I attend a Presbyterian church, I find your refreshing teaching a source of revision and clarification. I am from India.

We need more reformed pastors reaching out on as many platforms as possible

Appreciate this video growing Dispie and seeing some gaps with it, but not totally Reformed/Covenant at this point. As a new mama, I care very much about how I teach my son the Word, and appreciate the help!

Thankyou for this clear explanation. I shall always remember the domino and the lego illustration to clarify the difference!

Your implications of the covenant theology are spot on, so great to hear you emphasising that!

Thank you so much. It’s very difficult to find Presbyterian pastors and theologians alive today. Michael Kruger, Ligon Duncan, and Sinclair Ferguson are some of my mentors. I recently found you. Such a blessing!

Pastor Matt, thanks for your work. I always find it extremely helpful. For a view of the Particular Baptist understanding of the covenants, I found Samuel Renihan's, The Mystery of Christ, His Covenant and His Kingdom beneficial. Thanks again!

Very clear. Thanks for the HONEST explanations, stating your personal view but being respectful and honest with the other views

I randomly came across your channel a couple of weeks ago and have found your videos to be a blessing. Thank you for your instruction and perspectives!

I'm enjoying your theology series, Matt. Keep it up!!!

Thoroughly enjoyed your video. As a Particular Baptist, I can think of a place or two I might have some disagreement 😉 But from one Pastor Matt to another, very well done.

Wow, Pastor Matt, you have explained this the best way I have ever heard. I’m a leaky Dispensationalist and trying to understand Covenant Theology to at least enough to represent it correctly and study it more.

Thank you for posting this. I am a Dispensationalist. I have never been exposed to Reformed until I moved to Pittsburgh. I couldn't understand why I had such a hard time communicating with fellow believers - it was like we were talking apples and oranges. I still don't get the full grasp of Covenant Theology but now have somewhat of a better understanding. A young friend of mine is wanting to check out Eastern Orthodoxy, and I've agreed to accompany him on this journey. Funny thing, the more we learn, the more he is convinced of Reformed Theology, and the more I am convinced of Dispensational. Most of my fellow believers are prior military, like myself, and despite our differences, we serve one another, and our military bond is made even stronger by our faith in Him. Again, thank you for posting this.

Very helpful explanation. I finally grasped covenant theology around twenty years ago and it has been a wonderful help to understanding scriptures as a whole and unified, special, and historical revelation of God’s redemption of sinners. It made it literally exciting to trace it from Genesis to Revelation. More, it helped me see love in its true sense. The Hebrew word, ‘hesed,’ became a comfort beyond my expectation, and it filled out my understanding of election. No, it doesn’t solve the mysteries God has not chosen to address in his word, but it solves many things that had seemed mysterious to me.

Spot on explanation. Thanks, Pastor Matthew! I'm a new subscriber. Looking forward for more!

Excellent summary of this!

Great video! I'm part of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and I always had doubts about presbyterian thinking in other countries and your videos have been enlightening for me. God be praised for your life, pastor Matthew.

Thank you for the content, Mr. Everhard.

I realize you did this lesson a few years ago…I came to Christ unconventionally as a very young girl and have been self taught so to speak in walking that narrow path that leads me home. Although I have tried various churches of various religious flavours…I just couldn’t feel at home…I’ve never enjoyed going to church….until at this late stage of my life…I stumbled upon your channel and have finally felt at home I thank God that He has blessed you with the gift of teaching, I am dining richly from your table! I’ve started following your church on You tube and I’ve subscribed to your channel May God bless you and give you endurance and strength to continue in all your endeavours!😊🙏❤️

Just found your channel. What a great find, a rare gem. I subbed. Blessings.

I really enjoy your teaching.

I definitely hold to covenant theology, it makes the most sense of scripture… good vid, thanks!

I stumbled upon this subject. At first, I find it difficult to understand. I kept on searching and found this video. It's very well explained!

You are a great teacher, Matt. Your videos have even managed to improve with time. I have learned a lot from you, and I appreciate you educating the world on reformed theology. What is the best way to support your KZfaq ministry?

This is a great resource!!

Excellent presentation. The idea of dispensations being linear vs covenants being stacked was most helpful.

