|
ISSUE |
COVENANT POSITION |
DISPENSATIONAL POSITION |
| PATTERN OF HISTORY |
Covenant of Works with Adam; Covenant of
Grace with Christ on behalf of elect (some distinguish between Covenant of
Redemption with Christ and Covenant of Grace with the elect). |
Divided into dispensations (usually seven);
e.g., Innocence (pre-Fall), Conscience (Adam), Human Government (Noah),
Promise (Abraham), Law (Moses), Grace (Christ's First Coming), Kingdom
(Christ's Second Coming). |
| VIEW OF HISTORY |
Optimistic: God is extending His kingdom.
|
Pessimistic: the Last Days are marked by
increasingly worse wickedness in the world and by apostasy in the church.
|
| GOD'S PURPOSE IN
HISTORY |
There is a unified redemptive purpose. |
There are two distinct purposes, one earthly
(Israel), one heavenly (church). |
| VIEW OF THE BIBLICAL
COVENANTS |
They are different administrations of the,
Covenant of Grace. |
They mark off periods of time during which
God's specific demands of man differ. |
| RELATIONSHIP OF OLD
TESTAMENT TO NEW TESTAMENT |
Acceptance of Old Testament teaching required
unless specifically abrogated by New Testament. |
Old Testament prescriptions are not binding
unless reaffirmed in New Testament. |
| RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH |
The church is spiritual Israel, in continuity
with true Israel of Old Testament. |
The church is the spiritual people of God,
distinct from Israel, the physical people of God. |
| OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY |
Refers to God's people, the church. |
Refers to ethnic Israel. |
| CHURCH AGE |
God's redemptive purpose continued to unfold. |
There is a parenthesis between past and
future manifestations of the kingdom. |
| ROLE OF HOLY SPIRIT |
The Holy Spirit indwells God's people
throughout history. |
The Holy Spirit indwells God's people only
from Pentecost to the Rapture. |
| BAPTISM |
Unified covenant generally used to support
infant baptism. |
Israel/church distinction often (but not
always) used to support believers' baptism. |
| SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS |
Emphasizes "cultural mandate." |
The only way to save the world is to save
individuals; therefore evangelism takes precedence over "social action." |
| ESCHATOLOGY |
Usually amillennial; rarely postmillennial;
occasionally premillennial. |
Premillennial, usually pretribulational. |
| MILLENNIUM |
Symbolic, often identified with present age. |
Literal, earthly 1000-year reign after Second
Coming. |
