The Covenant Of Grace

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This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable. Paul Jewett, author of the creative and highly provocative book Man As Male and Female, here turns his critical attention to the practice of infant baptism. Jewett does not accept the traditional "covenant" argument for baptizing infants, and this book explains why he believes this argument fails. Infant baptism is not a subject which can be isolated. For, as Jewett would have his readers understand, one's view on this issue is integrally related to one's view of the sacraments in general and thereby to the whole doctrine of the church and salvation. Thus it is understandable that what appears to be a minor theological question has had such divisive effects on the church. A discussion of the historical source of infant baptism begins Jewett's critique and introduces such issues as the distinction between infants and children, the silence of certain early church fathers on the subject, infant communion, and catechetical instruction. The second and major portion of this book examines the theological issue, focusing specifically on the covenant argument, which suggests that baptism replaces circumcision as the sign of the covenant and thereby is given to infants. This argument, Jewett claims, fails to take into account the historical character of revelation, and contains certain contradictions. Jewett concludes with a creative defense of believer baptism, one which is theologically responsible and which recognizes the profound truths of covenant theology.

This work by master theologian Edmund Calamy is a work of the highest order on covenant theology. Calamy says that there are two covenants, following the received standards of the Westminster Confession. There is the Covenant of Works, where all men by nature lie under the pollution and guilt of Adam’s sin, and liable to all the curses and penalties due to them for breach of that covenant. And then, secondly, there is the Covenant of Grace which God the Father made with Jesus Christ from all eternity to save some of the posterity of Adam. Calamy carefully and methodically explains that the Covenant of Grace was prepared and readied against the fall of Adam to take place at the very moment of his fall; otherwise the justice of God would have immediately seized on all of creation under heaven, and consumed them to nothing. But Jesus Christ came with the covenant in his hand saying, “Be gracious unto him, and deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom,” (Job 33:24). Calamy proves that the Covenant of Grace was made with Jesus Christ, and this was the contract of God the Father with God the Son from all eternity as mediator for the salvation of the elect. This is not a scan or facsimile, has been updated in modern English for easy reading and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

Thomas Watson's Body of Practical Divinity is one of the most precious of the peerless works of the Puritans; and those best acquainted with it, prize it most. Watson was one of the most concise, racy, illustrative, and suggestive of those eminent divines who made the Puritan age the Augustan period of evangelical literature. There is a happy union of sound doctrine, heart-searching experience and practical wisdom throughout all his works; and his Body of Divinity is, beyond all the rest, useful to the student and the minister. He explains the Doctrines of God, Divine Sovereignty, Salvation, Sin, and the Trinity with remarkable clarity. His thinking is sound and Scriptural. Puritan theology sets the diadem of our salvation on Christ, and Christ alone, and it is solely on the basis of his meritorious work that we are saved.

"The Mystery of Christ is well-written, displays ample knowledge of issues discussed concerning covenant theology by Baptists and paedobaptists, grounds its arguments in scriptural exegesis and theology, recovers old arguments for a new day, presents a cohesive map of the covenants of Scripture, and exalts our Lord Jesus Christ, the last Adam, throughout." -- from cover review by Richard C. Barcellos

A comprehensive account of the major theological themes in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century Puritanism of England and New England as seen through the concept "covenant of grace." The covenant of grace, von Rohr argues, enabled Puritanism to affirm both a continuation of Calvinistic predestinationism and an emergent voluntaristic pietism, pastorally both the absolute and conditional promises of God. An extensive array of primary source material is used in substantiating the author's thesis.

What Do the Five Points of Calvinism Really Mean? Many have heard of Reformed theology, but may not be certain what it is. Some references to it have been positive, some negative. It appears to be important, and they'd like to know more about it. But they want a full, understandable explanation, not a simplistic one. What Is Reformed Theology? is an accessible introduction to beliefs that have been immensely influential in the evangelical church. In this insightful book, R. C. Sproul walks readers through the foundations of the Reformed doctrine and explains how the Reformed belief is centered on God, based on God's Word, and committed to faith in Jesus Christ. Sproul explains the five points of Reformed theology and makes plain the reality of God's amazing grace.

John Owen concludes his excellent Preface with these words: "This worthy author has laboured, if I am not much mistaken, unto good success. And, as his design is to extricate things which seemed perplexed, to give light into the whole doctrine of the covenants, by declaring the proper order and method of things contained in them, with their respect one unto another; that the grace of God, in the Covenant of Grace, may be exalted, and his faithfulness, with his holiness, in the Covenant of Works, both in and by Jesus Christ, the end of the one, and the life of the other. So the reader will find, I hope, that satisfaction in these great and deep enquiries, which he will have occasion to return praise and thanks to God for." Mark Jones concludes his excellent New Introduction with these words: "The rewards are to be reaped from a careful study of this work. I would suggest keeping a Bible and pencil close by since Petto is constantly making reference to the Scriptures without giving the quotation of the passage cited. But more importantly, I would suggest keeping your heart firmly fixed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as he reveals to you, by his Spirit, THE GREAT MYSTERY OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE."