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pdf - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

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"They do not hold that JesusChrist was true man, but rather,with respect to His body, makeHim <strong>in</strong>to a phantom" (p. 106).This denial of Jesus' full humanity,charged Calv<strong>in</strong>, identifiedAnabaptism as "Antichrist"(p. 118).With regard to theAnabaptist error of soul-sleep,Calv<strong>in</strong> demonstrated from Scripturethat "souls have a properessence" and that immediatelyupon the death ofbelievers theirsouls consciously enjoy Christ.Calv<strong>in</strong> wrote that it is "the heightof stupidity to tuck souls <strong>in</strong>dolently<strong>in</strong> bed. as the Anabaptistsdo, mak<strong>in</strong>g them sleep until theday oftheresurrection" (p. ,133).It is <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g, especially <strong>in</strong> lightof recent ill-considered and <strong>in</strong>temperatecriticism of HermanHoeksema's question<strong>in</strong>g of thephrase "immortalityofthe soul,"to note that Calv<strong>in</strong> recognizedthe <strong>in</strong>accuracy of the phrase.When we say that souls areimmortal. we do not meanthereby, <strong>in</strong> any way. to slightGod, whom Sa<strong>in</strong>t Paul saysHis alone immortal" (1 Tim.6:16). Rather we consider ita blasphemy to attribute immortalityto the soul. as if itsubsisted by its own power.Nevertheless it is appropri-ate for us to consider whatparticular quality and natureGod has given to souls: whichis to subsist by His hand <strong>in</strong>orderto enjoy immortal blessednessor malediction (p.151).The first article of theAnabaptist Schleitheim Confessionassailed <strong>in</strong>fant baptism aspopish. Calv<strong>in</strong>'s defense of<strong>in</strong>fantbaptism is lucid and compell<strong>in</strong>g.The Reformer showedthat the issue is the unity ofGod's covenant <strong>in</strong> connectionwith the essential oneness. ofOld Test~ment circumcision andNew Testament baptism. Everyrejection of<strong>in</strong>fa,nt baptism necessarilyimplies the denial ofthe unity of the old and n~wcovenants. Denial of the unityof the covenants is dispen~ationalism.And this is grievousheresy.As for <strong>in</strong>fant baptism'sbe<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>vention ofthe pope,Calv<strong>in</strong> retorted that "the wholechurch held to <strong>in</strong>fant baptismlong before one everknew aboutthe papacy or had ever heard ofthe pope" (p. 45).Astutely, Calv<strong>in</strong> remarkedthat, s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>in</strong> the Old TestamentGod was the God of the Jewsand their children, rejection of<strong>in</strong>fant baptism means that God64PRTJ

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