Jeffrey D. Johnson - The Kingdom of God: A Baptist Expression of Covenant Theology

Johnson gives a cover-to-cover, Genesis-to-Revelationdramatic presentation of the story of the outworking of the covenant of gracethrough the conflict of the two seeds. It is gripping and compelling while itillustrates the doctrinal argument with power. He tells the story that is theontological rubric behind all good stories. Giving serious attention to Johnsonstenacious engagement with the biblical theme of The Kingdom of God willexpand ones personal knowledge of Scripture, extend ones confidence in thewisdom and certainty of divine providence, and exact transparent and purepraise to God for his invincible grace.

Tom Nettles
Professor of Historical Theology, The Southern Baptist theological Seminary

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Of the many books that exist on covenant theology, rare arethose that are accessible to neophytes while at the same time instructing thewell read student on the subject. This one does both. If Jeff Johnsons firstbook, The Fatal Flaw, explained what Baptist covenant theology is not, TheKingdom of God explains what it is. In my view, the most importantcontribution of this work is to bring us the history of salvation through allthe biblical covenants in a Reformed Baptist perspective. The deeper treatmentthat Johnson gives to the Abrahamic Covenant in this work is one of theclearest statements I have read. After you finish reading it, you will have aclearer view of the big picture of the kingdom of God.

Pascal Denault
Author of The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology

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The Kingdom of God by Jeffrey Johnson is a work Icommend to be read both by Baptists and Paedobaptists. He explains the biblicalcovenants in relationship to the kingdom of God through the whole Bible.Especially interesting is his explanation of the Abrahamic Covenant as onecovenant with two elements, both unconditional and conditional. This is basedupon his understanding of the continued requirement of the broken Covenant ofWorks as well as the instituted promise of the Covenant of Grace in Gen. 3:15.Thus, he places the Lord Jesus Christ at the center of Gods covenants toreestablish the fallen kingdom of God. I found his narration of the covenantsand kingdom through biblical history almost devotional as well as informative.I found my heart warmed at the faithfulness of God in biblical history to bringHis Son into this world to fulfill the Covenant of Works for us and toestablish the victory of the Covenant of Grace over sin, Satan, death, and hellfor His chosen people. No small task for a theological work! One area ofdisagreement was his explanation of the Sinai Covenant as a reinstitution ofthe Covenant of Works. I believe that there is only one pure Covenant of Worksinstituted in history and that the Sinai Covenant was a subsidiary andtemporary addition to the Abrahamic Covenant which proclaimed the Covenant ofWorks in the Law and also proclaimed Christ in the Covenant of Grace in thesacrificial system. However, Johnson did affirm the way of faith alone underthe Sinai Covenant for believers like Moses, Joshua, David, etc. So, other thanthat quibble, I recommend the reading of The Kingdom of God as awelcomed addition to Baptist covenantal theology. I think you will be blessedto read his presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ as fulfilling the Covenant ofWorks for us that Gods Grace may justly fall upon sinners.

Fred Malone
Author of The Baptism of Disciples Alone