RESOURCES for Exploring Reformed vs. Covenant
Theology and their Implications
My studies in 2008 confirmed earlier suspicions that
Reformed Theology and confessional baptism (in contrast to Covenant Theology
and paedobaptism) better represent the Biblical
teaching.*
The study of baptism was my back door into learning about Covenant
Theology. For some time I have
understood that progressive revelation led to a church (ideally) composed of
redeemed people only, though given the nature of sin and life after the fall
and the already and not yet nature of the church, it is difficult to maintain
congregations of believers-only in practice.
As the Messiah, His kingdom, and His people were finally revealed and
explained in the New Testament, the trappings of the Old Testament shadows fell
away leaving the essence highlighted. It
is only in the New Testament that the resolution of the picture is sharpened
and all things brought into focus. The
Gospel is not new wine only, but new wine in a new wineskin because the
Old Covenant context has given way to the New.
The following resources are listed to aid you in discovering and being
confirmed in the truth. GR
* I now recognize that
what I have been calling my reformed view
is a variety of New Covenant Theology that is based upon the finality of NT as
the pinnacle of God’s revelation. [NEW COVENANT Theology http://pop.eradman.com]
TESTIMONY: Matt Foreman, Reformed Baptist pastor and 03 graduate from
Probably the
most decisive issue for me when I was wrestling with these issues was the weak
exegetical work supporting infant baptism - particularly the exegetical basis
for linking circumcision and baptism. The only text that mentions the two
together is Col.2 and Presbyterian exegesis of the passage is extraordinarily
weak. I do not believe that circumcision was the Old Covenant antecedent
of baptism. There are other, much clearer OT elements prefiguring
baptism. Further, it obviously never occurred to the NT writers that
baptism was replacing circumcision.* All of them were Jews who
had received both signs; they thought of the purpose of the signs
differently. There would never have been a Judaizer-circumcision
controversy if the apostles had believed baptism replaced circumcision. I
have never seen an answer to that problem in any paedobaptist
writing. During my time at
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* See Covenant Theology’s viewpoint in
the theological note, God’s Pattern for
Worship, in the New Geneva Study Bible and The Reformation Study
Bible. The first paragraph describes
some motivations, preconditions, and elements of worship. Later there is a discussion of the main
features in the pattern for public worship God mandated for
BOOK - BELIEVER’S BAPTISM – Sign of the New
Covenant in Christ, 06, edited by Thomas Schreiner & Shawn Wright is
excellent. In each of its 10 chapters,
different authors fairly and accurately present the reasons Covenant Theology
has led many to the practice of infant baptism and an incorrect view of the
church. It exposes flaws in thinking
that have taken so many otherwise sound people away from the historic
scriptural (Reformed) position of confessional baptism and church
membership. It is a very readable book
that clarifies the issues and addresses the heart of the debate on why baptism
was intended only for those giving a credible confession of faith in Christ to
so constitute the membership of His body on earth. I found it educational, inspiring, and
devotional.
Notes on BELIEVER’S BAPTISM for those who read the book - some
interactions I wrote in the margins
CHAPTER 3
Pg.69 – I disagree with Schreiner’s
depiction of Noah’s flood, “It seems that the waters of baptism are conceived
as a raging flood that destroy and kill.” We are not taken
by the enraged anger of God, but come to the quiet waters of baptism where we
enter into the death of Christ who satisfied God’s wrath.
Footnote 8 – “The waters of the flood
both saved and destroyed.” No, the ark saved.
Pg.82 – “Submersion is an apt picture
because it demonstrates that death overwhelms and conquers its
subjects.” I
see baptism as more peaceful, more of a lying down in death joining Christ –
death by choice.
CHAPTER 4
Pg.119 – I add a comment
to the paedobaptist’s assertion that “The burden
of proof…is upon anyone who wants to overturn what was previously given [in the
Old Testament]…this standard argument has important implications for how
one views the nature and function of covenant signs.” I insert, for other things as well such as tithing, Sabbath keeping, etc.
Pg.121 – I add to “…how paedobaptists limit and reduce the meaning of OT
circumcision to its spiritual
significance alone.” I.E. they fail to view circumcision in the context of
Pg.146 – I correct a
mistake, “The perfect passive use of the verb in Hebrews 8:6 - he
‘has enacted’…” Should read “It has been enacted” referring to the
covenant Christ mediates.
CHAPTER 7
Pg.225 –
Pg.226 – I disagree with
Wright’s argument, “when it becomes clear that some baptized members of the
church are in fact unregenerate, the church must be diligent to
discipline them and treat them as unbelievers (e.g., Mt.18:15-20; 1
Cor.5:1-5).” Discipline
is appropriate for certain behaviors, but it is without reference to
regenerate state of the person because the sins referred to in the cited
references do not certify unregenerateness.
Pg.246 – Wright describes how
Christian parents “should use all means available to help their children understand
their obligation to obey the gospel…”
I don’t think of it this
way. There is a negative atmosphere or
mood surrounding this duty/obligation approach with children. I would rather show them God in the beauty of
his character and wonder of his work in both creation and redemption to woo
them.
