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you", (Gen. 17:6) "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His father", (Rev. 1:3).

    7. This model teaches that various other covenants were included within the framework of the Abrahamic; such as the Davidic covenant which paved the way for a kingly line and the Levitical covenant which provided for a priestly order.

    8. The New covenant is also within the framework of the Abrahamic covenant. Therefore, the writer to the Hebrews spoke of the New Covenant (Ch. 8) as being made with the "House of Israel and with the House of Judah", (Comp. Rom. 9:3-4).

    9. However, the New covenant which was to be made with the "House of Israel", was made with the apostles who were the elect remnant of Israel; the bulk of the nation having been cut off due to their unbelief and rejection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

    "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved [preserved]", (Rom. 9:27).

    10. In Romans 11, the covenant is set forth under the figure of an olive tree. The root of this tree represents the Abrahamic covenant; the fatness (riches) symbolizes the

viewpoint of Darby's Dispensational interpretation. These Protestant views have even found their way into the Missionary Baptist camp; most all their writings have been rooted in the Dispensationalism of Darby, Scofield, Chafer and Ryrie-re-packaged around the "local church" concept.

    5. Dispensationalists deny that the Abrahamic covenant was to be an everlasting covenant in that they do not recognize its scope as extending even to faithful saints in the New Covenant era.

    6. This model has no provision for the extension of a kingly line, through the Abrahamic covenant, clear on down to the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom.

    7. Under the Dispensational model no continuity is recognized between the (everlasting) Abrahamic covenant and the Davidic, Levitical and New covenants.

    8. Dispensationalism sees, in the New Testament, no connection between any preexisting Old Testament purpose, people, or destiny; rather, they view it as being totally divorced from God's eternal purpose as set forth in the Abrahamic covenant.

    9. Dispensationalism holds that the New Covenant was not, in any sense, made with the house of Israel - believing that there is no remnant of the nation left with which to continue God's covenant purpose as established with Abraham.

   10. Dispensationalists have problems with Romans 11. They are not willing to accept the

blessings; the branches represent individuals who are connected to the covenant.

    11. Some of the branches [unbelieving Jews] were broken off while the remnant of believing Jews were spared and retained their existing covenant relationship; these Jews which were spared, along with the root and the tree, became the "ekklesia". Wild olive branches [believing Gentiles] are being grafted into this same olive tree which assures the inclusion of a New covenant people [the Lord's church] in the promises and blessings of Abraham, (Rom. 11:17). It is through a functioning identification with a New Testament church that Gentiles may become "children [huioi] of Abraham" (his spiritual seed); "be blessed with faithful Abraham", (Gal. 3:9); and become "heirs with him" according to the promise, (Gal. 3:29).

    12. The Abrahamic covenant was not disannulled by the institution of the Mosaic Thus, when the Mosaic was eventually made obsolete, the Abrahamic was still in force -- all the following covenants being clearly associated with it. Our Lord Himself declared that many would come from the East, West, North and South and shall "sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom".

    (Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:29). This is why members of New Testament churches are regarded as "children" and "heirs" of Abraham.

    13. The New covenant, made with the apostles (as the remnant of Israel, and nucleus of the New Testament "ekklesia°), is the Abrahamic renewed and confirmed in Christ, (Rom. 15:8-11).

"olive tree" analogy as representing Gentiles being grafted into an already existing covenant made with Israel.

    11. They fail to see how Gentiles are "grafted in among them", and "partake with them" of the root and fatness of the "olive tree". Nor do they appear to understand how these are "supported by the root", (Rom. 11:18-22). Failing to recognize, or denying this, they are greatly confused by Paul's teaching [Ephesians 2 & 3] that Gentiles coming into the New Testament "ekklesia" (originally established with a faithful remnant of Israel) are made "fellow citizens with the [Jewish] saints and of the household of God", (Eph. 2:19) and made "fellow heirs ... of the same body", (Eph. 3:6).

    12. Under the Dispensational model, there is no continuity from the Abrahamic covenant to the New Testament "ekklesia" established by Jesus Christ. Those adopting Dispensationalism as their model for biblical interpretation, view the whole Old Testament (including the Davidic, Levitical and Abrahamic covenants) as being "done away" - rather than seeing that only the Mosaic was of such a temporary nature.

    13. Dispensationalism rejects any definite continuity between the Old Testament and the [Jewish] apostles, who formed both the nucleus and foundation of the New Testament church.

"Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone".

    14. Once again, Dispensationalism denies

14. Now, under the renewed Abrahamic covenant, the church has better promises than Israel had while under the law [Mosaic covenant]. These better promises include:

A Better Sacrifice, (Heb. 9:14).
A Better Mediator [High Priest], (Heb. 9:15).
A Better Approach to God, (Heb. 4:14-16).
A Better Administration of the Spirit, (2 Cor. 3:7-8).

    15. Thus, the Covenant Model sets forth the position that the faithful of the Old Testament era, already in covenant fellowship with

God, will be joined by the engrafted "ekklesia" [spiritual seed of Abraham] into the "everlasting covenant" made with the "Father" of the faithful. Together they will be granted an abundant [bridal] entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord, (2 Pet. 1:11). The saved, but unfaithful, who are outside this covenant relationship, will dwell as "subjects" - outside the City in the future kingdom ages, (Rev. 21:24).

that the "better promises", given the Lord's church for this age, have any connection with the everlasting covenant made in Genesis 17:6-7.

    15. Mainline Dispensationalists embrace a universal church and bride - living in heaven for all eternity; while the saved of the Old Testament era will dwell on the earth. They have accepted a "lordship salvation" approach -- believing that one is "saved by grace", but "kept by works". They see the possibility of an unfaithful man's losing his personal salvation, rather than his forfeiting the privilege of bridal relationship and the loss of rewards.

    Many Missionary Baptists, while accepting the basic tenets of Darby's dispensational approach, are modified Dispensationalists. Although they agree with Darby's view that Abraham, David, John the Baptist, etc., will not be in the bride [along with faithful members of New Testament churches], they do believe in a reward system, as well as in a literal, earthly kingdom. Many also recognize that the covenant promises are conditional.

    The Dispensational model is inadequate for displaying a Unity of all the Scriptures.