An introduction to a Reformed view of the Kingdom of God in its 5 elements and its 5 covenantally-administered epochs, culminating in the Kingdom’s definitive consummation in the New Creation. The relation between Christian cultural activity and the Kingdom of God is also clarified.https://reformedlibertarians.com/016Main Points of Discussion00:00 Introduction00:32 Episode description 01:03 Kingdom of God as the New Creation and central to Bible and all reality03:25 5 “Royal” Elements Ruler, Realm, Reign, those Ruled, Regulation by Covenant05:31 Covenant in Scripture as oath-commitment Covenants as administering Kingdom of God07:20 5 Epochs 1. Probation/Proffered 2. Promised 3. Prefigured 4. Present-Inauguration 5. Parousia-Consummation & See "The Grid": https://upper-register.com/papers/kline_grid.pdf10:22 Contrary to postmil, premil, and heresy* [see note below] of popular “Evangelical” Dispensationalism12:15 1st Epoch: Probation – the Covenant of Works “Eschatology Precedes Soteriology”17:10 2nd Epoch: Promised – the Protevangelium (Gen. 3.15) and Abrahamic Covenant The Seed is Christ, the Land is New Creation, the Blessing is Salvation by grace alone, thru faith alone, in Christ alone19:24 3rd Epoch: Prefigured – the Old Mosaic Covenant Temporary and typological theocracy Suspension of normal operations of “common grace” Non-free market and coercive punishment of non-aggressive immorality Typological principle of works (covenant blessings & curses)24:03 4th Epoch: Present-Inauguration – the New Covenant The gospel, salvation accomplished in history Crucial distinction between (a) “subjective recognition of Christ’s reign” involving the implications of Christian beliefs for all of life -vs.- (b) “objective realm” of Christ’s Kingdom as the new heavens&earth, presently and uniquely manifest as the institutional church (not as common culture or society) The gospel, church, and presently-inaugurated Kingdom are NOT “political”30:23 5th Epoch: Parousia-Consummation – the everlasting, full realization of the New Covenant Flesh & blood (pre-glorified human nature) cannot inherit the Kingdom, and so requires eschatological transformation, glorified incorruptibility*NoteDiffering forms of Dispensationalism (heretical or not) have been used by some to justify the worst of the United States government’s murderous, warmongering foreign policy. One of Dispensationalism’s erroneous beliefs (in all its forms) is that after the first advent of Christ, God’s promise to give the physical territory of Canaan to the physical descendants of Israel remains in effect.A doctrinal “heresy” can be understood as a teaching that denies some point of orthodox creedal teaching. The heretical teaching we had in mind (and should have specified) is the belief that prior to Christ’s first advent, or during the era of the Law (or Old Covenant), salvation was not by grace through faith in Christ, the promised Savior. Not all forms of Dispensationalism teach this, however.For further discussion of Dispensationalism, see this lecture on The New Covenant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynilaJANdoMAdditional Resources:The Majesty On High, by Steven M. Baughhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1544985584/ - Books At A Glance summaryhttps://www.booksataglance.com/book-reviews/the-majesty-on-high-introduction-to-the-kingdom-of-god-in-the-new-testament-by-s-m-baugh/Audio from Baugh on the Kingdom of God - Reformed Forum, Christ The Center Podcast ep.635 w/Baugh on The Majesty On Highhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUnRUG-eGHI - WSCal Office Hours Podcast w/Baugh on The Majesty On Highhttps://www.wscal.edu/devotion/kingdom-of-god/ - Lecture by Baugh on Kingdom as Consummationhttps://www.wscal.edu/devotion/thy-kingdom-come/ - Conference Presentation by Baugh on Kingdom in New Testamenthttps://www.wscal.edu/devotion/the-kingdom-in-the-new-testament/ - Devotional by Baugh on Kingdom in John’s writingshttps://www.wscal.edu/devotion/a-survey-of-the-kingdom-of-god-in-johns-writings/“The New Creation, the Kingdom of God, and the Church,” by Steven M. Baughhttps://opc.org/nh.html?article_id=1128Spring 2024 Friday Night Academy on Covenant Theology in systematic, biblical, and practical perspectives by Pastor Charles Lee Irons of Santa Clarita URChttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwrDNUO5MDu9WPd6FaReLxZkaK7VO8plESacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored (2nd ed), by Brown and Keelehttps://reformedfellowship.net/products/sacred-bond-covenant-theology-explored-second-editionReformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction, by Harrison Perkinshttps://www.heritagebooks.org/products/reformed-covenant-theology-a-systematic-introduction-perkins.htmlvideo explaining The Biblical-Theological “Grid” graphic of the Kingdom Of God in 5 Epochs, by Lee Ironshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu7rbuOseZ8 [ PDF of The Grid : https://upper-register.com/papers/...
