EDITOR
Question for Paedo-Baptists: How Do You Get Into the New Covenant?
by Moe Bergeron
I have been giving much thought to writing something about how a person has entrance into the covenant and in pursuit of my goal I stumbled on an excellent article, “Retreating to Rome: The New Battle Over Justification” by James W. Galyon. I have since communicated to the author my appreciation for a well written paper. In his paper Galyon brings attention to one’s faith as being key to a proper entrance into the covenant. I do believe he has struck at the root from which the New Perspective has grown forth with the following statement:
"If baptism is the way one enters into the covenant then the nature
of evangelism is altered drastically. Instead of proclaiming the gospel
and inviting hearers to make a cognitive decision to trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ and to turn from their sins, one will focus upon the
baptismal fount."
Gaylon is quite right. I have thanked him for his article. It has encouraged me to ask additional questions. Questions that beg for answers. Let me begin with this simple statement:
If we do not have a right understanding of how entrance into
the new covenant is secured on the behalf of sinners then we
understand little of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Yes, I tend to be rather blunt at times but this is extremely important. How do we, as members of the New Covenant community in Christ, refute the error promoted by the New Perspective and the larger Paedo-Baptists community?
I strongly believe that if Reformed Baptists do not know how one enters into the New Covenant then there's a good possibility they are not "in" the New Covenant. (ouch!)
To make my point I will posit the following as essentials for all good Baptists to understand if they are to turn back the error of Tom Wright and all those who speak of being "in" the covenant:
1. The covenant for this age is correctly (biblically!) understood as entrance into the New Covenant of the Spirit of Christ. (2 Cor 3:1-18; Ezk 11:19; 36:26; Jer. 31:31–34; cf. 32:36–41; Heb. 8:8–12)
2. Participation in this New Covenant comes to God’s Elect through the washing by the Blood of the Lamb and the circumcision of the heart by God’s Holy Spirit and is received by the adopted covenant children with Faith. (Lk 22:20; John 3:5; Gal 3:2; 6:15; Rom 2:29; 2 Cor 5:17)
3. Continued faithfulness to this new Covenant is the sure fruit of the Holy Spirit’s union to God’s Elect. (Jer 32:40-41; Mk 4:20; 2 Cor 5:17)
4. Water baptism IS NOT entrance into the New Covenant. (1 Cor 1:17-9) Water baptism is a token that testifies of an inward work of God upon the heart and is a fruit of repentance. It follows a secret work of God upon the hearts of those whom He by His Spirit effectually calls and adds to the redeemed community through the Gospel. (Acts 2:37-41)
5. Entrance into the covenant as posited by the New Perspective is nothing more than the will of man, the will of the flesh and the work of man made religion. If she looks like Hagar, smells like Hagar, it is Hagar! (Gal 4:24-31)
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Now let's get this straight. NT Wright's idea of entrance into the covenant within his Anglican community is through the water fount and it is all wet and unless you understand that entrance into the New Covenant is through the circumcision of the heart and the washing by the blood of Jesus then just sit back and let error and Satan's deception have its day.
by Moe Bergeron
I have been giving much thought to writing something about how a person has entrance into the covenant and in pursuit of my goal I stumbled on an excellent article, “Retreating to Rome: The New Battle Over Justification” by James W. Galyon. I have since communicated to the author my appreciation for a well written paper. In his paper Galyon brings attention to one’s faith as being key to a proper entrance into the covenant. I do believe he has struck at the root from which the New Perspective has grown forth with the following statement:
"If baptism is the way one enters into the covenant then the nature
of evangelism is altered drastically. Instead of proclaiming the gospel
and inviting hearers to make a cognitive decision to trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ and to turn from their sins, one will focus upon the
baptismal fount."
Gaylon is quite right. I have thanked him for his article. It has encouraged me to ask additional questions. Questions that beg for answers. Let me begin with this simple statement:
If we do not have a right understanding of how entrance into
the new covenant is secured on the behalf of sinners then we
understand little of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Yes, I tend to be rather blunt at times but this is extremely important. How do we, as members of the New Covenant community in Christ, refute the error promoted by the New Perspective and the larger Paedo-Baptists community?
I strongly believe that if Reformed Baptists do not know how one enters into the New Covenant then there's a good possibility they are not "in" the New Covenant. (ouch!)
To make my point I will posit the following as essentials for all good Baptists to understand if they are to turn back the error of Tom Wright and all those who speak of being "in" the covenant:
1. The covenant for this age is correctly (biblically!) understood as entrance into the New Covenant of the Spirit of Christ. (2 Cor 3:1-18; Ezk 11:19; 36:26; Jer. 31:31–34; cf. 32:36–41; Heb. 8:8–12)
2. Participation in this New Covenant comes to God’s Elect through the washing by the Blood of the Lamb and the circumcision of the heart by God’s Holy Spirit and is received by the adopted covenant children with Faith. (Lk 22:20; John 3:5; Gal 3:2; 6:15; Rom 2:29; 2 Cor 5:17)
3. Continued faithfulness to this new Covenant is the sure fruit of the Holy Spirit’s union to God’s Elect. (Jer 32:40-41; Mk 4:20; 2 Cor 5:17)
4. Water baptism IS NOT entrance into the New Covenant. (1 Cor 1:17-9) Water baptism is a token that testifies of an inward work of God upon the heart and is a fruit of repentance. It follows a secret work of God upon the hearts of those whom He by His Spirit effectually calls and adds to the redeemed community through the Gospel. (Acts 2:37-41)
5. Entrance into the covenant as posited by the New Perspective is nothing more than the will of man, the will of the flesh and the work of man made religion. If she looks like Hagar, smells like Hagar, it is Hagar! (Gal 4:24-31)
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Now let's get this straight. NT Wright's idea of entrance into the covenant within his Anglican community is through the water fount and it is all wet and unless you understand that entrance into the New Covenant is through the circumcision of the heart and the washing by the blood of Jesus then just sit back and let error and Satan's deception have its day.
