Dispensationalism

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Read the series.

The New Covenant in the Gospels

Coming now to the Four Gospels, let me begin with Simeon’s statement in Luke 2. Luke tells us that Simeon was,

waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (Lk. 2:25)

As far as Simeon was concerned Jesus was to have a dual salvific role to the Gentiles and also to Israel:

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Looking at Isaiah 52:13-53:12 in Light of the New Covenant

Many lists of New covenant verses do not include Isaiah 52:13-53:12. But I believe there is justification for using it as at least a supporting passage for the study of the New covenant. Allow me to explain my reasons for this.

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Although being cognizant of Fredrickson’s research regarding pre-19th century commentators on Isaiah 42:6 and 49:8 I think a selection of quotes from representative scholarship will help drive my point home. My point being that it is not some novel view that understands the “covenant” in these texts as being, in fact, Jesus Himself. Many may wish to avoid saying “Jesus is the New covenant.” But I think it hard to circumvent the claim that “Jesus is the embodiment of the New covenant.”

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Read the series.

Let me repeat the conclusion I arrived at previously:

Jesus is the Redeemer who saves by the Spirit through the New covenant!

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Let me begin with a statement that will have to be defended, but which I think is difficult to argue against:

Nowhere does the OT tell us that the New covenant is only intended for Israel.

Especially among Dispensationalists, the subject of the New covenant creates a bone of contention. Perhaps the majority Dispensationalists hold that the Church has no participatory relationship in the New covenant. Many others believe that the Church does participate in the trickle-down effects of the New covenant, which is still thought to be made with Israel as full parties. Then there are those, myself included, who believe that the Church is made a full party to the New covenant alongside of Israel.

For the sixth year in a row, I had the privilege of attending and exhibiting at the Shepherds 360 Church Leaders Conference, held at Shepherds Theological Seminary in Cary, N.C., on Monday through Wednesday of this week.

The theme of this year’s conference, which focused on dispensationalism, was “City of God—City of Man,” with the tagline: “Already? Not Yet? Let’s Get It Right!”