Reformed Baptists Stumbling Over The Teachings Of Keach And Gill
Peter Masters believes Benjamin Keach and John Gill collapsed the Covenant of Redemption into the “conditional” Covenant of Grace, thereby combining the various components of each covenant into one. Samuel Renihan believes Keach rejected the Covenant of Redemption in favor of the “conditional” Covenant of Grace. I have met Reformed Baptists believing one or the other of these views, some of whom say they derive great benefit, especially from the teachings of Gill. However, neither of these views represent the teachings of Keach and Gill, and therefore it is questionable what type of benefit one has received from their writings if they have been misinterpreted.
Keach and Gill out-right rejected the “conditional” Covenant of Grace in favor of the Covenant of Redemption. Forthwith, the doctrines of duty-faith and the free-offer, both of which depend upon a “conditional” Covenant of Grace, were dismissed as having no place within the covenantal framework or biblical narrative. Keach and Gill’s covenantal framework became the dominant view among the Particular Baptists and other denominations during the 18th and 19th centuries.
It is no surprise Peter Masters and Samuel Renihan have attempted to cling on to their “conditional” Covenant of Grace when interpreting Keach and Gill, for if they let it go, they lose with it not only two stalwarts of the faith, but also their man-centered doctrines of duty-faith and the free-offer. My dear friends, we must exercise discernment in all matters, especially when there are so many conflicting views swirling around. Just because one advertises his/her subscription to a twofold covenantal framework does not mean he/she represents the teachings of Keach and Gill. Masters certainly doesn’t. These men speak for themselves quite clearly on the subject and therefore I invite you to examine their teachings for yourself, rather than relying on someone else’s interpretation (misinterpretation) of their views.
Jared Smith served twenty years as pastor of a Strict and Particular Baptist church in Kensington (London, England). He now serves as an Evangelist in the Philippines, preaching the gospel, organizing churches and training gospel preachers.
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