Thank you for this summary!

Great overview brother.

Good stuff Matt, thanks for doing it. This phrase 'Treaty of the Great King' was actually coined by Meredith Kline.

Very good. Will listen again...repetition helps memory.

Great video! this was very helpful to me for understanding Covenant Theology better. Would you ever do a video on Covenant Theology books for people who would like to learn more about it?

Appreciate your Edwardsian emphasis on three persons of the Trinity participating in the Covenant of Redemption, not just the Father and the Son

So helpful, thanks.

Excellent job thank you so much!

More teachings please .

Very helpful Thank you

I appreciate your teaching and help, I am a Reformed and Calvanist attending a local church that is GREAt at teaching the word and the Bible. EXCEPT they are stuck in this rapture thingy..lol been studying the bs that scofield spread and prayerfully considering approaching my pastor, but need to study to be sure first, I do not see the issue as a salvation problem, but I rthink it leaves the church unarmed for what we will face. Pray for me.

Excellent thank you!

While I disagree with you in infants and baptism/immersion, this video helped me understand your stance. Thank you.

Speaking bold truth ! Agape Chuck

Hi Pastor Matt, can you make a teaching on how to enjoy God just like what Westminster Catechism said?

Chronicles of Narnia was a good way to partly illustrate Covenant Theology. I remembered how the great king (Aslan) made the Pevensie siblings (lesser kings).

Great teaching Pastor Matt! I would love if you could also provide us the transcript of each video of the 'The Reformed view' series.

Thank you

I prefer “Grafted In vs Cut off and thrown into the fire” theology 😊

I’m a PCA pastor in north Alabama and really appreciate your videos. I have been pointing my folks to them as they have been wrestling/learning. Would love to talk with you sometime!

Covenant of works is not in Genesis is it? Those words are not what Moses used right? Maybe I a just too simplistic. And I dont see a covenant of grace in Genesis either. Why are we using terms to build a bible system on when the words are not in the Bible?

I’ve gone to Calvery Chapel Bible my life. After getting more into theology on KZfaq I’ve been feeling more and more off on Sunday mornings with my Pastor goes half a verse in Greek and then goes on an hour tangent about Israel. Covenant theology feels more spiritually nourishing than dispensationalit’s? Thanks for the video

Good stuff 👍🏽

I want to thank you for this clear teaching on covenant theology. I have a degree in biblical studies and theology and teach in a classical Christian school, but I have found it challenging at times to get my hands around what covenant and dispensationalist theologians really believe. In some ways they are so similar and yet distinct. Everyone around me seems to be a premil. dispensationalist and yet the more I study the more I find covenant postmil. to fit with what I read in scripture. Your analogy of the dominoes and legos made it click in my head. Thank you.

I am not a dispensationalist, however I still think however that Israel has a place within the Abrahamic convenient. I can't really find where I am theology wise. Any insight to where I could be wrong would be helpful.

Love your videos and teachings! As a Reformed Baptist I disagree with what you said at the end but other than that 👍🏻

Sign of the Mosaic Covenant is Sabbath, which also reminds people of great promise of God and it also points forward. Apologies for being so vocal this time :)

What's your take on the sign in the Covenant of Works, Matt?

Great overview on covenant theology. When you’re trying to find those correlating signs and seals in regard to the new covenant though, have you considered that the replacement for Old testament circumcision could be the new covenant circumcision of the heart by the Holy Spirit , and that perhaps the passing through the Red Sea from slavery to salvation could better correlate with New Testament baptism

Can you recommend a good book on covenant theology that's not a hard read thanks 😅

Hey Matthew! Would you still recommend RTS? I heard they have fallen into the social "woke" gospel. Trying to find a good seminary that teaches covenant theology or reformed theology.

So would you say that dispensationalists see the different ages, but covenant theology would say since Adam there has only been one age of grace??

Great teaching. As I've started coming out of Dispensationalism I hung my head low to the fact that I could believe such foolishness. lol I'm grateful to God for raising up faithful pastors like yourself to help direct people to Biblical truth.

Do you do Bible studies on KZfaq?

Can you please clarify what you said about Adam and Eve disobeying and become mortal...

Check out Sam Renihan's "The Mystery of Christ - His Covenant & His Kingdom" for a Reformed/Particular Baptist's formulation of Covenant Theology. There are also some KZfaq shorts floating around that hits some of the main points.

Would you be willing to do this similarly with New Covenant Theology?

Subscribed! Great video. Interesting to know 'covenant'in Hebrew is 'Berith' is it the root word of the Hebrew 'berishit or b'reshit which is Genesis in the English Bible?

Why can't I do the Lord's super by myself?

I haven’t watched yet but as a reformed Baptist I’m excited to learn the Presby understanding of covenant theology.

Thanks for the video - always great to encourage discussion on the covenants! As a particular baptist, I have a few nitpicks :) For one, I wouldn't refer to the views you presented as "The Reformed View", but as one understanding of covenant theology among several reformed views that all have degrees of continuity & discontinuity. A recent groundbreaking academic book that masterfully traces this diversity and uniformity is Samuel Renihan's "From Shadow to Substance". Also recommend Matthew Bingham's work "Orthodox Radicals" on the identity of Baptistic Congregationalists (aka particular baptists) as heirs of the Reformed tradition. Also, terms specific to covenants are absolutely used of the Covenant of Redemption in the Bible! What about Isaiah 55:3-4 and Luke 22:29 (διατίθεμαι)? As for the Covenant of Grace, since you quoted John Frame, I suppose I'll let him explain 1689 federalism for me - "Everyone who has ever been saved has been saved through the new covenant in Christ. Everyone who is saved receives a new heart, a heart of obedience, through the new covenant work of Christ. So though it is a new covenant, it is also the oldest, the temporal expression of the pactum salutis... the efficacy of the New Covenant, unlike that of previous covenants, extends to God’s elect prior to Jesus’ atonement. When believers in the Old Testament experienced 'circumcision of the heart,' or when they were Jews 'inwardly,' they were partaking of the power of the New Covenant." (Systematic Theology pg. 79-81) Amen! ;)

Thank you so much. Which denominations could I attend to experience covenant theology as church?

Thanks for the info. May I kindly request a video for dispensationalism.

dispensation is "oikonomos" literally house law. it could be translated as economy or stewardship. if you look up dispensation in the dictionary it has several helpful definitions. the king james translaters invented the word dispensation because there was no english word to describe or fit the greek word. OIKONOMOS

Hi Pastor Matt, saying hi from the UK! I have appreciated your videos and have enjoyed your teaching through this series. In a future video do you think you could expand on the 'pactum salutis'? I read 'The Holy Trinity' by Robert Letham and he is skeptical, evaluating that the opinion doesn't have confessional support and may undermine the unity within the persons of the Trinity. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this. Many thanks for the videos and keep up the good work!

Question where do you stand on Replacement Theology?

Please speak on the trinity

I think you would benefit from reading what John Gill has to say about "washings" which you dealt with out of Mark 7... Baptist actually view the text differently than you represent us to believe...The actual context concerning Pharisees would follow the same understanding as the degree they would go to in tithing on that which would be overlooked by most...the washing would be to not sprinkle or pour over but to to sink the items Covered in the text under water...! I do not think that you would ever misrepresent on purpose what someone else believes to better your argument, nor would I... I love your spirit and the way you go about presenting your teaching. Thanks

Thank you for that. It seems to me that the differences fall between dispensationalists and covenant theologians in the out workings of our faith. Practices differ in baptism and eschatology but we still hold to Christ as the only redeemer. Would that be a correct way to understand what you’ve taught?

dispensationalism minimizes grace through faith? i disagree and i think John MacArthur would too. thank you for your ministry. R.C. Sproul was my favorite theologians, but even with him there were a few things i didn't agree with. much love, to everyone.

25:25 can you point to a dispensationalist who doesn’t say God always saved by grace through faith? You say this is a big difference between disp and covenant but I have never heard one say this and being a dispy myself, I don’t disagree with you on this point.

Lords day is the Sabbath of the seventh day. (Mark 2:23-28)

I am curious to know how it was determined what parts of previous covenants are carried over vs. fulfilled. For example, something I have been wrestling through is the sign of circumcision. You mention that circumcision is no longer the sign of God’s people and that the sign is now baptism. While I agree with baptism, I can’t seem to understand why God would tell Abraham circumcision was an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:7, 13) if it was only a temporary covenant. Can you shed some light on this topic?

But you would believe that the church REPLACES Israel 🇮🇱 ? So the illustration of building upon each other does not work in that particular area.

It really helps for commenters to do their own research, and put their answers in writing. Here, I desire to share what I have grasped about Covenant Theology. Take a look: COVENANT THEOLOGY Covenant Theology is typical of reformed theologians. This includes the Reformed and Christian Reformed, the Presbyterian, the Anglican (or Episcopal), and to some extent, the Lutheran. The Catholics also recognize the same approximate divisions of Scriptural history, while differing on the question of man's responsibility in the covenant of grace. Many Messianic Jews, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Reformed, Anglicans, Methodists, and Lutherans, all subscribe to the "No Millennialism (Amillennialism)" hermeneutics of Christian Eschatology. The Christian church denominations just named, fall either into the "Confessional" or "Rivival" mainstream varieties of Evangelicalism. Confessionalism is the emphasis on historic Protestant orthodoxy represented by conservative Presbyterian churches, certain Baptist churches, and some confessional Lutheran churches. Revivalism (Emphasis on religious experience) is represented by some quarters of Methodism, Wesleyan Holiness, Pentecostal/Charismatic, Anabaptist, Baptist, and Presbyterian. When modern Dispensational Theology, subscribed too by the Plymouth Brethren (JN Darby), in coherence with Dispensational Premillennialism, became popular within Fundamentalism - a strain of Evangelicalism that was adopted within Baptist, Pentecostal, and Charismatic circles, Amillennial Eschatology declined in many Protestant circles. Fundamentalism (Early 20th century), though it is a variety of Evangelicalism, is not with the two mainstream varieties of Evangelicalism. The difference between the two before named theologies, in relation to the two named eschatologies, can be understood and now explained. Covenant Theology is eschatology as it was understood by John Calvin, which was a component to John Calvin's acceptance of Historic Premillennialism. Covenant Theology was not only a component of Historic Premillennialism, but it also has been a component of Amillennial eschatology, and Postmillennialism. Covenant Theology, then, is a Calvinistic conceptual overview for understanding the overall flow of the Bible through the covenants, beginning with the Adamic Covenant of works (Life/obedience), which represents all of mankind as the federal head (Romans 12: 21); this includes Adam's failure (Genesis 3: 15), God's grace of faith in Jesus Christ (Genesis 3: 15/Romans 16: 20), and eternal life (Psalm 2 and 110/Isaiah 53/Philippians 2: 5-11/Revelation 5: 9-11). The Noahic Covenant (Genesis 8: 20-9: 17) has redemption motifs (Saved from the flood), and creation motifs (De-creation to creation). The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12, 15, 17) is for Abraham and his descendants (Genesi 17: 17); it is everlasting in that it cannot be replaced by any other covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant is accepted by faith, not by works (Genesis 15: 16), and it involves the external sign of circumcision (Genesis 17: 10) matched with circumcision of the heart (Jeremiah 4: 4). The followers of Christ are children of Abraham (Galatians 3: 7), with Baptism as the external sign inherited also by Gentiles (Galatians 3: 6). The Mosaic Covenant (Exodus Chapters 19-24) found in Deuteronomy is God's dwelling in the people's midst (Exodus 6: 7/Leviticus 26: 12), which is a gracious covenant (Redemptive-Exodus 20: 1-2) and mostly viewed as referring too the Old Covenant; it is a re-enactment of the works covenant (Condemnation and death), National (Blessings for obedience-purely legal), which is a sacrificial system that points to the Gospel of salvation through a mediator. The New Covenant is alluded too by Jesus at the Last Supper, as well as Jeremiah 31: 31-33, and Isaiah 49: 8. The New Covenant is spoken of again in Hebrews chapters 7-10. Covenant signs and seals occurr in Matthew 5: 17-18, 12: 41-42/ Luke 1: 32/Hebrews 3: 5-6, 9: 12, and Protestants hold that the Covenant signs and seals are the Lord's Supper and Baptism. John Calvin adopted the position called Historic Premillennialism followed by Justin Martyr. Justin Martyr's eschatological view did have leanings on chiliasm (Literal 1,000). Covenant Theology, along with Historical Premillennialism, is the view which Calvin held, as he rejected the basic tenets of Dispensational Premillennialism, such as pretribulation rapture. Progressive Revelation, otherwise called Dispensational Premillennial Theology, teaches that Biblical eschatology follows the Biblical dispensational periods: Innocence (Genesis 1: 1 to 3: 7), conscience (Genesis 3: 8 to 8: 22), government (Genesis 9: 1 to 11: 32), patriarchal (Genesis 21: 1 to Exodus 19: 25), Mosaic (Exodus 20: 1 to Acts 2: 4), grace (Acts 2: 4 to Revelation 20: 3), and the thousand years yet to come (Revelation 20: 4 to 20: 6). Progressive Revelation is a component of Futurism (Premillennialism). Progressive Revelation holds that Revelation 4-5 are future events, which overlapp with this Messianic Age, Revelation having seven sections: 1: 1-3 to 3: 22/4: 1 to 7: 17/8: 1 to 11: 19/ 12: 1 to 14: 20/15: 1 to 16: 21/17: 1 to 19: 2/20: 1 to 22: 21. Covenant Theology stands in contrast to Dispensationalism, in regard to the relationship between the Old Covenant with National Israel, and the New Covenant with the house of Israel (Jeremiah 31: 31). Covenant Theology is often referred too, by it's detractors, as Supersessionism or Replacement Theology, because, of a mistaken perception, that it teaches the abandonment of God's promises made to the Jews, by replacing Jews with Christians. To the contrary, in fact Covenant Theology holds that God has not abandoned His promises to Israel in the personal work of the Messiah (Jesus of Nazareth) who established the church in organic continuity with Israel. Again, the augsburg Confession (Article XVII) rejects chiliasm. Division should never be an option, within the framework of Historism, which views prophecy as being fulfilled in the past, present, and future, and was the belief held by Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, John Thomas, and Idealism found in Postmilleniallism, which holds that eschatological materials are symbolic (Spiritual), especially if division is ignited by educated degree possessing pastors. These minor views are not grounds for any Christian Church to practice Closed Communion. All of the Biblical eschatological views - Amillennialism, Historic Premillennialism, Dispensational Premillennialism, covered in this thesis, are problematic in some way, and they cannot be fully conclusive.

So if I'm understanding this correctly, what gets messed up and distorted is the fact that yes God has created a covenant with humans through Jesus Christ. God has created a covenant with all those who will believe on HIS SON, Jesus Christ. God determined through Jesus that he will go into covenant With those who will freely, sincerely and repentantly and humbly believe on Jesus Christ, His Son. The covenant that was established is Jesus. Jesus is the covenant. Jesus is the life. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is everything. Through Jesus everything was created because Jesus is the voice THE WORD of God. Jesus is the love of God. It's all about Jesus. God has given to Jesus and covenanted with every human who comes into a covenant WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS, to give them to Jesus when they believe on Jesus. You must believe on Jesus. Anyone who denies Jesus is denied by God.

My first encounter with CT. Very well presented, I must say. I am still Dispensationalist though.

I am keenly interested in learning more on Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism. However, your KZfaq would have been more effective if you supported your talk with some charts to help reinforce your keys points - I am sorry you lost me 10 minutes into your talk. That said I do appreciate your effort.

Some right some not. The covenant with Moses was om works and ended at the cross. It’s like every thing from the fall and so forth is like the church . This is not so. Israel as a nation was not connected to the church

So, as a union member, I understand that covenant theology is like when it's time to renew a contract. The union asks for weige increases and additional benefits, changes to retirement benefits etc. The same 2 parties are involved, but the contract changes each time its renewed, so although the contract started out one way, over time, it changes and has become a different contract each time the bargaining finalizes, but it is a continuation of the one before it. Almost like the handing off of a bâton during a relay race. The same baton but different runners. The runners could be seen as a type of Covenant in my analogy. The Baton is God's purpose in fulfilment. It looks like all the covenants dovetail into the Fulfillment of Christ work on the cross and find their fulfilment in him. That's how I'm trying to wrap my pea brain around this. How did I do?

different administration....

