Baptism and the Covenants

About a month ago, I posted about the new book by Tom Shreiner and Shawn Wright on Believer's Baptism. Sunday evening, I read Dr. Wellum's chapter called 'Baptism and the Relationship Between the Covenants.' This is arguably the most important chapter in the book, as it gets at the heart of the baptism debate between Presbyterians and Baptists. It is simply excellent! It made me proud to be a Baptist. You couldn't ask for a more convincing and clear evaluation of the issue. Paedobaptists (those who hold to infant baptism) obviously do not baptize infants because it is in the New Testament. It's not there. They justify the practice by appealing to the continuity between the old and new covenants, rooted in their over-arching covenant of grace (relating circumcision in the old to baptism in the new). This is the heart of their system of theology known as Covenant Theology. I appreciate Covenant Theologians in many ways, and many of my theological heroes hold to covenant theology, even Spurgeon (although I personally think it is inconsistent to be a Baptist & a Covenant Theologian). Furthermore, it needs to be heralded that not all Baptists are dispensational, contrary to popular opinion. Anyway, Wellum begins by outlining and unpacking the covenantal argument for infant baptism, and then critiques it. He deals with the nature of the covenantal signs, the nature of the church, and the new covenant. He is very fair in the first section of the chapter, and crystal clear in the second section. I think that only Baptists can do justice to the newness of the new covenant, and the redemptive blessing that it brings. Covenant theologians say the the new covenant is really just a new administration of the same covenant of grace. If you are a Baptist, but are not sure why, please buy this book and pay particular attention to Wellum's chapter. There is more to the doctrine than the phrases 'went down into the water' or brought up out of the water.' His chapter is 64 pages, but if this is not enough, also see John Reisinger's Abraham's Four Seeds, Wells and Zaspel's New Covenant Theology for a Baptistic new covenant perspective.

Ash Wednesday

This morning at Sojourn, we had an Ash Wednesday service. I was reminded that all of life is repentance.

O God of Grace, Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,

and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul, clothing me with a bridegroom's robe,

decking me with jewels of holiness. But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;

my best prayers are stained with sin; my penitential tears are so much impurity;

my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;

my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.

I need to repent of my repentance; i need my tears to be washed;

I have no robe to bring to cover my sins, no loom to weave my own righteousness;

I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,

and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,

for thou dost always justify the ungodly; i am always going into the far country,

and always returning home as a prodigal, always saying, Father, forgive me,

and thou art always bringing forth the best robe. Every morning let me wear it,

every evening return in it, go out to the day's work in it, be married in it,

be wound in death in it, stand before there great white throne in it,

enter heaven in it shining as the sun. Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding

sinfulness of sin, the exceeding righteousness of salvation,

the exceeding glory of Christ, the exceeding beauty of holiness,

and the exceeding wonder of grace.

(from The Valley of Vision)

Also read Tim Keller's article, All of Life is Repentance.

Cave Hill

This afternoon, we went to Cave Hill Cemetary to look around. John Broadus is on the top, and James P. Boyce on the bottom. They are former profs at Southern Seminary. Boyce was the first president. Both were committed to Baptistic and Calvinistic theology. More pics here.

Stinson on Gender-Neutral Homes

A couple of weeks ago, Alicia and I went to a lecture by Randy Stinson, the executive director of The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, on practicing what we preach as complementarians (i.e. those who belive that men and women are created equal, but men are called to lovingly lead in the home and church). He gave 9 areas where men should initiate in the home:
1. Vision in the Home
2. Direction of the Home
3. Instruction
4. Imitation (example for others to follow)
5. Inspiration (encouragement)
6. Affirmation
7. Evaluation
8. Correction
9. Protection/Provision
It was a great talk. I was waiting on Southern to post the audio, but I guess they aren't going to do it. Be sure and check out the CBMW website for all kinds of resources.

Does God Care About Sex

Alicia and I had the privilege of attending the 2007 Give Me an Answer Conference here at Southern this weekend, along with Eron & Kari. It was a lot of fun. It was all about sex, and the biblical worldview. Al Mohler was the keynote speaker, with one session with Dr. Moore. There were several elective sessions, but we were only able to attend Dr. Beougher's 'How Do You Share the Gospel Through Your Marriage' and Dr. Wellum's 'What is a Biblical Theology of Sex.' Both were great. Mohler basically laid out a theology of sex. I was most encouraged by the Christian faith's ability to speak to all areas of life in a definitive manner, and by the fact that I have a beautiful bride to do practical theology with;)

UNC beats Duke

Just in case you missed it, UNC beat Duke 79-73, with a less than average performance by Hansbrough. As expected, it was a great game. I think the Tar Heels would have won by 20 if they would have utilized Brandan Wright more than they did. Anyway.

Durant

Kevin Durant (from Texas) is the best player in the NCAA, at 18 years old. Be sure and watch this diaper dandie, as he will be the rookie of the year next year in the NBA.

Old School

Check out this old school picture taken from the new Desiring God blog. Johnny-Mac, Piper, J. Christy Wilson, and our very own, Don Whitney.

A Calvinist Faces Death

Peep the article on Dr. Mohler from Time.