New Covenant Theology - Boulevard Baptist Church

New Covenant Theology or Progressive Covenantalism

Here at Boulevard, we affirm Progressive Covenantalism (similar to New Covenant Theology). Progressive Covenantalism is concerned with how each of the biblical covenants build on one another, leading to their fulfillment in the New Covenant in Christ. This is what is meant by progressive, that God’s plan is gradually unfolded to reveal a greater culmination in Christ, not in the modern usage of the word. It is, first, “a middle way between dispensational and covenant theology…. [And] second, it stresses the unity of God’s plan which is discovered as we trace God’s redemptive work through the biblical covenants” (1). It is through this that we understand that “the covenants are not independent and unrelated to each other, rather they build on each other, disclosing to us God’s plan which encompasses many things” (2).

Thus, we are not only set apart from Dispensationalism and classic Presbyterian theology, but from classic reformed Baptist theology as well. We heartily affirm reformed soteriology and the doctrines of grace; salvation belongs to the sovereign grace of God — beginning, middle, and end! The difference lies in how we understand and apply the biblical covenants. All of God’s Word, in the Old and New Testaments, is authoritative and crucial for salvation and obedience (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We are obligated to obey the commands of God in Christ. But we “must view and apply the previous biblical covenants to ourselves in light of Christ, to whom each of the previous covenants pointed and who fulfills every aspect of them completely” (3).

Why do we include this explainer? First, it should be noted that we do not consider someone’s stance on the covenants a point of fellowship! That is, you do not have to be a “progressive covenantalist” or adherent of new covenant theology to fellowship with us or even to become a member. This is simply the view taken by the elders of the church and the perspective from which we preach the Bible. However, it is important since we use the language of “reformed soteriology,” while not adhering to the traditional Reformed Baptist construct articulated in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession. We agree in theology with the 1689 confession, especially in the doctrines of grace (i.e., the five Solas, TULIP), yet we disagree in how we view and apply the Old Testament covenants. For a short video articulating these differences, click here.

We have included a short list for further reading if you are interested in learning more. Above all, our goal is to exalt “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

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