11-The Long Night

For the last thirty years or more, there has been a public debate
among Christians over the relative merits and de-merits of
covenant theology as opposed to new-covenant theology. As I
write (in February 2015), this debate is being pursued with
vigour. And I, for one, am delighted. Indeed, I have taken part in
it. 1 But I suspect that many of the believers who know of this
discussion might be dismissing it as being of academic interest
only, an absorbing pastime for those who like a theological ding-
dong, but of little or no practical importance. If so, they could not
be making a bigger mistake! The fact is, the debate in question
concerns matters which lie at the very heart of the gospel. Indeed,
the issues involved cannot be confined to believers. They have
vital consequences for all mankind.