entries
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Why I Am a Baptist
Posted on August 23, 2007 by Jeremy WeaverBaptism is a hot topic around the internet right now, and I’m not really wanting to join any debates, but all this talk of Baptism gives me an opportunity to talk about my credo-baptistic convictions.
Ligon Duncan has summarized the paedo-baptist viewpoint in three points. Take the time to read over his summary. It will be a guide for us in this post. Again, I’m not in this for a debate, especially with someone like Ligon Duncan, who I am sure would soundly thrash me with his exegetical and hermeneutical skills. Rather, I want to take his three points, understanding that they are not complete statements of his view, but a summary outline of the paedo-baptist position, and explain why I don’t think that view holds water, at least not enough to baptize anyone in, which is probably why they sprinkle. :-)
By way of introduction, let me simply say that I tried to become a Presbyterian. I really, really tried…hard. I read Children of the Promise by Robert Booth, Christian Baptism by John Murray, William the Baptist by James Chaney, and The Communion of Saints by Philip Ryken (contains a chapter titled ‘Baptized into Communion’). I also listened intently to R. C. Sproul’s Covenant Baptism series, read many articles about infant baptism on the internet, and talked with several paedo-baptist friends. So when I read Ligon Duncan’s summary of paedo-baptist beliefs, I was reminded of the internal debate that lead me to discover exactly why it is that I am a Baptist.
1. God, in both the Old and New Testaments, explicitly makes a promise to believers and to their children (Genesis 17:7; Acts 2:39).
In the Old Testament, God does explicitly make a promise to Abraham and his offspring. The promise is that Abraham’s descendants and their households, those who have received the sign of circumcision, will live in the land that God has given them.
In the New Testament, however, the promise that we see is for everyone. Note the words of Peter, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Act 2:39 ESV) The paedo-baptist seems to cut his exegesis of this verse off at the word ‘children’. (He really doesn’t, but he might as well.) But if we follow the verse to the end, we understand that the verse does not teach that there is a promise of a covenant relationship available only to those present along with their children, but rather that Peter is instead stating matter-of-factly that the promise extends beyond those present, to a group of people defined as “…everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” So the promise is for you, if the Lord should call you, your children, if the Lord should call them, and everyone in the world, if the Lord should call them. And if the Lord does not call any particular person in the world, then we know that the promise was not for them. The extent of the promise is not based upon familial relationships, but upon the sovereign pleasure of God in calling whomever He chooses.
The promise that is made to God’s called out people is not identified in Acts 2:39. We have to back up a verse to see what the promise is. “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Act 2:38 ESV) The promise is forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. God, in both the Old and New Testaments, explicitly attaches specific signs (respectively, circumcision [Genesis 17:10] and baptism [Acts 2:38, cf. Colossians 2:11-12], to this promise that he gives to believers and their children.
Again, in the Old Testament, the promise is for Abraham’s descendants and their households to live in Canaan. The sign that every male is supposed to bear is the sign of circumcision. Here, I would like to especially emphasize the point that only male children were to bear the sign of the promise.
In the New Testament, the sign of the promise is Baptism. But it is only given to those who are the recipients of the promise (forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit). Those who have been called out by God. Until their sins have been forgiven and they have received the Holy Spirit, they have not received the promise. Therefore, they are not to be given the sign of the promise. I may deal with Col. 2:11-14 at a later date…this is running kind of long. In any case, I believe that that passage shows this same pattern…we were baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, and that is very closely related to God’s forgiveness of our sins.
3. Therefore, since God has given an explicit promise to believers and their children, in the New Testament, and attached a sign to this promise, and enjoined us (in the new covenant) to administer that sign [baptism, Matthew 28:19-20], then we should give the sign of the promise he has made to believers and their children, to believers and their children, in humble obedience to biblical command and example. QED.
Therefore, since God has shown us who the proper recipients of the promise are, those who are called out, repent, trust in Christ, experience the forgiveness of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, only they are the proper recipients of baptism.
I know there are probably many problems in this post for some of you, but these are some of the biblical convictions that make me a Baptist.
Pilgrim, bring it on!
- posted by SunnyD @
12:03 AM
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Posted on
May 8, 2006 by
Jeremy Weaver Introduction: Exhortation to continue in faith and not turn back.
I. What Are The Elements?
A. 2 Peter 3:10-13 Building blocks of the universe.
B. Hebrews 5:12 The first things of Christianity.
C. Colossians 2:8-9, 20 -23 The ‘elements of the world’ are human philosophies and religion that emphasize works over grace. They are usually associated with false gods.
D. Galatians 4:3, 9 The elements refer both to pagan gods and their worship and the law. Paul compares the two in order to show the Galatians that when they had not formerly known the true God they were involved in a religion of works. Through faith, they had now come to know the true God and sought Him by grace. But now they were returning to a basic system of works salvation by allowing the Judaizers to turn them to the law.
