Lest there be confusion

I want to state (briefly) that I think I need to make an ammendment to the last post.  When I said that the Holy Spirit was the sign and seal of the New Covenant, I guess what I should say is that the “thing” that replaced circumcision of the Old Covenant is not baptism per se, but, rather, circumcision of the heart; that is, has the forskin of our heart (i.e., the sinful man) been cut off?  Has the sinful man been put to death (i.e., killed, destroyed, “cut off”)?

The Old Covenant was imperfect for many reasons.  One of the imperfections of the Old Covenant was that not everyone who participated in the rite of passage (i.e., circumcision) in the Old Covenant was really a true child of God.  However, this is not true of the New Covenant.  Everyone who has been initiated into the covenant with the “circumcision of the heart” is a member of the New Covenant of Christ Jesus. Hopefully this makes sense to everyone.

So I want to say that I hope no one was confused by my last post.  I guess shouldn’t say that Holy Spirit is the sign and seal of the New Covenant, but then again, He is in some respects.  It’s his fruits that are displayed in the life of the believer that signify (a sign) that they are Christians.  Moreover, the Holy Scriptures state that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.  If anyone has any feedback on this whole issue, I would welcome it.
Thanks!

soli Deo gloria!

Why I Am A Baptist

Well, folks, I have found myself in a weird position.  As most of you know, I have been exploring the idea of paedobaptism, and I must say, I have found it wanting.  I have looked at nearly every avenue by which I could take to enter the realm of covenantal infant baptism, but I just haven’t found that road.  It seems as though that road is neither apostolic, catholic, or holy.  In fact, I have found the doctrine of infant baptism purely dreadful.

Of course, I knew that I would come down hard on either side.  I found myself thinking, If infant baptism is true, then we Baptists have been wrong all along. However, if infant baptism is wrong, then paedobaptists are doing something terribly dreadful–that is, baptizing unbelievers in the Triune name of God, which is sort of taking God’s holy name and throwing it around.

So I knew the stakes were high either way.  But since I am very adamant about knowing what I believe and why I believe it, I had to find the truth, no matter where it led me.  Where did the truth lead me?  Well, it really didn’t “lead” me anywhere.  It merely told me I was where I needed to be: in my Baptist home.

I suppose the reason why I am a Baptist is because I believe in sola Scriptura–that is, Scripture alone is my authority.  Not the pope, not my pastor, and not R.C. Sproul (though I do have the utmost respect for the man).  I posit that if all one ever had to read was the Holy Scriptures, one would never come to the conlcusion of infant baptism.  It simply isn’t there.  And neither, might I add, is it inferred.

Without going into too much detail, I will say that I now know what the true sign and seal of the new covenant is.  It is not (or so it seems to me) baptism.  No, the sign and the seal of the new covenant is the Holy Spirit.  We have been “sealed” by Him.  And we know the mark of a true Christian is not baptism, but the fruits and the evidences of the Holy Spirit.  See, every believe automatically receives this sign and seal upon confession and acknowledgment of Christ as Lord and Savior.  Unlike our paedobaptist friends, we believe every member of the new covenant has been “signed” and “sealed” with the true sign and seal of the new covenant: the Holy Spirit of God. Paedobaptists want to say that even unbelievers, namely, infants can have the sign and seal of the exclusive new covenant.  Well, I have news for my paedobaptist brothers and sisters: the new covenant is better than that.  In fact, it is way better than that.  It is so much better that it is able to “sign” and “seal” all (and only) its members.  Amazing.  Purely amazing.

While this does not sum up the reasons for my position, I hope it does help you know where I have settled.  The road has been long and the journey weary, but God has saw me and my family through.

Baptist I am, and Baptist I shall ever be.

More to come.

soli Deo gloria!

Matthew Halsted

absolute proof for God’s existence

Dear friends, here is proof (shown above) for God’s existence.  How on earth could this precious baby have been an accident?

I couldn’t help but share this beautiful picture of our new baby boy.  His name is Isaac Lloyd Halsted, and he is absolutely amazing.  Because of him, I have been mulling over some pretty hot topics in my theological studies.  I do say, it has been rough.  However, I want to say that I thank God that He has given me this time in my life.  Though the theological reflections have been many, I still believe that God is using them for a greater purpose: His glory.

Little Isaac has been such a blessing to his mother and I that I hardly can’t contain myself.  God is good!

soli Deo gloria