The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum What is covenant keeping and what is it not

Their is a lot of confusion regarding covenant keeping. Can anyone share some light on the topic.

For instance as to one confusion with me. How can anyone claim to be a covenant keeper in themselves alone? We are desparately sinful people and without saving grace, we are doomed eternally. Yet, there are places in the OT talking about God's blessings and curses based on covenant keeping. My guess is that the outward appearance is not covenant keeping, but it is the inward desires to please God.

1. Covenant Keeping is simply the keeping of the stipulations of the covenant without regard to one's ability or desire to do so.

2. One may keep the covenant (law) superficially without saving grace, according to the flesh. For example, the Pharisees kept the law in its most simplistic understanding as even Paul himself testified (Phil 3:4-6). However, when the Spirit gives one eyes to see the spiritual nature of God's covenant law, i.e., its unfathomable depths, then conviction comes with an understanding that keeping the law as God intended is impossible. This realization throws one down to the dust but with a look to Christ who is the perfect law keeper.

3. There is a right understanding of being a covenant keeper and of course a wrong understanding. As to the former, a regenerate man will seek to do all the law out of a love for God, wanting to please Him in all things. This we call sanctification. As to the latter, this is where most are to be found. They think that by works they will find favor with God and merit salvation to one degree or another. ALL non-Reformed religions, denominations, cults, sects, etc. are based upon a grace/faith + works = salvation theology. Even in Reformed circles there are those who embrace this damnable error, e.g., NPP, Federal Vision, Shepherdism, et al.

4. The Puritans, I believe, rightly understood covenant keeping (law keeping). There are quite a number of good articles on this subject which you can find HERE. (see under the first heading: The Christian and the Moral Law.)