Explain the overall framework of; 1)Covenant Theology, 2) Progressive Covenantalism, 3) Progressive dispensationalism, 4) Dispensationalism. Describe each of the four with 20 bullet points per item.?
1) Covenant Theology:
- Views the Bible as one overarching covenant of grace between God and His people
- Emphasizes continuity between the Old and New Testaments
- Believes in one unified people of God
- Sees Christ as the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises
- Emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation
- Teaches that the church has replaced Israel as the people of God
- Emphasizes the importance of sacraments in the covenant community
- Teaches that believers are under the New Covenant
- Sees baptism as the New Testament equivalent of circumcision
- Emphasizes the unity of the church across all ages
- Believes in a covenant of works in the Garden of Eden
- Teaches that Adam's sin affected all humanity
- Views the Mosaic Law as a covenant of works
- Sees Christ as the mediator of the New Covenant
- Emphasizes the importance of the church as the covenant community
- Believes in the perseverance of the saints
- Teaches that the covenant of grace is eternal
- Sees the promises of the covenant fulfilled in Christ
- Emphasizes the importance of faith in the covenant relationship
- Teaches that the covenant is based on God's grace and not human merit
2) Progressive Covenantalism:
- Argues for a "progressive" understanding of God's covenants throughout history
- Emphasizes the conditional nature of some covenants
- Sees a distinction between the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and New Covenants
- Emphasizes the importance of faith in the covenant relationship
- Teaches that the New Covenant is the fulfillment of the previous covenants
- Believes in the continuity and discontinuity between the covenants
- Views the church as the "true Israel"
- Sees Christ as the mediator of the New Covenant
- Emphasizes the importance of the church in God's redemptive plan
- Teaches that the promises of the covenants find their fulfillment in Christ
- Argues for a more nuanced understanding of the covenants than Covenant Theology
- Emphasizes the importance of interpreting Scripture in its historical context
- Sees the covenants as progressively unfolding God's redemptive plan
- Believes in the importance of the church as the covenant community
- Teaches that believers are under the New Covenant
- Emphasizes the importance of faith in God's covenantal promises
- Views baptism as a sign of the New Covenant
- Sees the law as a pedagogical tool in God's redemptive plan
- Emphasizes the importance of the church in God's redemptive plan
- Teaches that the covenants are ultimately about God's glory
3) Progressive Dispensationalism:
- Believes in a progressive understanding of God's revelation throughout history
- Emphasizes the distinction between Israel and the church
- Views the church as a "parenthesis" in God's plan for Israel
- Sees a future fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies for Israel
- Emphasizes the literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies
- Teaches that the church is a distinct entity from Israel
- Sees a future restoration of Israel as a nation
- Emphasizes the importance of a future earthly kingdom for Israel
- Believes in a future tribulation period for Israel
- Teaches that God has separate plans for Israel and the church
- Views the church as a mystery in the Old Testament
- Emphasizes the importance of the land promises to Israel
- Sees a future reign of Christ on earth in Jerusalem
- Teaches that the church will be raptured before the tribulation
- Emphasizes the importance of a future millennial kingdom for Israel
- Views the church as a distinct entity from Israel
- Sees the church as a temporary means of God's redemptive plan
- Emphasizes the literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies for Israel
- Teaches that the church will be taken to heaven before the final judgment
- Views the church as a distinct entity from Israel
4) Dispensationalism:
- Believes in a literal interpretation of Scripture
- Emphasizes the distinction between Israel and the church
- Views God's plan as divided into different "dispensations" or periods of time
- Teaches that salvation has always been by grace through faith
- Sees a future restoration of Israel as a nation
- Emphasizes the importance of a future earthly kingdom for Israel
- Teaches that the church is a distinct entity from Israel
- Sees a future tribulation period for Israel
- Emphasizes the importance of a future millennial kingdom for Israel
- Believes in a future rapture of the church before the tribulation
- Teaches that God has separate plans for Israel and the church
- Views the church as a mystery in the Old Testament
- Emphasizes the importance of the land promises to Israel
- Sees a future reign of Christ on earth in Jerusalem
- Teaches that the church will be raptured before the tribulation
- Emphasizes the importance of a future millennial kingdom for Israel
- Views the church as a distinct entity from Israel
- Sees the church as a temporary means of God's redemptive plan
- Emphasizes the literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies for Israel
- Teaches that the church will be taken to heaven before the final judgment
- Views the church as a distinct entity from Israel.