A Survey ThroughThe Heidelberg Catechism
LORD’S DAY #27
What aboutCovenant Child Baptism?
The Covenant of Grace grows the Church generationally.
The Covenant of GraceGrows the Church Generationally
Seth
Cain
Covt of Covenant of Grace
Works
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3:15, ESV, rf. Gen. 9:9; 17:7)
Acts 2:39; rf. Acts 16:33; 1 Cor. 1:16; 1 Cor. 7:14
What aboutCovenant Child Baptism?Heidelberg Cat #74Q. Are infants also to be baptized?
A. Yes, for since they, as well as adults, are included in the covenant and Church of God, and since both redemption from sin and the Holy Spirit, the Author of faith, are through the blood of Christ promised to them no less than to adults, they must also by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be ingrafted into the Christian Church, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers, as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision, instead of which baptism was instituted in the new covenant.
Westminster SC #95Q. To whom is baptism to be administered?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.
The Necessity ofExperiential Regeneration Not a step an individual decides or takes on his own (Total
Depravity) but is the inward work of the Holy Spirit that results, typically, in an outward expression of conversion.
In the case of an adult, trauma, emotions, guilt, hunger, etc. can be used by the Holy Spirit to bring about evident conversion (even if the work of regeneration, which may or may not be a specific point in time, has been going on previously).
In the case of an infant born to believing parents, the promise of regeneration is present and the discipleship of parents may be used of the Holy Spirit to bring about conversion. (rf. Jer. 1:5; Lk. 1:15 vs. Gen. 24:23 vs. Mal. 1:2-3; Rom. 9:13)
In the case of one without reasoning, the same is true.
“Because of the perpetual presence of that carnal element in the church of Christ in the world, the church must fight her hardest battle in her own house and not on the mission field. For it is by this carnal element that the measure of iniquity is filled. And from the carnal seed the antichristian power is constantly developing, … .
They kill the prophets and stone them that are sent unto them . They crucify the Christ and always crucify Him anew. They bring forth the false church. With them the children of the promise are engaged in continual spiritual warfare, until the days come in which there shall be great tribulation – days in which the very elect would be deceived, if they were not shortened for their sake.”
H. Hoeskema
Covenant Continuity
Circumcision Baptism
(Mt. 28:19; Col. 2:11-12)
Passover Lord’s Supper
(Mt. 26:17-30 & parallels;
1 Cor. 11:23-26)
The foundational importance of Abraham
Moses – 80 times in the NT
Abraham – 132 – times in the NT
Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:5-6 ESV)
And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.(Galatians 3:29 ESV)
The Old Covenantal Pattern:
Abraham called to believe and then receive the mark.
All succeeding generations of his lineage must receive the mark and then be taught/called to believe.
Only those who believe are regarded as Abraham’s true seed. (rf. Dt. 10:16; 30:6; Lev. 26:40-41; Jer. 4:4; Rom. 2:28-29; 4:11-16; Gal. 3:7-9, 16-29; 4:1-7)
Only when adult Gentiles are added into the people of God is there a call to believe first and then to receive the mark.
Genesis 17, ESV [9] And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
[10] This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. [11] You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. [12] He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, [13] both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
Genesis 17, ESV [10] This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. [11] You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. [12] He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, [13] both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.
[14] Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
Exodus 4
21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”24 At a lodging place on the way the LORD met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
How did the ApostlesUnderstand This?
[12] … “Men of Israel, … [13] The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, … . [17] “And now, brothers, … [19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, … [22] Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. … [24] And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. [25] You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ [26] God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
(Acts 3:11-26 ESV)
Evidence of ContinuityIsrael Acts
Abraham believed => righteousness received mark of the covt.
All in Abraham’s household received the mark under
headship called to own the mark by
faith. will be “heirs” of the
promise and must live by faith.
Adult Gentiles coming to faith profess faith => mark administer mark to
household under headship calling them to own the
mark by faith
Jews at/after Pentecost believed => righteousness received new mark of covt.
All in a Believer’s household: received the mark (argument
from silence/inference) called to own the mark by
faith. will be “heirs” of the promise
and must live by faith.
Adult Gentiles coming to faith profess faith => mark administer mark to household
under headship calling them to own the mark
by faith.
The Mark of the Covenant is: a sign that the promised deliverer (Gen. 3:15) would come
through the physical lineage of Abraham (& is fulfilled in Christ).
Circumcision ends w/Christ’s coming –
(male only, bloody cutting away, purifying)
Now circumcision or uncircumcision mean nothing.
a seal that God is building his church.
Baptism replaces circumcision –
(sign can, may and is given to men/women)
(signifying outpouring of HS, cleansing)
Pattern of Abraham still to be followed –
(given to adults upon profession of faith,
given to children of believers, calling them to faith)
New Covenant
Presbyterian Church
Preaching God’s Sovereign Grace
to a World of Need
128 St. Mary’s Church Rd. Abingdon, MD 21009
410-569-0289
www.ncpres.org
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