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    WHY AM I DOING THIS?: As much as an amateur blogger and theologian can do this...I want to make you think. I want you to know what you believe and why you believe it. And I want you to believe what you do - not because Mommy and Daddy believed it - but because it is the truth as contained in the Scriptures. I pray that God will use this blog and the resources and links provided here to grow its readers (including me) in the grace and knowledge of Christ. I pray this knowledge will result in a life of obedience that flows - not from fear or a desire to gain God's favor - but from a gratitude of knowing the truth about Who your Creator is, and what your Creator has done for you.

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Archive for September 19th, 2007

How Can a Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace Be Upon an Unregenerate Child?

Posted by Brian Thornton on September 19, 2007

Consider this definition of baptism:

Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. – LBC 1689, Chapter 29

And this one:

Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world. – WCF, Chapter 28

Now consider this question posed by one of my elders:

How would you apply these definitions to an infant child?

Finally, Consider this verse:

In Him [Christ], you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, – Eph. 1:13

According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit is the One who seals the elect, AFTER they have believed. So, what seal is being applied to an unbelieving infant who has been baptized?

Posted in Baptism, LBC 1689, WCF | 30 Comments »