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New Covenant Theology
When approaching the Scriptures for study and doctrine, many have different frameworks that they view Scripture through as a lens . We believe and preach God’s sovereign grace in the context of the New Covenant, known as New Covenant Theology (NCT). This contextual approach uniquely does justice to the authority and centrality of Jesus Christ as first revealed in the Old Covenant. This comes from one of the most important principles of interpretation: contextual biblical exegesis. Contextual biblical exegesis demands grammatical/historical/theological principles of interpretation. As such, this may be defined broadly as God’s eternal purpose progressively revealed in the commandments and promises of the biblical covenants of the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.
This provides a consistent interpretation of the Old Testament in light of the New Testament, and one in which is Christotelic. (see Luke 24:27; 2 Cor. 1:20); The word Christotelic results in a combination of two Greek words: Χριστὸς (Christos - Christ) and τέλος (telos - end or goal). Therefore, a Christotelic hermeneutic (interpretation) views the Lord Jesus Christ as the focus and ultimate goal or end of God’s Word seeking to consistently interpret all Scripture in view of this great truth. Thus, we believe the entire Bible is Christo-centric, and all points to Jesus Christ.
Important distinctions between traditional Baptist Covenant Theology & Baptist New Covenant Theology are as follows:
- We would not hold to an overworking Covenant of Grace & Works throughout redemptive history. We see a distinct New Covenant that replaces the Old Covenant. (Hebrews 8:7-13)
- We would hold to the Old Testament Saints being added to the Church after it was built at Pentecost. (Ephesians 2:19-21)
- We would hold that Christians are not held to The Law as seen in the Sinaitic Covenant, but are held to the Law of Christ which speaks to the inward man. (Matthew 5-7)