The Covenant of Grace (Biblical & Theological Studies)

This brief, 30-page essay, is life-giving in its content due to its deep connection to the Covenantal Love of God explained in Scripture as a unified Covenant of Grace. John Murray, the premier systematician of the conservative strands of the Presbyterian Churches in the US in the mid-late 20th Century, unfolds for us the richness of God's Covenant, steeped in unfathomable grace for us to relish and bask in.He begins with a thorough and exacting definition of "covenant" over against its much-mistaken and maligned identification as an agreement or contract between two parties. He traces these terms in their historical usages in Reformed theology, aligning himself with the more accurate (biblical) definitions attested to by Herman Ridderbos (Galatians commentary); Geerhardus Vos (work on Hebrews) and John Owen (6-volume commentary on Hebrews), to name a few. He spends ample time helping us understand that God doesn't reach an agreed upon settlement with us, nor does He enter into a negotiation/agreement with us, then make a covenant with us once the terms are met by both parties. This is more like a human contract of agreement. This is not how God "cuts a covenant" as Murray states.With great precision, Murray notes that God makes His covenant with His people first (as noted in Ex. 19:5-6), setting up a unilateral bond between God and His people, then giving them the 'conditions' (though Murray doesn't love the word) within that 'embrace' of love. He focuses on explaining the Covenant in terms of 'mutuality', which is a beautiful way of expressing how a covenant between two parties entails relationship. Simply put, Murray is saying that God gives rules within the relationship, commands within the covenant, because it is based on the principle of relationship and mutuality. This understanding of covenant alleviates much of the so-called problem between faith/works, grace/obedience. As the preachers might say, we therefore "Do in Light of Done", of "Work out of our Rest". Covenant in this way frees us to love back in an ever-deepening relationship with the Covenant-making, Promise-keeping, God of Love.Murray calls it a "Biblico-Theological" study because, like every good conservative theologian, he comes to his theology primarily through the summation of the biblical texts. Therefore, he leads us through the various historical covenants of God's redemptive work, namely, the covenants God makes with Noah, Abraham, David, and the New Covenant. This are the historical, biblical covenant(S) of the one, theological, Covenant of Grace. As all great Covenant theologians do, he highlights the continuity of God's historical covenants, which highlight the single Covenant of Grace, as opposed to a perceived discontinuity between them (as Dispensationalists tend to emphasize).Overall, if you are looking to begin your study of Covenant theology, or want to understand how a large part of Evangelical Christians "put the Bible together" as one grand narrative, this is an excellent place to start. Highly recommended. Another book to recommend in this area of Christian study is Michael Brown's "Sacred Bond" which is a longer read, but not as technical as Murray's intro.

A good short outline. I wish it dealt with the Adamic state a bit more. I know Murray didn't like to think of it as a covenant at all but at least a little discussion of that issue would be helpful. I also think he glosses over the Mosaic Covenant and the various views of it. I know it's not a polemic book at all, but without dealing with some of those issues the whole subjects feels a tiny bit thin.

Amazing book. Excellent introduction to Biblical Theology as a whole and an excellent summary of God's Kingdom progressing through the Bible. Easy to read and understand makes it a great purchase for any student of Christ seeking to grow in their understanding of Biblical Theology and the progressive revelation of God's Kingdom throughout Scripture.

great

Great book describing how God works graciously to his people in the New Testament era under the new covenant of grace.

I recommend this book

John Murray gives a brief, but excellent summation of Covenant Theology. This booklet helps answer the question as to whether their is primarily continuity or discontinuity between the Old & New Testaments.Murray begins by defining covenant and gives a brief historical overview of the rise of covenant theology. Then he delves in to the biblical and theological realm of the covenant. He surveys the Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenant as found in Scripture.He concludes that the covenant is a unified theme throughout Scripture which speeks of God's relation of grace between His creation.Also recommended for a more in-depth study: O. Palmer Robertson's "The Christ of the Covenants."

Worth buying if you want to understand this type of presupposition.

Helpful slim volume .Delivery was prompt.