Relation of Dispensationalism to Theology (3/12)

Part One
INTRODUCTION: 2 RELATION OF DISPENSATIONALISM TO THEOLOGY
A DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY
By Charles F Baker

Berkhof, for example, states:

According to the usual representation of this theory man is on probation right along. He failed in the first test and thus missed the reward of eternal life, but God was compassionate and in mercy gave him a new trial. Repeated failures led to repeated manifestations of the mercy of God in the introduction of new trials, which, however, kept man on probation all the time. This is not equivalent to saying that God in justice holds the natural man to the condition of the covenant of works--which is perfectly true-but that God in mercy and compassion--and therefore seemingly to save-gives man one chance after another to meet the varying conditions, and thus to obtain eternal life by rendering obedience to God.¹

1             Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1941), p. 291.

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