Before Genesis: The Eternal Covenant That Shapes Everything

What if the Bible’s story didn’t start in Genesis, but in eternity past? Discover the eternal covenant between Father and Son that shapes all of Scripture and salvation history.

In this episode of Remnant Radio, Joshua Lewis sits down with Dr. Ryan McGraw, professor of systematic theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, to unpack the powerful doctrine of Covenant Theology.

But this isn’t just about ancient agreements—it’s about the eternal plan of salvation crafted before time began. Dr. McGraw lays out the “covenant of redemption,” the intra-Trinitarian agreement between the Father and the Son to redeem a people through the perfect obedience and atoning death of Christ. This covenant provides the foundation for everything that unfolds in redemptive history—from Adam’s failure under the covenant of works, to the unfolding covenant of grace that culminates in Christ and continues through the Church.

Together, they trace the storyline of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, showing how the theme of covenant brings coherence and clarity to God’s dealings with His people. You’ll hear how the law reveals not just commands, but the very character of God; how the gospel is embedded even in the earliest pages of the Old Testament; and how the biblical distinction between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent runs throughout all redemptive history. Whether you’re new to covenant theology or looking to deepen your theological roots, this episode will help you see that the Bible is not a disjointed anthology—but a breathtaking, unified narrative of God’s eternal purpose in Christ.

00:00 – Introduction & Show Overview
01:20 – Dr. McGraw's Background in Ministry & Academia
02:30 – Covenant Theology: A Blessing You Didn’t Know You Needed
04:45 – What Is a Covenant?
07:15 – God’s Character in the Law & the Gospel
10:00 – Covenant of Works, Grace, and Redemption Explained
14:30 – The Unity of Scripture in Covenant Theology
18:10 – Typology and the Shadows of Christ
22:45 – Seed of the Woman vs. Seed of the Serpent
27:00 – Distinguishing Covenant Members: External vs. Internal
30:00 – Christ’s Obedience and the Covenant of Works
34:20 – Covenant of Redemption vs. Covenant of Grace
39:00 – Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
43:15 – Assurance in Covenant Theology
47:40 – Discipleship and Covenant Application
52:30 – Is Covenant Theology Just for Presbyterians?
58:15 – Growing in Grace Through the Covenant
1:02:15 – Sacraments & Covenant Theology
1:08:45 – Final Reflections & Book Info

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