This is [the] point upon which much hinges: you can be in the covenant, and not be saved.
To be under the New Covenant means to have a heart of stone replaced with a heart of flesh; to have God's Spirit put within you. It is because of the New Covenant promise "I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me." [Jer 32:40] that we have eternal security.
So I don't see how you can prove your thesis; so I eagerly await the next article.
David,what exactly do you mean when you say you accept infant baptism?
Bob-- I mean that I believe that we should baptize children as well as adults who profess belief.
very clear post - keep these streams of consiousness going - i like the logical ordered way you make your arguments
we should baptize children as well as adults who profess belief.
I didn't know there were any Baptists, of any stripe, who didn't "accept" this.
When I hear "infant baptism," I hear the baptism of infants, even those too young to profess belief.
That's not what you mean?
Hi, You wrote: "...covenantal theology...a theology for want of a better term I'll label Presbyterian."
Just for the record, as you no doubt know, "Presbyterian" simply refers to a form of government. Certainly, there are Presbyterians, as well as non-Presbyterians, who are faithful to the scriptures and are covenantal in their theology; however, there are also those "Presbyterians" who to one degree or another have abandoned the whole counsel of God's written word and don't have a clue what "covenant theology" is all about. You're doing fine simply using the term "Covenant Theology" or, to be more precise, "Biblical Theology." 
B.
Jared -- I meant infants.
David, does the baptism of an infant wash away his or her 'original sin?, and a fresh start is given, or is it more of a dedication type thing with no real spiritual ramifications
WOW David,
I had no idea you were going through a crisis. This is a real stunner!
But why don't you include paedocommunion? It seems to me that issue is as important as paedobaptism. I know that you write that paedocommunion is an internal debate by the Presbyterians but... that debate is roiling Covenantal Theology right now. I mean daggers are out!
If I were going to accept Covenantal Theology I think I would have to go all the way and decide about paedocommunion too. My thinking is that you can't accept paedobaptism without accepting paedocommunion.
Denise
Say Howdy to Shu-Ling and the boys!
Denise,
It is so nice to hear from you! We (all four plus Molly) are hoping to be in Va in July.
I have not had as much time to study paedocommunion—but my gut instinct is that you are correct. It would seem, at least superficially, to highly inconsistent to support paedobaptism and not paedocommunion. I will move on to the Lord’s Supper in my private studies.
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