The Mystery of Christ, His Covenant, and His Kingdom

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“What is this book good for? It establishes a clear linear understanding of the biblical text in its purpose of driving the reader to see how faithfully God executes His purpose in creation. The covenantal framework from Adam to Christ, from creation to consummation is a most apt way of seeing the flow of the entire biblical text. One is lifted into the journey to see the entire scope of divine providence work out the divine decree from generation to generation, book to book, event to event, person to person.”

Tom Nettles

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Description

The Mystery of Christ, His Covenant, and His Kingdom

By Samuel Renihan
©2019 Founders Press
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN: 978–1–943539–15–4

228 pages (soft cover)

Additional information

Weight .8 lbs
Dimensions 9 × 6 × 1 in
Author

Contents

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Part One: Methodology and Hermeneutics

Chapter 1: Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology in Covenant Theology

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

1. Scope and Simplicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

2. Creation, Covenant, and Consequences . . . . . . . 13

3. The Law and the Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

4. History and Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Chapter 2: Typology

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

1. What is Typology? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

2. The Relation between a Type and its Antitype . . . . . 31

a. Types reveal something greater, and other, than themselves

b. Types function on two levels

c. Types terminate in their antitypes

d. Types are positive and negative

3. The Application of Typological Principles . . . . . . . . 36

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 3: Covenant and Kingdom

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

1. What is a Covenant? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

a. The definition of a covenant

b. Covenant sanctions

c. The matter and form of a covenant

d. Federal headship

2. What is a Covenant’s Function? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Part Two: The Kingdom of Creation

Chapter 4: The Covenant of Works

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

1. Man’s Created Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

2. Man’s Covenantal Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

a. God placed Adam in the garden of Eden

b. God appointed Adam federal head over his natural offspring

c. God obligated Adam to a law of obedience

d. God promised eternal life to Adam

e. God threatened Adam with sanctions

f. God made a covenant of works with Adam

g. God tested Adam’s obedience

3. Man’s Cursed Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

a. Death

b. The abrogation of the covenant of works

c. A merciful curse

4. The Protological Nature of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . 77

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Chapter 5: The Noahic Covenant

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

1. A New Creation and Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

2. A Judicial Retribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

3. A Promised Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

4. A Common Cursed Kingdom of Common Grace . . . 83

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Part Three: The Kingdom of Israel

Chapter 6: The Abrahamic Covenant

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

1. The Initiation of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

a. The federal head

b. The inheritance of Canaan

c. The blessing for the nations

2. The Confirmation of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

3. The Expansion of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

4. The Realization of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

5. The Foundation of the Old Covenant . . . . . . . . . . 95

a. The Abrahamic Covenant anticipates the Mosaic Covenant

b. The Abrahamic Covenant anticipates the Davidic Covenant

c. The Abrahamic Covenant anticipates the New Covenant

d. The Abrahamic Covenant echoes Eden

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Chapter 7: The Mosaic Covenant

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

1. The Context of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

a. The promise of oppression and affliction

b. The promise of liberation and fulfilment

2. The Kind of Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

a. Its laws

b. Its promises

c. Its threats

3. The Kindness of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

a. The absolute dominion of God

b. The promises to Abraham

c. The sacrificial system

d. The history of Israel

4. The Function of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

a. The covenant governs the people

b. The covenant governs the priesthood

c. The covenant governs the kingship

d. The covenant governs the prophets

e. The covenant governs blessing and cursing

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Chapter 8: The Davidic Covenant

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

1. The Context of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

a. The promises of the Abrahamic Covenant

b. The problems of the Mosaic Covenant

c. The preference of the people

d. The prospect of consummation

2. The Blessings of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

a. An established throne

b. Rest and prosperity in Canaan

c. The presence and protection of God

3. The Conditions of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

a. Guard God’s sanctuary

b. Keep God’s law

c. Represent God’s people

4. The Sanctions of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

a. The judgment of God Himself

b. Expulsion from the land of Canaan

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Chapter 9: The Messiah of the Old Covenant

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

1. The Messianic Purpose of the Old Covenant . . . . . 135

2. The Messianic Hope of the Old Covenant . . . . . . . 136

a. The present Messiah

b. The future Messiah

3. The Messianic Promise of a New Covenant . . . . . . 141

4. The Messianic Inclusion of the Nations . . . . . . . . 142

5. The Typological Nature of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . 144

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Part Four: The Kingdom of Christ

Chapter 10: The Ministry of the Christ

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

1. The Gospel of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

2. The Kingdom of Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

3. The King of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Chapter 11: The Covenant of Redemption

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

1. The Parties of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

2. The Commitments of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . 154

a. The Son’s commitments

b. The Father’s commitments

3. The Fulfillment of the Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Chapter 12: The New Covenant of Grace

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

1. The Establishment of the New Covenant . . . . . . . 160

2. The Blessings of the New Covenant . . . . . . . . . . 161

a. Justification

b. Regeneration and Sanctification

c. Adoption and Preservation

d. Resurrection and Glorification

3. The Foundation of the New Covenant . . . . . . . . . 170

4. The Kingdom of the New Covenant . . . . . . . . . . 175

5. The People of the New Covenant . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Chapter 13: The Mystery of Christ

