Abraham's Four Seeds

by John G. Reisinger

Abraham's Four Seeds is a biblical examination of the presuppositions of Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism. Pastor, evangelist, and author John G. Reisinger demonstrates how a correct understanding of Abraham's seeds is key to harmonizing Scripture. He writes:

The following statement, if correctly understood, will help to clear up a lot of confusion: The nation of Israel was not the 'Body of Christ,' even though the Body of Christ is indeed the true 'Israel of God.'

Covenant Theology cannot accept the first part of that statement and Dispensationalism cannot accept the second part. The basic presuppositions of Covenant Theology make it mandatory that Israel be the church and be under the same covenant as the church, and the one thing a Dispensationalist must maintain is the church's present and future distinction from Israel which makes it mandatory that Israel and the church can never be under the same covenant or inherit the same blessings. What is essential to one system is anathema to the other system.

Dispensationalism cannot get Israel and the church together in any sense whatever, and Covenant Theology cannot get them apart. Dispensationalism cannot see that the church is the true Israel of God and the fulfillment of the promises that God made to Abraham and the fathers, and Covenant Theology cannot see that the church, as the Body of Christ, did not, and simply could not, exist in reality and experience until the personal advent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Dispensationalism insists that Israel and the church have totally different promises and destinies (one earthly and the other heavenly), and Covenant Theology insists that Israel and the Body of Christ are equally the "same redeemed church under the same 'covenant of grace' and governed by the same identical 'canon of conduct.'"

Dispensationalism drives a wedge between the OT and the NT and never the twain shall meet as specific promise (OT) and identical fulfillment (NT); and Covenant Theology flattens the whole Bible out into one covenant where there is no real and vital distinction between either the Old and New Covenants or Israel and the church.

The Old Covenant proved one's guilt and forbade one to draw near without a perfect righteousness or an acceptable sacrifice. The New Covenant declares a believer to be both righteous and acceptable in God's sight, and it bids him come boldly without fear into the very Most Holy place that was totally closed off to all but Aaron under the Old Covenant.

The law as a legal covenant ended when the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom, and the law as a pedagogue over the conscience was dismissed on the day of Pentecost when the 'promise of the Father' took up his abode in every believer as the personal Vicar of the ascended Lord. The giving of the Spirit is the proof of the accepted work of Christ in the heavenly tabernacle, and the 'given Spirit' indwelling the believer is the indelible assurance of our eternal acceptance by the Father.

It is the author's desire that this book would be of benefit to those who desire to understand "What does the Scripture say?" May the watchword Sola Scriptura have real meaning in the church!

Genres: Theology, Christian

151 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

About the author

John G. Reisinger is an evangelist, theologian, conference speaker, former pastor and writer. New Covenant Theology and Prophecy is his 23rd book. John is well-known for having a unique talent to make profound and deep truths simple and understandable.

Reviews

[JR Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Challenges the doctrines of dispensationalism and (more pertinent to my Presbyterian-recovering-self) Covenant Theology.

I’m loath to accept doctrine without much historical precedent...but this book is pretty solid.

Read again in august of 2023:

Not quite so enamored with Reisinger's generalizations of both dispensationalism and CT this time around, but this is still an important book to my thinking about the Abrahamic covenant. I still think Reisinger is essentially right in making a distinction in the Abrahamic covenant between natural and spiritual seeds, which makes the covenant-theology guy err in confusing the sign given to Abraham's physical children and then giving the spiritual sign of baptism to physical children as well. The opposite problem of naturalizing the whole covenant as only given to Israel with little spiritual application is the dispensationalist mistake that I'm less interested in. A lot of Reisingers "both CT and Dispy guys make the same mistake with Abraham" stuff was repeated in "Kingdom Through Covenant", and I can't remember if attribution was given. I think Gentry mentions resigner a couple times.

[Timothy Crockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book! One I will have to reread! His arguments go against both the Covenant AND the Dispensational position. Using Scripture alone he systematically dissects each position showing their faults while upholding New Covenant Theology.

The intro included something that has been near and dear to me from the start even under my current position - Dispensationalist - I don't believe we should establish our views based on a system. The author rightly states - "The basic presuppositions of any system of theology must be established with specific texts of scripture and NOT with theological terms. Otherwise, our basic building blocks will be the product of logic and not the word of God itself. We must not produce a theological lingo ...deduced from our system, and then force those theological terms into the scripture, refusing to allow the words used by the Holy Spirit to mean what they actually say."

Lots of food for thought as I reexamine my own eschatological position.

The book was short and easy to read. His arguments were well-reasoned and FROM scripture. I would recommend this book for those who are doing a deep dive into their own eschatology.

[Forrest · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very unimpressed with this book. First of all, due to the polemical nature of the writing, Reisinger is very ungracious to both Dispensationalists and Covenant theologians, and was incredibly generalizing towards both theologies.