Hi. Interesting perspectives, however, the scriptures you refer to are all about Israel (Jeremiah, etc). God is quite clear on that, including his views on, and the role of other nations in the kingdom. Has He then done an about turn in the NT by suggesting his chosen people are done away with and it’s now for everybody?? Seems a bit bipolar, which I’m certain God is not! He does not change..review the scriptures with that in mind. Re-read revelations because again, it talks about Israel as does the NT. This theology covenant you refer to seems to be a doctrine developed by men and not God’s word in its true essence, ‘Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth’ (2 Timothy 3.7). I can’t understand how theologians have created a whole new religion/doctrine based on misunderstanding of the NT when all we have to do is listen to Paul in Acts 24.14 and 25.7-8 (knowing the context of why he makes these statements). Yes, we don’t need to sacrifice animals anymore as our sins are redeemed through the sacrifice of Christ but that doesn’t mean we can create new doctrines of what grace and salvation, etc means? Christ himself shows that..he followed God’s word and commands to it’s proper fulfilment, not to change it but to show how it should be done. Paul behaved and followed the example of Christ who again, I don’t believe said that following his resurrection, you all can create new doctrines to suit yourselves or to try and enter in an all encompassing broad gate! And in relation to the Abrahamic covenant you mentioned, again this is related to Israel’s seed not every nation.. God gave blessings to one of Abraham’s other seed (see Ishmael’s blessing) but his covenants, law, promises and curses are all related to Israel. See Genesis 26.3-4...basically, through Israel will the other nations be blessed but that does not appear to be happening..perhaps due to what revelation 2.9 states! I’m sure you’ll disagree with my comment but if you truly are sincere and want to follow Christ and have salvation, re-read without all this added doctrine and theology.

If a child is supposed to be able to understand the gospel, why do humans need all this stuff? Even you have to try to define what your saying. You speak of all kinds of kings and people and stuff that can't save a child. If a child could not know any of the stuff you are talking about, could they hear the gospel and be saved? Also if the child could not read at all, does it matter to God?

So what you are saying is God dispenses his grace differently at different times through covenants. 👍

Thanks for this video. Very illuminating to a Reformed Baptist. One question though: If you view children of believers as members of the covenant community (and thus apply to them the sign of the covenant (baptism)), why then do you not give to them the feeding of the covenant community (communion)? If the sign of the covenant membership doesn't mean that a person is (or will be) saved, that doesn't seem to me to be a "perfected" version of circumcision. I ask these questions since Federal Vision theology (via Doug Wilson's CREC) is taking a foothold among members of my church, and I know Orthodox Presbyterians (such as yourself) have as much issue with his paedo-communion teachings as I do.

You imply the Bible doesn't make sense. Do you mean that?I understand that the Bible is clear (Psalm 119:130). My problem is my own thick head:)

Did someone say....Evangelion?? :D

I don’t understand the covenant of works. Romans 4 seems to say we were always saved by faith. I am probably misunderstanding things though!

One of the distinctions that a reformed 1689 guy would have and where our covenant theology differs is in the definition of the covenant of grace . We see the new covenant as one and the same as the covenant of grace. The covenant of grace is in the Old Testament in promise form only it is revealed step by step progressively until its actual fulfillment in the new covenant or its formal conclusion.

I'm still not convinced of the baptism of babies as a form of covenant theology. it seems coopted. Scripture in its plain language describes baptism as a completely and voluntary sign of the covenant. If the Lord's supper is also a sign of the covenant why aren't babies given that?

Baptism doesn't replace circumcision. Circumcision is of the heart and not in the flesh under the new covenant. Baptism has nothing to do with replacing it. Thanks however for the video.

the new covenant was to "Judah and the house of israel" Gentiles were given a "mystery of the dispensation of Grace" revealed to Paul "the apostle of the Gentiles" "theirs are the covenants" speaking of ISRAEL. "we were without hope and without God in the world" this is why the dispensation of grace matters.

The only thing that was confusing to me is what children have to do with these theological frameworks-?

Western PA Here