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

1. The Unity of God’s Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

2. Israel, Christ, and the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

a. Israel

b. The Christ

c. The Church

3. The Continuity of the Law and the Gospel . . . . . . 192

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Chapter 14: The Eschatological Nature of the Kingdom

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

1. The Kingdom Inaugurated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

2. The Keys of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

a. Joining the kingdom through the covenant

b. Guarding the kingdom through the covenant

c. Traitors of the kingdom

3. The Sacraments of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

a. Baptism

b. The Lord’s Supper

4. The Kingdom Consummated . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Commendations

“Sam Renihan has served the church well on at least two fronts recently— one historical and the other biblical. His recently published doctoral dissertation, From Shadow to Substance, is an excellent historical survey of the development of seventeenth-century Particular (“Calvinistic”) Baptist covenant theology. His most recent work, The Mystery of Christ, in some senses, is a biblical presentation of the issues covered in his dissertation. 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. Scholarly but never dry; exegetical but never pedantic; pastoral and practical but never trite; this is a fine work.”

Richard C. Barcellos

Pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Palmdale, CA, and Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology at IRBS Theological Seminary, Mansfield, TX. He is the author of Getting the Garden Right: Adam’s Work and God’s Rest in Light of Christ and The Lord’s Supper as a Means of Grace: More than a Memory.

__________

“What is this book good for?

It establishes a clear linear understanding of the biblical text in its purpose of driving the reader to see how faithfully God executes His purpose in creation. The covenantal framework from Adam to Christ, from creation to consummation is a most apt way of seeing the flow of the entire biblical text. One is lifted into the journey to see the entire scope of divine providence work out the divine decree from generation to generation, book to book, event to event, person to person.

This book serves for an excellent and rich primer on covenant theology and demonstrates how it leads from the Covenant of Redemption to the final claiming and purifying of the people given by the Father to the Son. Profession of faith, baptism, Lord’s Supper, and church discipline all are practiced as an expression of consistency with the eternal purpose of God in covenant. In this book one may come to a firm and clear grasp of such important ideas as continuity and discontinuity, positive law in relation to natural/moral law, Covenant of Works in relation to the Covenants of Redemption and Grace, and the finality of Christ as the one who consummates all the covenantal arrangements by His person and work.

This book is delightful to the point of entertainment to see how fittingly biblical texts open their meaning in the context of these covenantal discussions. How pertinently both biblical exposition and theological synthesis tie together the microcosm and macrocosm of Scripture finds the point of integration in the theme of covenant. Renihan’s writing also adds to the charm of this seriously theological work. Some of the most powerful points of synthesis have a literary lilt that gives memorable power to the overall argument: “God swept Israel off its feet as their redeemer, their husband, here to take her home to safety and blessing and prosperity, ready to shower her with good gifts.” “Egypt’s religion was… ancient, beautiful, artistic, creative, and tangible…. It is no surprise, then, that Israel broke the covenant only days after its pledge to keep the same. You can take Israel out of Egypt. But you can’t take Egypt out of Israel.” “God was so very kind to Israel, as seen in its history. But Israel was utterly faithless.” “They failed to realize just how much the New Covenant would not be like the Old Covenant, and why that was such a blessed reality.” “[T]he study of the mystery of Christ, His covenant, and His kingdom is a devotional experience. It is a way of wonderment, a path of praise. It is a balm, a salve, a nepenthe, a panacea, a cordial, a precious remedy, a sweet medicine, ‘a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul’ (Hebrews 6:19).”

Indeed, it is so; and Renihan’s organization, insight, and style gives the reader every opportunity to see this.”

Tom Nettles

Retired Professor of Historical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

__________

“The themes of covenant and kingdom have always been crucial to Reformed thought, and Reformed theologians will surely be pondering and debating these issues until Christ returns. In this new volume, Sam Renihan offers a clear and engaging study that should help to keep this conversation going. One of the most useful things Renihan does—which readers across the Reformed spectrum should appreciate—is keep covenant and kingdom together, not as independent themes but as themes that absolutely depend on one another. While I am in no position to say how confessional Reformed Baptists should regard Renihan’s work, I know that I, as a Presbyterian theologian, will from now on look to his book as a prime resource for Reformed Baptist covenant theology.”

