Is the covenant of grace conditional, unconditional, or both?
I have been reading Thomas Blake's The Covenant of God in which he argues strongly for both faith and sincere obedience as conditions called for by God upon man in the covenant.
He defines the new covenant thus:
"A gracious covenant of God with fallen man whereby God engages Himself upon faith in Christ and return to God in sincere obedience, to confer on man remission of sins and all whatsoever that tends to everlasting happiness. They that profess to believe and return to God are in covenant. They that do believe and sincerely return enjoy the blessings and mercies of the covenant."
I realise that many claim that the covenant is unconditional, however. Is it dependent upon considering it as an external covenant as well as internal (as Blake does)?
I have understood that the covenant is conditional, but that of course God provides us the strength to work those conditions, i.e. faith and repentance (sincere obedience too?), being gifts from Him. Is this right?
Any insights and discussion welcomed!
I have been reading Thomas Blake's The Covenant of God in which he argues strongly for both faith and sincere obedience as conditions called for by God upon man in the covenant.
He defines the new covenant thus:
"A gracious covenant of God with fallen man whereby God engages Himself upon faith in Christ and return to God in sincere obedience, to confer on man remission of sins and all whatsoever that tends to everlasting happiness. They that profess to believe and return to God are in covenant. They that do believe and sincerely return enjoy the blessings and mercies of the covenant."
I realise that many claim that the covenant is unconditional, however. Is it dependent upon considering it as an external covenant as well as internal (as Blake does)?
I have understood that the covenant is conditional, but that of course God provides us the strength to work those conditions, i.e. faith and repentance (sincere obedience too?), being gifts from Him. Is this right?
Any insights and discussion welcomed!