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Archlute · #2 (**permalink**) 12-17-2006, 03:57 AM

Hey Chris,

Enjoying the post-finals lull? Dude, I am so smoked! I think that I slept away most of the last two days of my earthly life (which is still less than the sleep that I lost during exams).

But to answer your question - not I. It was the doctrine of election that first awoke me from my slumber, nor have I heard anybody else with a different tale. I think that election is both a powerful doctrine, and one that is more easily grasped at the outset than the doctrine of the covenants.

The latter is much more complex (as can be seen by the fact that Reformed theologians still debate the proper definition of one), and its study in the Scriptures requires a more sophisticated approach. If you've ever noticed, at WSC there are no courses devoted solely to the doctrine of election, but there are several that are offered on the covenants. In fact, Dr. Baugh will be offering a course this Spring on "Covenant in the NT". Dr. Clark offers one on Covenant theology as a whole, and much of Baugh's General epistles and Revelation class focuses upon understanding the covenantal theology which undergirds the epistle to the Hebrews.

I believe that they place the emphasis upon this both because it needs more study to comprehend, as well as the fact that it is ultimately the covenants (and specifically the pactum salutis/Covenant of Redemption) that form the backdrop for understanding election. They are its ground, and it is merely one aspect of that whole.

I think that it is probably a natural progression to move from election, to covenant, and then to covenantal baptism! That, however, is most assuredly a topic for another time...