David VanDrunen

Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Westminster Seminary California

__________

“In The Mystery of Christ Samuel Renihan offers a compelling narrative arguing that the biblical witness coheres in the covenantal kingdom of its central character, Jesus Christ. While Renihan capably contributes to the growing literature of “progressive covenantalism,” he smoothly evinces a truth heretofore largely downplayed: Covenantal theology was the major biblical theology paradigm for Baptists at their beginnings in seventeenth century England. This sharp young theologian is also to be commended for preserving a high view of Scripture while taking the historical nature and literary aspects of divine revelation seriously.”

Malcolm B. Yarnell III

Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Southwestern Seminary, and author of The Formation of Christian Doctrine, Royal Priesthood in the English Reformation, and God the Trinity: Biblical Portraits

__________

“Sam Renihan has written a clear, concise and forthright account of the covenants, their history and their theological and religious significance. This has required skills in theology, exegesis and biblical history, including the study of the place of typology in the Old Testament as this was made plain in the anti-types of the New Testament. It is not surprising that these topics, viewed together, are of some complexity, and without careful attention, the seeds of misunderstanding will quickly grow and entangle. So, a reliable guide, such as the author has provided, is indispensable.

Another emphasis of the book is on the Mystery of Christ. Not only in the culmination of the Father’s covenantal purposes and in the Incarnation and self-offering of the incarnate Son, the one whose saving power is now seen to be active in the calling of the Christian church, His Kingdom. But from the New Testament, Christ is seen to have been retroactively at work in the faith of the saints of ancient Israel and Judah, and of the pre-Christ Gentiles who together formed the faithful remnant ‘chosen by grace’ during the Old Testament. For Christ, appearing in ‘the fullness of time, is the fulcrum of the eternal Covenant of Redemption, and so He is the Redeemer of the elect in every epoch, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Dr. Renihan has further enlivened and enriched his account by numerous historical allusions and quotations mainly from his beloved English Particular Baptists of the seventeenth century. Such a book, so carefully written, requires an equally careful reading. The book will richly repay its readers who take their time to weigh the author’s words.”

Paul Helm

Emeritus Professor of the History and Philosophy of Religion, King’s College, London

__________

“In recent years the gospel church’s discussion of these matters has been enriched by the appearance of Reformed Baptist literature, numbers of excellent new books have rolled off the presses, and in this latest book, written by Dr. Samuel Renihan, we find a considerably important contribution to the issue. It is necessary reading, especially for theological students and thoughtful men who are profiting much from the fellowship, preaching and godly lives of our paedo-baptist brothers, both those alive today and those whose ministries over the centuries we have greatly profited from.”

Geoff Thomas

Assistant minister in Amyand Park Baptist Chapel, London

3 reviews for The Mystery of Christ, His Covenant, and His Kingdom

  1. BillHeIsRisen (verified owner)

    I’m surprised there are no reviews yet. Dr. Sam Renihan opens the Covenants and the Kingdom of Christ, with a refreshing clarity, in a manner that has long been wanting among publications of Covenant Theology.

    I have yet to finish this wonderful book, but I dare say it brings to the fore the biblical definition of the covenants God makes with His people, and how each covenant is uniquely for the purpose God set it forth to be in a primary sense, as well as in a subservient sense both typological and promissory, in support of the Covenant of Grace which our Lord Jesus Christ inaugurated and ratified.

    Hopefully, more learned brethren than I who have finished the book will write reviews.

    Also, hopefully, an E-book format will be forthcoming.

  2. wilsonhines (verified owner)

    I’m flabbergasted.
    This book can totally stand on its own, but I would suggest reading Barcellos’ “Getting the Garden Right” _first._. In my opinion, they are very much a “hand-in-hand” set, but they were not written for that purpose. Maybe nine months ago, I asked Brother Barcellos what he recommended for a foundational primer on the Covenants and his response was that Renihan was working on a book that would soon be released. I thought he was talking about Sam Sr. The author had just earned his doctorate, but quite honestly, he deserves another for this volume.

    I am coming from an Independent Fundamental Baptist point of view and thusly, I am a “recovering IFB” who left the IFB a few years ago and am not a member of a Reformed Southern Baptist church. Even with a background in Bible College, this book (along with “The Garden”) has ripped up everything I had previously conceived about the Covenants. I always knew the Covenants were there, but because of the blinders, I just didn’t understand them. I never delved deep into the Covenants, just because it wasn’t what we focused on in the IFB world. I became quite emotional several times in this book just thinking of what all I have missed and how much I had to learn.

  3. Michael Williams (verified owner)

    I have read through this book twice! The second time I had highlighters and a pen in hand. This is a great introduction, not only to Baptist covenant theology, but to biblical theology in general. I appreciate how Dr. Renihan uses enough repetition throughout the book to remind the reader of the necessary foundations for understanding the scope of the covenants. Renihan not only addresses the “Biblical covenants” (Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New), but also brings in repeated references to the Covenant of Redemption. And this work does more than give the reader a taste of biblical and systematic theology – Renihan also addresses some matters of pastoral theology. I love this book and cannot recommend it highly enough! Buy it and read it and re-read it.

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