The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Who is in the Covenant

Janean,

Your questions are typical of those who don't fully understand the nature of the "covenant"; both non-covenantal believers and many of those who embrace covenant theology. Perhaps if you will simply take the Bible's teaching concerning the distinction between the "visible" church and the "invisible" church as a model, it will clear this confusion up.

So, briefly, ALL who are believers are in the "invisible" church; i.e., the true Church of the living God. They have been reconciled to God by grace through faith. This number includes all believers who were, are and will be. And, they ALL belong to the "visible" church on earth as well. Again, this pertains to true believers. Now, the "visible" church includes all who profess to believe on Christ and their children. We say "visible" because it is perceptible to the eye . . . but this does not mean that all who profess faith actually possess faith. In short, a profession doesn't necessarily equate to salvation.

Okay, now to apply this to the idea of the "covenant". There are those who are in the covenant who are actually in covenant with God. These are those who have been justified by grace through faith; the elect who have been effectually called by the Holy Spirit in time. And, there are those who are in the covenant who are outside the covenant because they are yet unregenerate and may never be regenerated. Yet externally they appear to be believers. The important aspect here is relational as opposed to being legal, i.e., it is not based upon justification and reconciliation with God which brings results in a living spiritual relationship with God. Rather, it is an external relationship with the covenant community wherein they share many of the external benefits, e.g., the preaching of the Word, exposure to the godly example of those who are true believers, the prayers of the saints, etc.

The children of believers are included in this external relationship of the covenant and are thus said to be in the visible Church. The matter of salvation is NOT to be confused with this relationship/position as being one and the same. ALL need regeneration; both elect and non-elect. ALL need to repent and believe upon Christ unto justification; both elect and non-elect.

So, summing up, there is an internal relationship to the covenant; those who truly believe on Christ (invisible church), and there is an external relationship to the covenant; those who profess to believe and their children (visible church). The potentially fatal mistake is to presume/assume that unbelieving spouses and/or children of believers are saved and to withhold from them the Gospel; explaining to them that they possess a corrupt nature, are under God's wrath and judgment and their need to repent and believe upon Christ, else they face certain damnation. What is often told to these same individuals is that they must simply, "be obedient to the covenant", which in essence is a form of "synergism" (aka: works righteousness). Their election, and/or regeneration, and/or their conversion (justification) is assumed, which has no biblical basis and the focus is only sanctification.

Hopefully, this might help to clear things up a bit for you. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,