CHAPTER 10
Pg.329-352 – I was
disappointed with the last chapter because Dever left
a number of important issues essentially unaddressed. He assumes that candidates for baptism
ought to be examined or judged for evidences of spiritual life as a
prerequisite for baptism. Dever doesn’t raise that issue or the issue of whether
baptism should be separated from church membership, except in the case of
confessing children. He doesn’t
differentiate requirements for baptism from those for church membership. Whereas NT baptism is based upon profession
of who they believe Jesus to be in the context of a simple knowledge of what He
accomplished, the basis of church membership is an entirely different
animal. Admitting people into the
membership does allow for consideration of matters of conduct, doctrinal
knowledge, commitment, expectations, etc.
Dever discusses membership in terms of the willingness
of the candidate to be baptized, making it his decision, rather than in the
terms mentioned under control of the membership. There are huge differences between the
primitive situation in Acts and complicating factors in our world. We have the benefit of hundreds of years of
Christian scholarship aimed at understanding and clarifying the scriptures, and
the detriment of the confusion resulting from the accumulation of errors over
the same period. It is therefore prudent
to draw church membership requirements for doctrinal unity more narrowly [see Baptism
and Church Membership on Piper’s website].
With today’s de-emphasis on truth (doctrinal understanding),
personal testimonies have become almost totally subjective accounts about the
candidate and his “choice,” rather than a witness to the Lord’s grace in
granting salvation. Dever
doesn’t discuss this or the practice of transference of membership in such a
climate. [For a very readable discussion
of today’s situation in western culture and churches, I recommend The Courage to be Protestant: Truth-Lovers,
Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World,
08 by David Wells. It is an analysis of
the rise and fall of evangelicalism in
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For
a discussion of the nature of salvation, see Approaching The
Bible With Prejudice http://pop.eradman.com
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Sermons on baptism by John Piper available for download in
various formats including print at http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TopicIndex/23_Baptism/.
Piper
is great. See also at same address under
“Related Topics,” “Baptism and Church Membership” and “The Lord’s Supper.”
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For Baptist distinctives,
see last article at NEW COVENANT Theology http://pop.eradman.com Baptists and
Their Doctrines chap.1, DISTINCTIVE BAPTIST
PRINCIPLES
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For An Exposition
of Acts 2:39 and Infant Baptism, see Appendix 4 of 3 Studies
Theological Notes http://pop.eradman.com
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A String of Pearls Unstrung: A Theological Journey into
Believers' Baptism by Fred Malone http://www.founders.org/library/malone1/malone_text.html
A clear, easily read study of the subjects of
baptism that interacts with all the major issues. Describes Malone's theological pilgrimage
from a convinced paedobaptist and Presbyterian pastor
to a convinced Baptist.
Infant Baptism and the
Regulative Principle of Worship http://www.gracesermons.com/robbeeee/regulative.html which I interact with in Scripture and Conscience http://pop.eradman.com/
MP3 downloads, Malone’s series on God's Covenants http://www.founders.org/sermons/weekly.html
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Contending
for the Truth in Love by Tom Ascol http://www.gracesermons.com/robbeeee/contending.html
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The Covenant of Circumcision: No Just Plea for Infant
Baptism by W.T. Brantly http://www.gracesermons.com/robbeeee/circumcision.html
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Baptism by
Charles Spurgeon http://www.gracesermons.com/robbeeee/spurgbaptism.html
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FAQ [with resources
and discussion] on the Reformed Baptist View of Baptism http://www.eng.auburn.edu/~sjreeves/personal/baptism_faq.html
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A
good search engine for subjects on selected Reformed web sites http://geneva.founders.org/
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BOOK – God of Promise:
Introducing Covenant Theology, 06 by Michael Horton
This is not a book I
recommend. It is very difficult with no
inspirational or devotional value.
Horton and others who speak of the “means of grace” in terms of “word
and sacrament” are referring to a mystical action by the Holy Spirit in
nourishing faith in the believer (conferring the promises of God) through the
administration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper which are viewed as NT forms of
OT circumcision and the Passover.
Horton’s struggle with language to explain what he means is typical of
those who hold that position [ie, see also April, 04 Tabletalk magazine from Legonier Ministries, last paragraph pg.45]. This difficult-to-explain conception of
Christ’s presence in a unique way appears to be another leftover from Roman
Catholicism that remains embedded in an altered form within Covenant
Theology. See Scripture
and Conscience http://pop.eradman.com/. Here are the basic
questions: Is Christian baptism effective (does it actually do something -
convey some grace* or affect one’s status as in baptismal regeneration) or
is it merely commemorative (representative of some truth or reality)? Each question naturally leads to another:
What does it do and/or picture according to the relevant NT passages?
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* See Covenant Theology’s
viewpoint in the theological note The
Sacraments in the New Geneva Study Bible and The Reformation
Study Bible. “…a definition of
sacrament as a ritual action…in which signs perceived by the senses
present to us the grace of God…The sacraments are means of grace, for God uses
them to strengthen faith’s confidence in His promises to call forth acts of
faith for receiving the good gifts signified…Sacraments strengthen faith by
correlating Christian beliefs with the testimony of our senses.” [Did circumcision or the Passover work the same things in
Israelites?] The theological note Baptism says “Receiving the sign of
baptism in faith [whose? the believer’s or the believing parents?] assures [When are infants assured?] those baptized [instead of
“witnesses to others”] that God’s gift of new life in Christ is freely
given to them.” The theological note The Lord’s Supper quotes the