<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]The New Covenant is only for those whose hearts have been changed by the work of the spirit and who have been justified by the death of Christ on the cross.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>Dear Fred,<br><br>The problem is, once you define the covenant in this manner in order to establish the scope of the lawful subjects for the sign of inclusion in that covenant, you cannot possibly administer it. You cannot possibly administer the sign of the covenant to only those who are members of the New Covenant inwardly, because you have not been given the ability to discern the heart. At this juncture, you must back peddle somewhat and say that at least some form of evidence must be given, even if it is not a perfect method, such as a credible profession of faith. But that is in fact what the argument is about, so you cannot assume what must be proven any more than I can. I believe this is clarified further by your comment:<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Unless you are prepared to either say that baptised infants have some efficacious work done in their heart, or hold to some rigid continuity between the Old and New Testaments, that allows you to view baptised infants who grow up to reject Christ as being able to be removed from the NC. </font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>Well, then you must be prepared to say that baptized hypocrites have some efficacious work done in their hearts, and that this allows you to view baptized hypocrites who later reject the covenant, as being able to be removed from the NC.<br><br>You see, appealing to the efficacious nature of the NC is an irrelevant thesis to this debate. The question is not about whether or not the promised blessings of the NC are only for the elect, that has always been the case, it comes down to whom God has told us to identify with the covenant community, which will always be a mixture of elect and reprobate members. Whom are we to include in this community? From the beginning it has been believers and their household and nothing in Scripture repeals or contradicts that overwhelming testimony.<br><br>Sincerely in Christ,<br><br>~Jason