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FOUNDATIONS*7**Among*the*points*of*agreement*are:**(1) Baptism*represents*Christ*and*the*privileges*of*fellowship*(communion)*with*him*(2) Baptism*represents*forgiveness*of*sins*(3) Baptism*engages*those*who*receive*it*to*serve*Christ*in*a*manner*that*is*in*accord*with*“newness*of*life”**However,* paedobaptist* and* credobaptist* agreement* on* these* particular*issues*hides*significant*disagreement*as*to*the*meaning*of*baptism.*Baptist*logic*argues*that*baptism*represents*these*agreed*aspects*because*the*one*receiving*baptism*is*already*a*believer.**Baptism*is*a*sign*and*seal*of*faith*and*therefore* signals* union* with* Christ,* forgiveness* of* sins,* and* the* need* for*sanctification*in*an*already*realised*sense.*Paedobaptists*view*it*differently.*Baptism*is*not*so*much*a*sign*of%faith,*but*a*sign*to%faith.*It*points*to*realities*that*are*actualised*when*faith*is*exercised*but*does*not*suggest*when*faith*becomes*a*reality*(or,*that*faith*may*never*occur).***For*infants,*as*much*as*for*professing*adult*believers,*baptism*both*signs*and* seals* union* with* Christ,* forgiveness* of* sins,* and* the* need* for* sanct:ification,* but* not%in* the* sense* that* these* are* already* in* possession.* Rather,*they*are*a*sign*and*seal*of*the*gospel*in*which*these*benefits*are*promised*to*the* one* who* believes.* Subjectively,* fellowship* with* Christ,* forgiveness* of*sins,* and* sanctification* are* benefits* only* the* regenerate* knows.* But*objectively,*baptism*points*to*the*gospel*that*elicits*the*response. 6 *Further*points*of*difference*relate*to*the*robust*covenant*theology*of*the*Westminster* Divines* and* to* the* hermeneutical* importance* of* a* unified*covenant* of* grace* that* spans* both* Testaments* and* includes,* by* way* of*implication,* a* unity* of* administration* to* those* considered* covenant*members.*Fundamental*to*the*Westminster*Divines*is*a*theological*premise*that* baptism* is* a* sign* and* seal* of* the* new* covenant,* which* carries* with* it*historical*precedence*of*previous*covenants*in*redemptive*history.*As*such,*there*is*already*an*expectation*of*inclusion*rather*than*exclusion*at*the*dawn*of*the*new*covenant*era.*This*issue*is*of*singular*importance*in*ascertaining*the*core*issue*that*divided*paedobaptists*and*credobaptists.*********************************************************************6*Note*the*words*of*Sinclair*Ferguson:*“To*be*baptized*is*to*be*baptized*into*Christ’s*death*(Rom*6:1:4).*This*is*the*inner*meaning*of*the*sign…*This*explanation*does*not*mean*that*the*sign*contains*what*is*signified*any*more*than*the*word*that*is*preached*contains*Christ.*Rather*both* are* means* by* which* the* Spirit* can* and* does* communicate* to* receptive* faith* the* divine*blessings*the*signs*signify.*Obversely,*when*met*with*stubborn*unbelief,*these*signs*will*confirm*the* judgment* they* imply.”* Baptism:% Three% Views,* ed.* David* F.* Wright* (Downers* Grove:* IVP*Academic,*2009),*92:93.***!