Covenantal Nomism, in opposition to merit (works) theology, is the belief that 1st-century Jews in the land of Israel did not believe in “works righteousness”. Essentially, it is the belief that one is brought into the Abrahamic covenant through birth and stays in the covenant through works. E. P. Sanders and other proponents of Covenantal nomism do not ask the question of whether this is simply another type of “works righteousness” since works are necessary to maintain standing in the covenant. It suggests that the Jewish view of the relationship with God is that keeping the law is based only on a prior understanding of a relationship with God. Just as God states all of Noah’s descendants are under the covenant, He also states the same for the covenant with Abraham.
Nomism is adherence to a law or laws as a primary exercise of religion.
God speaking to Noah says: Gen 9:16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. [everlasting] [ever living creature]
God speaking to Abraham: Gen 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. [everlasting covenant] [thy seed after thee in their generations]
An aspect of God’s covenant relationship that is not addressed is the meaning above of how to “maintain standing”, which by covenant would mean receiving blessings. However, the logic of a covenant even those “who break” the covenant are still under the covenant conditions because they receive the curse!
Abraham’s descendants (seed) were born under the covenant by grace but had to maintain their relationship by “good works” of obedience to receive the blessings, if not they received the curse.
Under the logical concept of “Progressive Covenantalism”, the covenant with Abraham was the covenant with Israel that is referenced below:
Deu 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; [keep – obey its terms]
1Ch 16:17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, [ seed of Abraham]
Just as the physical descendants (seed) of Abraham (Israel) were born into a covenant by physical birth (grace) and had to maintain it by obedience to the covenant, the spiritual descendants of Christ, the church, are born into it by “spiritual birth” by grace and must maintain it by obedience.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
The “structure” of covenantal nomism can be described as follows: (1) God has chosen Israel and (2) given the law. The law implies both (3) God’s promise to maintain the election (grace) and (4) the requirement to obey. (5) God rewards obedience and punishes transgression. (6) The law provides for means of atonement and atonement results in (7) maintenance or re-establishment of the covenantal relationship (blessings). (8) All those who are maintained in the covenant by obedience, atonement, and God’s mercy belong to the group that will be saved.
An important interpretation of the “first” and “last” points is that election (calling) and, ultimately, salvation are considered to be by God’s mercy/grace rather than human achievement. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Many of the New Perspective of Paul (NPP) theologians see the 1st century Jews of Covenantal nomism as a picture/type of the New Covenant with the Christian. The Christian enters the covenant relationship through faith (being born again) and maintains that relationship by “good works” of obedience. This is essentially the understanding of the Catholic church and the New Perspective of Paul (NPP) movement but was/is not the majority of the Protestants after the reformation, especially the Lutherans and Calvinists.
This concept is described by many as two points of justification, initial justification by faith and the end justification by “good works”, called sanctification, resulting in glorification. Viewing salvation in this way voids the views of “Sola Gratia” (grace alone) and the P in the acronym TULIP – The perseverance of the saints. It also puts focus on the requirement of Christians to stay faithful to the New Covenant relationship through obedience. “Trust and Obey”, there are no other way!
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