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But it was also a "family-sign" and the family is no longer by blood of men but by the blood of Jesus, no longer just Israel but Gentiles and Greeks and even Barbarians!
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"Gentiles and Greeks and even Barbarians" came into the OT church.
You're making a distinction that is foreign to the text.
If it was also "just a family sign" then why didn't the "families" in the wilderness give their children "just a mere family sign?"
And, why did proselytes who were not "organic family members" get the sign, and why did their infant children? What did it signify for those infants? Not that the Messiah would come from their stock. Not that they were children of Abraham after the flesh. What, then? Quote:
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So any sign that is given because of your parents faith is to go back to a LAW sign.
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Circumcision was given 400 years
before the "LAW" came.
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And the problem I see with Matt's usage of Col. 2:11-12 is that the "circumcision not made with hands" is being applied to those who have "received Christ Jesus as Lord." These people are described as having been born "dead in trespasses" (2:13), as having come to "faith in Christ Jesus" (1:4) and had lived a very sinful life (3:5-11). In fact, many of them were still practicing such sins even though they were believers and were being called to stop such sins immediately. So I see no evidence of these people having been born "in the faith" (AC language) and growing up "in the faith" and living consistent with that faith. Rather I see people who lived for years as sinners, came to faith, and were now in a church being discipled. I don't see any thing that tells them to think that their children immune from this reality of sin.
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That's the nature of proselytes. The same thing could have been said to proselytes to the "one tree" back in OT times. What they would say to them is different than what was said to their children. Infant baptism is a second generation issue. You're addressing first generation proselytes. So, I would see no "evidence" of proselytes in the OT "having been born "in the faith" (AC language) and growing up "in the faith" and living consistent with that faith. Rather I see people who lived for years as sinners, came to faith, and were now in a church being discipled."
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And finally, Mark you referred to Galatians 3:8 as proof that the AC is still in effect. That is true but only in the sense that it is now manifested in the brighter light of the New Covenant -- which is the context of Galatians 3.
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Right, the one where "all the
families of the earth would be blessed."
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In fact, Paul says that "those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham" (Galatians 3:9). NOTICE: the covenantal blessings are not promised to family lineage, to children of believers, BUT to those who are OF faith. Not "of the faith" but "of faith." Show me a child who is "of faith: and I will baptize him, not exclude him.
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In fact, the blessings were
never promised apart from faith.
And, I'd say that you're flat out wrong that the generational principle is not in tact. Mary applied the principle to her day and every day after that.
What was that principle:
"Showing
mercy to generation to generation, towards those that fear him."
This was first said in the OT.