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Ron insists:
Again, "saved" is vague until unpacked and "Christian" has no bearing on the matter. You yourself have employed "saved" in this thread as meaning one for whom Christ died, prior to being converted. Hence the confusion.
No sir, there is no confusion. You wanted "Systematic Theology", yet you won't accept the biblical definitions of what a Christian is or what "saved" connotes; e.g., one for whom Christ has atoned for, the Spirit has applied Christ's atoning benefits; regeneration, hence conversion, justification, being sanctified and will infallibly be glorified. (speaking of the living). Likewise, the biblical definition of "Christian" is one who is a disciple/follower of Jesus Christ.

So, the question is a valid one, which I will iterate once again: Do we treat covenant children by virtue of their being born into a home of a believer, as Christians or not? Do we treat covenant children as saved or unsaved? The Bible knows no other category of human being. They are either joined to Christ, and therefore Christian and saved, or outside of Christ and therefore non-Christian and unsaved. I don't understand the problem here? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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Just don't contradict the nature of the unconditional covenant. The only solution is that Scripture teaches us to treat children of believers as children of the promise, . . .
Again, I suspect we will be at odds in regard to the "unconditional covenant". For I firmly believe that the Covenant of Grace is unconditional.. based upon the immutable and infallible promise of God to save all who were elected to salvation. This promise was made with Abraham as a believer and to his "seed", which is Christ (Gal 3:16) and those who are "in Christ" (Gal 3:29). To posit that anyone is an "heir of the promise" requires the prerequisite of being a "son", one who has been adopted by grace through Christ (Gal 4:7). Therefore, I cannot "treat" anyone, regardless of birth as a "child of the promise" unless they give evidence of being "in Christ", displaying "fruit of the Spirit", etc.

One cannot be a "child of the promise" yet not united to Christ by faith. It's a contradiction of terms and contrary to all that the Scripture teaches.

In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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