II. Our Prior Service To Un-gods
A. Gentiles were enslaved to false gods B. The law had become god for the Jews since they were depending on it for salvation
C. Both observed days, months, seasons, and years
III. Why Turn Back?
A. Since you are
1. Justified
2. Indwelt by the Spirit
3. Redeemed
4. Adopted
5. Heirs
B. Don’t Turn Back Because
1. The law is weak and beggarly
2. Serving the law is slavery
IV. The Danger Of Apostasy
A. The Apostle’s Fear B. A Real Danger
C. Legalism Can Turn To Apostasy
D. Salvation Is By Faith Alone In Christ
Conclusion: Don’t turn to the law for justification, sanctification, inheritance, or any other blessing. These all come by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
- posted by SunnyD @
11:30 PM
Friday, January 02, 2009
2008 Questions!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I went to Rockridge Canyon! Twice!
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I never make new year's resolutions, so i'm always succesful
3. Did anyone close to you give birth or get pregnant?
WAY too many!!!!! i can't even keep track of it all
4. Did anyone close to you get married?
Alissa & Arlyn *w00t* , Derek & Lara, Calvin & Sophia...
5. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
6. (Did you or anyone close to you) Travel?
Laura & Henry went to Australia, Steve & I went to Three Hills, some of Steve's Dutch relatives came to visit!! many of the Barendregts went to the States...
7. Did you move anywhere?
Nope. I abhor moving.
8. What was the best month?
i dunno june or december??? :-s
9. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
more organization, a lvl 80 mage. ;-p hehe
10. What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The family camping trip to Jasper and my suprise B-day party! Going to Camp at RRC, Steve going to 1st year @ NAIT... cooking Christmas dinner for the first time...
11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
going to the gym every morning!
12. What was your biggest failure?
Lack of sleep! ;-p
13. Did you suffer illness or injury?
not really, just a NASTY cold! and lots of slivers... one got infected and Bethany had to fix me up! ;-)
14. What was the best thing you bought?
The laptop, C28 Ts, a filing cabinet... i dunno????
15. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Steve & Fiona, doing so well in school! :-D
16. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?
many people appall/depress/offend me, but i have to get over it
17. Where did most of your money go?
mortgage, car, bills, and church. oh, and food ;-)
18. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Christmas! Going to Jasper! Alissa'a wedding!!!!
19. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Take A Bow by Rhianna, fake it - seether, sorry - buckcherry
20. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, thankfully
ii. thinner or fatter? I am thinner *w00t*
iii. richer or poorer? Richer... I think ;-p
21. What do you wish you'd done more of?
travelling, visiting, reading
22. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Complaining... Being sad... over-working myself
23. How will you be spending New Year's Eve/Day?
It's already done. I played games with Steve, watched fireworks on the computer... hahaha
24. What was an unexpected surprise?
changing churches
25. Did you fall in love in 2008?
i love steve more and more every year. ;-)
26. What was the best concert you've been to this year?
uhhhh.... probably Corb Lund (worked) and The Arrogant Worms (went to- Thnx Jon!)
27. What was your favorite TV program?
NCIS, UFC unleashed, Heros, Smallville,
28. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn't dislike this time last year?
I don't think so.
29. What was the best book you read?
oh dear... i would have to say the screwtape letters... then probably Hood...
30. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Mighty Aphrodite, Lecrae, E-Type
31. What did you want and get?
hmm a filing cabinet! Hood & Scarlet, A roasting pan, Camping trip with the Hofstede's!
32. What did you want and not get?
the cool waterproof shockproof camera like petes!, a tablet (for my photoshop fetish)
33. What was your favorite film of this year?
ummm........
34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
i turned 23, we went camping in Jasper, Steve's family suprised me with little cakes and happy-faced thing all over! it was awesome. ;-) the cakes even had chocolate shavings. mmmmmmmmm
35. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
no debt. if steve could magically be done all four years of NAIT in one! haha
36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
understated every-day wear with edgy "going out" items, a love for the punk-goth realm and lots of heels for sundays. hahaha...
37. What kept you sane?
STEVE! and white tea! and Yvonne! :-)
38. What political issue stirred you the most?
the stupid liberal-NDP-bloc moves.... GARH
39. Who did you miss?
Everyone, particularly family on both sides!!
40. Who was the best new person you met?
hmmm Arlyn... Pastor Alan... Jason & Christina... ??? Not sure. haha so many!
41. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Being Debt-free IS POSSIBLE (hallelujah)
42. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Everybody's chaning and I don't feel the same" - Keane
- posted by SunnyD @
1:19 PM