I found the book difficult to get through as well, very repetitive, and convoluted. Often Reisinger would quote most of a verse in the main body of text and then immediately have the verse quoted right below it in quotation form. He also used different versions of Scripture as it suited him, with no consistency. Overall it was just a really hard book to read and comprehend.

Finally, I was concerned with the artificial breaking between the "Assembly of God" or "Ecclesia" which he referred to as "Israel" in the Old Testament and "the church" in the New Tsstament. It's the same word, and the English translations have made the weird change between old and new, which for a theological book there should at least be an acknowledgement of the fact, rather than just a use of something like this. Also, quite a few times Reisinger uses the phrase "Christ the Messiah" which is baffling as Christ is the Greek rendering of Messiah (it's the same as saying "Christ the Christ" it's simply nonsensical). He called Jesus "Christ" over and over as if that was Jesus' name rather than His title. This was the biggest red flag for me, for someone to write a theological book and obviously have such a limited knowledge of some basic things about the original languages of the Scriptures and the translational things that he just takes for granted.

I gave this book 2 stars rather than 1 just because I am always happy to see people trying to interact with Scripture and do so in a way to elevate the Word. As an individual who is not either a strict covenant theologian, nor a dispensationalist I can understand some of his frustration with the two theological systems, but I don't think the book is helpful in sorting anything out.

[Mark Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really agree with the fundamental point that both dispensational theology and covenant theology are systems imposed on Scriptural texts rather than being exegetically drawn out of the biblical texts.

But this book was quite jumbled, overstated, and often cliched. I doubt that many covenant theologians for instance would feel accurately represented here - Resinger does not seem to understand the typology that someone like Calvin for instance articulated in the Institutes.

One major difference here for me is his assessment of the Mosaic Covenant as being “conditional” and “legal” and condemning. Isn’t it possible that the law is meant to show us our need for salvation by faith - and that is in fact a gracious purpose? (That is Sailhamer’s thesis in “Meaning of the Pentateuch”.) Likewise, when expressed in and by faith isn’t it right and good to obey Torah? (Calvin’s third use of the law.)

In any case, a good book and a good start for what is now called New Covenant Theology it “Progressive Covenantalism” but a lot of the details here are in need of revision.

[Danieltituscom · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, John G. Reisinger exposes problematic presuppositions within Dispensational and (WM) Covenant Theology. The problem is that both theological systems conflate the many ways the Bible speaks of Abraham's seeds.

It's a clever way of approaching this problem; however, the book itself fails to distinguish out Baptist Covenant Theology (BCT) which makes these same observations. This book does not offer any solutions either, which (again) BCT does quite well.

[Barac Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a bit skeptical at first about this book that was recommended to me by a New Covenant Theology guy but it turns out its a really good book. Very good arguments drawn not from a system but from the Bible, getting the presuppositions right and letting the Scripture interpret the Scripture. For anyone new into Covenant Theology or eschatology this is a must.

[Doug Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

#61 out of goal of 100 for 2018

Really thorough examination of the claims of both covenant theology and dispensationalism. Technical but not so much that the interested layperson couldn’t follow and benefit

[Gabriel Hagstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely clarifying for anyone trying to define the fuzzy edges of Israel and the Church. Reisinger bases his argument first in scripture using that same scripture dismantles the theological systems of Covenant theology and Dispensationalism.

[Glenn Leatherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One the best books in helping develop a biblical theology and seeing the grand scheme of Scripture.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read on the uses of Abraham’s seed, some of it goes a little over my head though!

[Daniel Guzmán · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains clearly and profoundly the basic presuppositions of both Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology. It is a great tool for the one who wants to understand in which theological foundations these two system are based and what are the most constant errors.

For the one who wants to go depth in New Covenant Theology studies compared with the other two systems of Biblical Theology.

[Mikey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great critique of both the traditional covenant theology hermeneutic and the traditional dispensational hermeneutic -- however, this is a good example of the guy at work who brings a lot of problems to the table with no solutions. Not to mention, his jabs at the previously mentioned methods get redundant toward the last 1/3 of the book.

[William Dicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on New Covenant Theology. It breaks down the wrong ideas held by Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology and provides a simple yet profound, direct interpretation of the Scriptures. It does become a little repetitive at times, but is well worth the effort to read it.

[Neil Nolte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abraham’s Four Seeds offers a concise and much-needed explanation of a vital biblical topic. Reisinger’s reasoning is clear and easy to follow, providing helpful insight that clears up a widespread misunderstanding of Scripture.

[Diana Woodbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent and concise book that goes after the presupposition errors that are in Dispensational and Covenant Theology.

[Jordan Shelvock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful look at how scripture uses the term "Abraham's seed". Brings a lot of clarity to an oft debated topic.