Covenant Privilege (rerun)

[Cajun Huguenot]

This is another post on covenant. This one is from Jan 2005. I hope some of the new folks who might be looking at covenant and baptism will find it helpful.

In Christ,
Kenith
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Covenant Privilege


Children born to Christian parents are born to great privilege. This was true of Israelites in the Old Covenant and it is true of Christians in the New Covenant.

Paul, in his letter to the church at Rome writes, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:1-4).

The Bible doesn’t speak only of heaven. In the Scriptures Heaven and earth are both important. Who, what, how, when, and where we are born and live are important to us and impact eternity and is part of GOd's Sovereignty over our lifes and His creation.

We are not philosophical Gnostics who see the world of spirit as good, and this physical world as evil. God created both. He said of all His creation that it was “very good.” The creation is now fallen and marred by sin, yet God’s creation is still a wonder and bears witness that He is creator.

If soneone is born in the New Covenant (i.e. to Christian parents), he is born into great advantage. An Israelite was, at birth, a part of the people of God. He is warned, time and again, not to take this outward benefit for granted, and assume that he had a ticket to heaven.

This was because he had to have true faith, as did his father Abraham. An Israelite was born into a very privileged position, because he was born among God’s people who had God’s Word. These were the only people in all the earth that worshipped the true God and salvation existed no where else among men; all the rest of the world existed in absolute spiritual darkness.

To be born in and amongst God's Covenant people is sure a benefit in this life. THat is if it is used properly, and not misused, ignored or perverted. If an individual misuses the privilege that he receives by birth, and is condemned for it, that does not take away from the fact that he was still born to very real advantage.

This is what Paul is speaking of in the verses quoted above. Covenant (Christian) children today have greater benefits than that of the ancient Israelites. Children of Christians are far better off than are the children born in Arabia, where the Bible and the Christian faith are outlawed.

Does this fortunate birth guarantee heaven? No. The covenant child, like the ancient Israelite, must have true faith in Jesus Christ. If he denies Christ, then this very benefit will be a witness against him on the day of Judgement.

Does that last fact mean that the person born in a Christian home was not born in an advantageous place and time? No, he was born in a privileged position and he is responsible for that fact.

With this in mind, look at all the warnings that some of our brethren use to prove that salvation can be lost. These verses, I believe, only make sense covenantally. Can you loose salvation? No, but you can be a covenant member and go straight to hell.

This is why covenant people are told to workout your salvation with fear and trembling. It is why James could write to his fellow Christians (whom he called “the twelve tribes”) and say the things he does. It is why John could write to the churches and say “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3,4).

John tells Christians how they can objectively examine their lives to know that they are truly saved.

There are thirty some odd verses used by Arminians to prove that salvation can be lost. I believe all of those verses are rightly understood only from a covenant perspective, because, as in the Old, you can be a covenant member born to privilege and still loose your soul, if you don’t make your salvation sure through repentance, faith and new obedience to Jesus Christ.

All my children were baptised as infants. Every time I have prayed with them I pray “remember your baptism, because you are marked as belonging to the Lord,” and I inform them that they must make their salvation sure, and not take it for granted.

Question: Does the fact that some people born in the privileged position by being covenant children, but don't take advantage of their position by believing on Christ, mean that their position was not really an advantageous one?
Answer: No; their position was one of great privilege and benefit (in this world), but if they deny Christ this very privilege will bring them greater condemnation. The Scripture make this point in both the Old and New Testaments.

I know that this is an alien concept to many of my “credo-baptistism only" brethren, but it is, I believe, very biblical. (Note: credo= believer)

In Christ,
Kenith

 

[Imblessed]

Kenith, thank you for sharing that. It was very insightful, and I think will answer some of the questions brought up in the other thread("so I guess I'm a presbyterian now" thread)

It's a difficult position for me, because while I think i understand and even may agree with the pedobaptists' position...my children are 4 and 6(certainly not infants any more),and my husband is not interested at the moment in this.

I also feel that this 'covenant' you speak of is still in affect with my family even though my children were not baptised as infants. They are still being brought up in a household that worships God, still being taught to obey God and,I feel, are enjoying the benefits that come with that privilage. They still have the same responsibilities that, say, your children do, simply because they are being brought up in the same way. Does that make sense to you?

maybe I'm missing something.....

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

Kenith, thank you for sharing that. It was very insightful, and I think will answer some of the questions brought up in the other thread("so I guess I'm a presbyterian now" thread)

It's a difficult position for me, because while I think i understand and even may agree with the pedobaptists' position...my children are 4 and 6(certainly not infants any more),and my husband is not interested at the moment in this.

I also feel that this 'covenant' you speak of is still in affect with my family even though my children were not baptised as infants. They are still being brought up in a household that worships God, still being taught to obey God and,I feel, are enjoying the benefits that come with that privilage. They still have the same responsibilities that, say, your children do, simply because they are being brought up in the same way. Does that make sense to you?

maybe I'm missing something.....

Imblessed,

We have a great and gracious Lord. I believe that all children of believers should be baptised, but in our day many Christians (for many reasons) don't understand this.

In 1 Cor 7 we are told that the children of even one believing parent is "holy" or a "saint." They, therefore, should be baptised, but our failure to obey (though sin) will not change God's decree. I think they big thing today, especially in the United States, is to disciple our Baptist brethren into a fuller, more complete, understanding of God's covenant relation with His people.

On the other side of the coin, Roman Catholics go to far with Baptism and make it almost magical. The Church fathers understood (as does Wesminster) that salvation comes by way of the Church of Jesus Christ. There is no salvation (ordinarily) outside the Church. Baptism unites us to the body of Christ, in an outward way. It marks us as belonging to the Lord. It brings us into the visible covenant people of God. So it is very important for those reasons.

I hope your husband will someday sees these things and I pray your children will recieve God's covenant sign and seal soon.

The Lord bless you,
Kenith