Standing opposite of Dispensationalism is Covenantalism (Covenant Theology).
It "is a conceptual overview and
interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the
Bible. It uses the theological concept of a
covenant as an organizing principle for
Christian theology. The standard form of covenant theology views the
history of God's dealings with mankind, from
Creation to
Fall to
Redemption to
Consummation, under the framework of three overarching theological covenants: of redemption, works, and grace.
These three covenants are called theological because, though not explicitly presented as such in the Bible, they are thought of as
theologically implicit, describing and summarizing the wealth of Scriptural data. Historical
Reformed systems of thought treat covenant theology not merely as a point of doctrine or as a central
dogma, but as the structure by which the biblical text organizes itself.
As a framework for biblical interpretation, covenant theology stands in contrast to
dispensationalism in regard to the relationship between the
Old Covenant (with national Israel) and the
New Covenant (with the
house of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31) in
Christ's blood). That such a framework exists appears at least feasible, since from New Testament times the Bible of Israel has been known as the Old Testament (i.e., Covenant; see 2 Cor 3:14 [NRSV], "they [Jews] hear the
reading of the
old covenant"), in contrast to the
Christian addition which has become known as the New Testament (or Covenant). Detractors of covenant theology often refer to it as "
supersessionism" or as "replacement theology", due to the perception that it teaches that God has abandoned the promises made to the Jews and has replaced the
Jews with Christians as his
chosen people on the earth. Covenant theologians deny that God has abandoned his promises to Israel, but see the fulfillment of the promises to Israel in the person and the work of the
Messiah,
Jesus of Nazareth, who
established the church in organic continuity with Israel, not as a separate replacement entity. Many covenant theologians have also seen a distinct future promise of gracious
restoration for unregenerate Israel."
Source
Covenant theology generally agree on 7 "covenants":
"1.
Adamic Covenant. Found in
Genesis 1:26-30 and
2:16-17, this covenant is general in nature. It included the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, pronounced a curse for sin, and spoke of a future provision for man's redemption (
Genesis 3:15).
2.
Noahic Covenant. This general covenant was made between God and Noah following the departure of Noah, his family, and the animals from the ark. Found in
Genesis 9:11, "I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." This covenant included a sign of God's faithfulness to keep it—the rainbow.
3.
Abrahamic Covenant. This unconditional covenant, first made to Abraham in
Genesis 12:1-3, promised God's blessing upon Abraham, to make his name great and to make his progeny into a great nation. The covenant also promised blessing to those who blessed Abraham and cursing to those who cursed him. Further, God vowed to bless the entire world through Abraham's seed. Circumcision was the sign that Abraham believed the covenant (
Romans 4:11). The fulfillment of this covenant is seen in the history of Abraham's descendants and in the creation of the nation of Israel. The worldwide blessing came through Jesus Christ, who was of Abraham's family line.
4.
Palestinian Covenant. This unconditional covenant, found in
Deuteronomy 30:1-10, noted God's promise to scatter Israel if they disobeyed God, then to restore them at a later time to their land. This covenant has been fulfilled twice, with the Babylonian Captivity and subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great; and with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, followed by the reinstatement of the nation of Israel in 1948.
5.
Mosaic Covenant. This conditional covenant, found in
Deuteronomy 11 and elsewhere, promised the Israelites a blessing for obedience and a curse for disobedience. Much of the Old Testament chronicles the fulfillment of this cycle of judgment for sin and later blessing when God's people repented and returned to God.
6.
Davidic Covenant. This unconditional covenant, found in
2 Samuel 7:8-16, promised to bless David's family line and assured an everlasting kingdom. Jesus is from the family line of David (
Luke 1:32-33) and, as the Son of David (
Mark 10:47), is the fulfillment of this covenant.
7.
New Covenant. This covenant, found in
Jeremiah 31:31-34, promised that God would forgive sin and have a close, unbroken relationship with His people. The promise was first made to Israel and then extended to everyone who comes to Jesus Christ in faith (
Matthew 26:28;
Hebrews 9:15)."
Source
Well, I said enough for tonight.
God Bless
Till all are one.
