Thanks again, Joe, for your post.
I take it that you agree that my translation of the Latin is correct.
Reference the two views on 1Cor 7:14:-
The first one takes a huge assumption, that
any children were 'universally recognized as holy'.
Acts 2:41. 'Then those who gladly received his word were baptized...'
Acts 2:44. 'Now all who believed were together......'.
You are writing in 'and their children', but you have no right to do so. You say that there is a two-fold administration of Gen 17:7. You are absolutely right, but not in the way you think!
Gal 3:16. 'Now to Abraham
and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds" as of many, but as of One, "And to your Seed," which is Christ.'
When Abraham circumcised Ishmael and his household, he knew for a fact that Ishmael was not part of the Covenant of Grace (Gen 17:20-21) so he could not possibly be bringing him into it. This act of circumcision by Abraham was a looking forward to Christ (John 8:56).
Tom is quite correct that the 'Old Covenant' is the Mosaic one (Jer 31:32; Heb 7:9). The Abrahamic Covenant is an adumbration of the New Covenant which is in Christ.
Pilgrim is right that we both start with radically different hermeneutics, but I must continue to protest at mine being called dispensational. I believe in one Covenant of Grace and one people of God. FYI I am amillennial in eschatology. Nor do I have a 'Jesus only' theology. God forbid! Your using these terms is not helpful and shows (if I may say so) that you do not fully understand Reformed Baptist Theology. I believe passionately in a whole Bible hermeneutic, but the Old Testament must be interpreted in the fuller light of the New (Luke 10:23-24; Col 1:26-27; 1Peter 1:10-12). Since you've been kind enough to recommend some reading to me, perhaps I might suggest to you James Haldane's commentary on Galatians which expands on some of these points. Wonderful book <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />
With regard to that old chestnut about not knowing who's in the Covenant, we follow the NT practice of baptizing on profession of faith. If their profession of faith is false then their baptism is void (Acts 8:21). We simply believe the promise of our Lord (Mark 16:16).
With regard to children of believers, they are
Not holy,
Not part of the New Covenant and therefore
Cannot and will not receive the seal of the Covenant until they believe because the seal of the New Covenant is not water baptism but Spirit baptism (Eph 1:13-14).
Doubtless I've not answered all your points. I shall come back again on 1Cor 7:14 and your second interpretation, but right now it's bed-time in England <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/sleep.gif" alt="" />
Every blessing,
Steve
