<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]If it is said that the reprobate has no part in the covenant of grace, and yet it is possible to be a "covenant breaker", then what covenant is it that the reprobate violates? Does the Scripture teach explicitly that there is another covenant established between God and man which is not salvific and within which one is joined through Christ?</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br><br><br>Pilgrim,<br><br>I agree with you 100% that the covenant is established with God, and that man has nothing to do with the terms of the covenant including his election into the covenant. I, also, agree with your theological position that those who are in the covenant of grace cannot break the covenant because God has staked his life upon it in an oath of self-malediction (Gen. 15). I, however, am willing to make my argument a little less straightforward because of the notion of "covenant breaker", which is mentioned in Genesis 17:14. I, with you and I hope Jason, see this merely as a term for those who were to be part of the outward administration but were never circumcised. I would also include in that number those who were not of faith and ended up going out from us. Such people in no way broke the covenant of grace. The promise didn't even apply to them. These people are just becoming more darkened in their minds. To try to press this term in the way that Wilson and the rest are trying to do is unfortunate indeed. The term "broken my covenant" simply means that the one who does not receive the promise, (who was either born in a covenant household or was identified with the visible church), did not exercise saving faith. The person broke the terms that he was bound to upon being born in the household or being baptized. When the hypocrite is baptized, he is bound to the terms of the covenant; he is more culpable as it were. When an infant is born within a believing household, he too is more culpable. There are terms placed upon such people, but again the covenant of grace cannot be broken because it is made with Christ and the elect.<br><br>Blessings,<br><br>Ron<br>
