Left to Right
Reformed/Covenant vs. Dispensationalism
These represent to two primary systems of theology. They result naturally from different Hermeneutics. Reformed Theology follows a literal interpretation much of the time, but often substitutes an alogorical method instead. Dispensational Theology follows a literal interpretation, allowing only for obvious figures of speech, or where an alogory is clearly indicated. ("The kingdom of heaven is like....")
The easiest method of sorting denomiations between these two opposite views is to consider their doctrines of End Times. However, the differences are considerably more than just their views of end times. Historically, Covenant Theology was developed through the process of conforming Biblical doctrines to Gnosticism (e.g., Origen circa 200 AD).
The following observations can be observed, from left to right:
Covenant Theology -- left half of the chart:
- Children are baptized into the covenant to provide salvation during their childhood years, later to be confirmed or denounced. This is characteristic only of the left-most edge.
- Israel and the Church are equated as a single group representing God's people. Passages of scripture are spiritualized or allegorized to accommodate this.
- Generally these groups are amillennial (reject a literal 1000-year reign of Jesus on earth) and speak of the rapture of the Church and the final judgment without indicating any separation in time.
- Biblical interpretation is based on the following three covenants, which (according to Louis Berkoff, leading Covenant theologian) are not found in scripture:
- Covenant of Redemption --
Covenant between the Father and Son in eternity past, detailing the provision of salvation.
- Covenant of Works --
Covenant between God and Adam governing their relationship before his fall in the Garden of Eden.
- Covenant of Grace --
Covenant for salvation for all living after Adam's fall in Eden, based on the Covenant of Redemption.
- The ultimate purpose of God's plan and unifying theme of scripture is the redemption of man.
Dispensational Theology -- right half of the chart:
- Literal interpretation (allowing for figures of speech, etc.) of scripture leads to a pre-tribulation rapture and a literal 7-year tribulation preceding the millennial (1000-year) reign of Christ on earth. (Mid-trib rapture would be in the middle to left of the right half, but this does not mean that groups located here hold to the mid-trib view.) These things are true for all groups on the right half of the chart.
- Israel and the Church are two separate groups, each with their own promises and future.
- The ultimate purpose of God's plan and unifying theme of scripture is to bring glory to God. This broad plan includes aspects for Israel, Gentiles, the Church, saved, unsaved, holy angels, fallen angels including Satan, and the universe.
- The right-most edge states explicitly in their doctrinal statement of holding to Dispensational Theology.
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Top to Bottom
Calvinistic vs. Arminianism
The primary watershed issue to initially sort the various denomiations into the upper group or lower group is their teaching on the eternal security of a believer. The groups in the top half all teach that one's salvation is secured and maintained by God. The groups in the lower half all teach that a believer can lose their salvation and thus spend eternity in the Lake of Fire rather than Heaven.
The following observations can be made, working from the bottom to the top.
Arminianistic
- At the bottom edge, man plays a significant role in securing salvation. This includes salvation dispensed by a representative of the Church. The 5 points of Arminianiam are:
- Free Will or Human Ability
- Although seriously affected by the fall, man is not in a state of spiritual helplessness. His free will is not enslaved to his sin nature, and thus he can choose to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and be regenerated, or resist and perish. Faith is the sinner's gift to God and contribution to his salvation.
- Conditional Election
- God's election before the creation was based on His knowledge of who would, on their own free will, choose Christ. This is called "Prescience".
- Universal Redemption or General Atonement
- Christ's redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but did not actually put away anyone's sins.
- Holy Spirit can be Effectively Resisted
- The Holy Spirit calls inwardly all who hear the gospel invitation. He can only draw to Christ those men who allow Him to have His way with them. God's grace is not invincible and is often thwarted by man.
- Falling from Grace
- One who is truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith. (Some groups reject this point. An example, I beleive, is the Church of Christ.)
Note: The "Remonstrance" which origianally stated these points was arranged differently. It is rearanged here for comparison to the 5 points of Calvinism below. The Remonstrance was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619.
- The bottom half hold to positions allowing one to lose their salvation. Thus there is some contribution made by man toward his own salvation.
Calvanistic ("Reformed" to some)
- The top half hold to positions that a true believer is forever secure in their salvation solely by acts of God.
- The top edge hold to all 5 points of Calvinism (acronym TULIP) including the idea that those who will be saved will be saved regardless of man's behavior (e.g., witnessing), and the non-elect can never be reached or receive salvation.
- Total Depravity of Man
- Man is depraved and unable to contribute to his own salvation. Until regeneration, he is dead, blind, and deaf to things of God. His will is in bondage to his evil nature. Faith is a gift from God.
- Unconditional Election
- God elected some to be saved in eternity past. This choice is not based on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. These will, through some series of events (based on the Atoning Blood of Christ), be saved.
- Limited Atonment
- Jesus' death on the cross made atonement only for (limited to) the elect.
- Irrestible Grace
- God's grace for salvation is extended to His elect such that they cannot resist or reject it.
- Perseverance of the Saints
- True believers persever to the end -- they do not forsake their faith and their salvation is secure.
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