New Covenant theology
A view held among orthodox Christians
A view that the Mosaic law as a whole has been fulfilled and replaced by the law of Christ, so the Ten Commandments bind Christians only as restated in the New Testament.
Also called: NCT, New Covenant theologian
What it means
New Covenant theology grew among Baptist churches in the late twentieth century. It shares much with progressive covenantalism, but its focus is the law. It teaches that the law given at Sinai was a single covenant for Israel, and that the whole of it, including the Ten Commandments, came to an end as a covenant when Christ fulfilled it. Christians are now under the law of Christ: his teaching and the commands of the apostles.
In practice this means that moral commands of the Old Testament bind Christians where the New Testament takes them up. Most New Covenant theologians therefore do not hold that the fourth commandment requires a Christian Sabbath, though they gladly gather on the Lord's Day.
Confessional Reformed and Reformed Baptist churches disagree. The Westminster and 1689 confessions distinguish the moral law, summarised in the Ten Commandments and binding on all people at all times, from the ceremonial and civil laws given to Israel. They see the Ten Commandments as written on the heart in creation and restated, not replaced, in the new covenant. This is a serious difference about the use of the law, but New Covenant theologians affirm the gospel of grace and call believers to holy obedience.
In Scripture
Before faith came we were held under the law as a guardian until Christ.
Paul says he is not under the law yet not without law, being under the law of Christ.
Bearing one another's burdens fulfils the law of Christ.
A change of priesthood brings a change of law.
Jesus came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfil them.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 19.2-5; LBCF 1689 19.2-6
On this site: Covenant framework
Related terms
Progressive covenantalismA view held among orthodox Christians
A reading of Scripture that traces the biblical covenants as successive steps, each fulfilled and brought to completion in Christ and the new covenant.
Three uses of the lawHistoric orthodoxy
The Reformation teaching that God's moral law restrains evil in society, shows sinners their need of Christ, and guides believers in grateful obedience.
Ten CommandmentsTerm
The ten words God spoke from Sinai and wrote on stone, which the Reformation confessions take as a summary of his moral law.
Christian SabbathA view held among orthodox Christians
The confessional teaching that the fourth commandment still binds Christians, so the Lord's Day is to be kept holy as a whole day of rest and worship.
1689 FederalismA view held among orthodox Christians
The covenant theology of the 1689 London Baptist Confession, which sees the covenant of grace promised in the Old Testament and established in the new covenant.