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42*Infant*Baptism:*Putting*Old*Wine*Into*New*Wineskins?**that,* whilst* it* is* possible* for* those* of* credobaptist* convictions* to* join*paedobaptist*fellowships,*it*is*generally*impossible*for*paedobaptists*to*join*credobaptist*fellowships.*It*is*no*surprise,*therefore,*to*find*large*numbers*of*those* who* are* convictionally* credobaptist* worshipping* happily* as* part* of*conservative* evangelical* Anglican* churches,* but* to* find* considerably* fewer*paedobaptists*worshipping*as*part*of*credobaptist*churches.****Conclusion%*It*is*hardly*realistic*to*suggest*that*this*article*will*resolve*the*centuries’*long*difference* between* paedobaptists* and* credobaptists.* Although* baptismal*practice* is* the* presenting* issue,* the* different* approaches* of* paedobaptists*and* credobaptists* conceal* much* deeper* issues* of* biblical* and* systematic*theology*concerning*the*way*in*which*God*has*dealt*with*his*people*through*salvation* history.* It* is* hoped* that* it* will* bring* some* helpful* clarity* to* the*debate,*perhaps*moving*the*discussion*beyond*the*boundaries*of*classic*Re:formed* and* Dispensational* approaches,* thus* aiding* mutual* understanding,*gracious*dialogue*and*loving*acceptance*of*each*other*as*brothers*and*sisters*in*Christ,*baptised*by*his*Spirit*into*his*one*Body.*****************
Foundations*63*(November*2012):*43:64**A*COVENANTAL*VIEW*OF*BAPTISM*AND**!ITS*RELATIONSHIP*TO*EVANGELISM*Kevin!J.!Bidwell ∗ !!*Christian* baptism* is* in* urgent* need* of* being* revisited* by* the* evangelical* church.* This* essay*explores* a* covenantal* view* of* baptism* and* its* relationship* to* evangelism.* The* doctrine* of*baptism* as* put* forward* by* the* teaching* found* in* the* Westminster* Standards* is* upheld.* It* is*contended*that*there*is*a*connection*between*God’s*covenant*and*God’s*signs*of*the*covenant,*which*in*the*New*Testament*are*baptism*and*the*Lord’s*Supper.*The*shadow*of*baptism*in*the*Old* Testament* was* circumcision:* whereas* circumcision* involved* the* shedding* of* blood* and*therefore*it*pointed*forwards*to*the*future*shed*blood*of*Christ,*baptism*points*backwards*to*the*shed*blood*of*Christ*and*Christ’s*completed*atonement.*Baptism*in*the*new*covenant*is*to*be*administered*using*water*and*the*new*covenant*name*of*God,*“the*Father,*and*the*Son,*and*the*Holy* Spirit”* (Matt* 28:19);* and* it* is* to* be* applied* to* Christian* converts,* and* the* children* of*believing*parents.**Introduction!*On* Sunday* morning* of* 21* April* 1861,* the* great* Baptist* preacher* Charles*Haddon* Spurgeon* expounded* from* Matt* 28:18:19.* His* title* was* “The*Missionaries’* Charge* and* Charter”.* He* declared* that:* “We* think* that* our*brethren*do*serious*damage*to*the*Gospel*by*baptizing*children.*We*do*not*think*their*error*a*little*one.*We*know*it*does*not*touch*a*vital*point;*but*we*do* believe* that* infant* baptism* is* the* prop* and* pillar* of* Popery.” 1 *Strong*words.*Such*understanding*may*well*shape*the*thinking*of*many*professing*Christians,*but*was*Spurgeon*correct*in*his*bold*assertions?*Is*the*baptism*of*the* children* of* believers* essentially* Popery,* instead* of* fundamental*Protestantism?*Should*not*Spurgeon’s*opinions*and*the*doctrine*of*believer’s*baptism* come* under* fresh* scrutiny?* My* aim* is* to* put* forward* a* different*viewpoint,*one*that*is*a*covenantal*view*of*baptism.*John* Calvin,* Martin* Luther* and* the* Magisterial* Reformers* would* all*dissent* loudly* at* Baptists* accusing* them* of* error.* They* all* practised* the*baptism* of* infants* within* the* Christian* church* and* they* similarly* faced*opposition* from* the* Continental* Anabaptists* on* this* point.* The* position*commonly*labelled*paedobaptism*is*much*maligned,*especially*among*many*professing*Christians*in*England*and*Wales.*Why*is*this*the*case?*What*has*********************************************************************∗ Minister*of*Sheffield*Presbyterian*Church*(part*of*the*Evangelical*Presbyterian*Church*in*England*and*Wales).*He*is*married*to*his*Dutch*wife*Maria*and*they*have*two*children.1*Charles*Haddon*Spurgeon,*“The*Missionaries’*Charge*and*Charter”,*A*Sermon*Delivered*on*Sunday*Morning,*21*April*1861,*No.,*383.*
Page 1 and 2: No 63AUTUMN 2012ContentsEditorial 1
Page 3 and 4: Foundations*63*(November*2012):*194
Page 5 and 6: FOUNDATIONS*3**Baptist* Confession*
Page 7 and 8: Foundations*63*(November*2012):*5:1
Page 9 and 10: FOUNDATIONS*7**Among*the*points*of*
Page 11 and 12: FOUNDATIONS*9**Infants”. 9 *The*s
Page 13 and 14: FOUNDATIONS*11**Baptists* and* paed
Page 15 and 16: *FOUNDATIONS*“Dipping%is%not%nece
Page 17 and 18: FOUNDATIONS*15**Few* statements* ha
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Page 22 and 23: 20*Infant*Baptism:*Putting*Old*Wine
Page 46 and 47: 44* A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*an
Page 50 and 51: 48**A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*an
Page 62 and 63: 60**A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*an
Page 68 and 69: 66*The*Anglican*Doctrine*of*Baptism
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92* “Let*the*little*children*come
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100*“Let*the*little*children*come
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112**Baptism:*Three*Views**written*
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114**Baptism:*Three*Views**family)*
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116**Baptism:*Three*Views**“impas
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118**A*Christian’s*Pocket*Guide*t
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