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52* A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*and*Its*Relationship*to*Evangelism**Lord’s*Supper)*and*“Baptism”*(Chapters*7,*28*and*29). 17 *Despite*being*based*upon*the*WCF,*the*theological*fabric*is*amended*at*the*very*points*which*are*central*to*comprehending*a*covenantal*view*of*theology,*the*sacraments*and*baptism.*In*short,*the*Baptist*theological*DNA*on*baptism*has*been*changed.*These* changes* are* necessary* to* their* Reformed* confession* in* order* to*uphold* believer’s* baptism.* The* DNA* of* its* theological* system* has* to* be*amended*to*accommodate*this*revised*sacrament.***This*same*Confession*insists*that*there*is*only*one*mode*which*is*valid*for*baptism.*It*is*asserted*that:*“Immersion,*that*is*to*say,*the*dipping*of*the*believer*in*water,*is*essential*for*the*due*administration*of*this*ordinance.” 18 *There*are*two*proof*texts*given*which*are*Matt*3:16*and*John*3:23.*However,*do* these* texts* substantiate* that* immersion* is* essential* for* the* due*administration*of*this*ordinance?*The*stakes*are*high.*If*the*subscribers*of*this*Confession*are*correct,*then*millions*of*professing*Christians,*both*now,*and*over*two*millennia,*have*been*misled,*and*the*validity*of*their*baptism*may*well*be*questioned.*Both*proof*texts*refer*to*the*baptism*of*Jesus*which*was*John’s*baptism*of*repentance*and*not*Christian*baptism*instituted*by*the*Saviour.*A*common*fallacy*is*an*appeal*to*infer*“immersion”*when*Scripture*records*“he*went*up*from*the*water”*(Matt*3:16).*This*is*reading*into*the*text*what*is*not*there.*Similarly,* “immersion”* is* not* taught* in* John* 3:23* where* the* Bible* records*that* “John* also* was* baptizing* at* Aenon* near* Salim,* because* water* was*plentiful*there”.*Water*must*be*used*in*baptism,*but*the*whole*of*the*NT*is*silent* concerning* the* specific* mode* of* baptism* to* be* used,* either* as*immersion,*pouring*or*sprinkling.*To*insist*on*baptism*by*immersion*only*is*an*ecclesial*aberration*and*it*potentially*wounds*the*conscience*of*Christians*without*biblical*warrant.*However,* being* aware* of* this* insufficient* exegetical* footing,* the* plea* is*made* by* some,* from* the* meaning* of* the* Greek* word* “baptise”* (baptizō).*Proponents*of*this*view*insist*that*it*is*to*be*understood*exclusively*as*“to*immerse,*plunge*or*dip”.*Greek*scholars*concur*that*this*meaning*is*included,*but* the* context* of* each* usage* of* this* word* in* the* NT* does* not* fit* such* a*********************************************************************17*The! Baptist! Confession! of! Faith! of! 1689,! A! Faith! to! Confess,* Rewritten! in! Modern! English*(Leeds:*Carey*Publications,*1975,*repr.,*2002).*The*chapter*on*“God’s*Covenant”*is*reduced*from*six*points*in*the*WCF*to*three.*Of*note*is*the*absence*of*“the*covenant*of*works”,*the*explanation*that*the*same*covenant*of*grace*is*administered*differently*in*the*time*of*the*law*and*the*time*of*the*gospel,*or*that*the*ordinances*of* the*covenant*under* the* gospel* are* “the* preaching* of* the*Word,*and*the*administration*of*the*sacraments”.*The*only*real*similarities*are*that*the*Baptist*Confession*and*the*Westminster*Confession*carry*the*same*chapter*title.*The*chapter*on*“Of*the*Sacraments”*is*renamed*and*reduced*from*five*to*two*points*and*it*is* bereft*of*any*covenantal* language* or*sign* nature* to* be* exhibited* by*them.*Baptism*and*the*Lord’s*Supper*are*simply*called*“ordinances”.*The*section*on*“Baptism”*is*likewise*reduced*from*seven*headings*to*four.*18*The!Baptist!Confession!of!Faith!of!1689,!A!Faith!to!Confess,*29:4,*62.*