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FOUNDATIONS*55**practice,*one*that*only*looks*back*after*the*event*of*the*new*birth,*thus*acting*as* a* badge* to* proclaim* an* individual’s* faith* and* promised* obedience.* It*becomes*an*ordinance*that*then*places*emphasis*upon*faith*over*grace;*my*understanding*of*church*history*leads*me*to*be*cautious,*because*this*was*the*fundamental*error*of*Arminianism.*Calvin* is* perceptive* when* he* commented* that* Mark* 16:15:16* teaches*that*the*Lord*Jesus*“connects*baptism*with*doctrine”.*He*expounds*further*that*faith*is*here*placed*before*baptism:*“Since*the*Gentiles*were*altogether*alienated*from*God,*and*had*nothing*in*common*with*the*chosen*people;*for*otherwise*it*would*have*been*a*false*figure,*which*offered*forgiveness*and*the*gift*of*the*Spirit*to*unbelievers,*who*were*not*yet*members*of*Christ.” 24 *The* right* administration* of* paedobaptism* is* that* the* faith* of* the* father*and/or*the*mother*is*to*be*professed*at*the*baptism*of*the*child,*along*with*their* commitment* to* the* fulfilment* of* covenant* responsibilities* by* the*parent.*Faith*is*present*at*baptism*by*the*witnessing*congregation*also.*There* are* four* weaknesses* in* the* argument* for* rebaptism.* First,* the*initiation*sacrament*is*never*to*be*twice*applied:*in*the*OT*it*was*impossible*to*do*because*it*was*circumcision.*The*NT*does*not*mention*a*single*instance*of*Christian*rebaptism,*nor*does*it*even*infer*re:enacting*baptism*once*the*Triune*name*has*been*placed*upon*someone.*In*Acts*19:1:7*Paul*insists*that*some*disciples*are*baptised*again,*but*that*was*because*they*had*only*received*John’s*baptism,*which*we*have*established*was*not*Christian*baptism.**Secondly,*rebaptism*fails*to*understand*God’s*promises*and*the*power*of*the*Holy*Spirit*(John*3:5:8).*Robert*Letham*explains*that*“there*is*an*efficacy*attached*to*them*[the*sacraments]*that*goes*far*beyond*a*mere*visual*aid”. 25 *Many* professing* Christians* would* fail* to* “join* the* dots”* and* connect* God’s*faithfulness* in* Miriam’s* later* conversion* to* her* previous* baptism* as* an*infant.* Baptism* does* not* have* power* to* regenerate* but* Letham* further*clarifies:* “That* this* happens* is* due* to* the* gracious* work* of* the* Holy* Spirit*alone.*However,*it*does*not*occur*independently*of*baptism*but*rather*in*and*through* it...* [God]* keeps* his* appointments.” 26 *Christ* Jesus,* the* head* of* the*church,* mediates* a* better* covenant* with* better* promises,* he* is* the* “the*guarantor*of*a*better*covenant”*(Heb*7:22;*8:6).*Therefore*we*should*expect,************************************************************************************************************************************************************this*was*actually*his*position);*he*contrasts*this*“memorial*view”*with*Calvin*who*argued*for*a*“remembering”*of*Christ*but*also*a*“spiritual*communion”*with*Christ*through*the*Supper.*24*John*Calvin,*Commentary!on!a!Harmony!of!the!Evangelists,!Matthew,!Mark!and!Luke,*Vol.*3,*trans.,*William*Pringle*(Grand*Rapids:*Baker,*2005),*386.**25*Robert* Letham,* A! Christian’s! Pocket! Guide! to! Baptism:! The! Water! that! Unites* (Fearn:*Christian*Focus,*2012),*51.*26*Letham,*A!Christian’s!Pocket!Guide!to!Baptism,*60.*!