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Originally Posted by CredoCovenanter  How can you not consider Baptism as a part of the RPW. While I hold that Circumcision and Baptism are different in nature I do believe they are both signs and elements that permit entrance into the Covenant Communities. There are different promises associated between the two and the natures of the Covenants are different. So as in comparison I do believe that Baptism is associated with the RPW as is the LORD's table. |
No doubt baptism, like the Lord's supper, is commanded, but unlike the Lord's supper, there's no precedence for it taking place in the regular gathering of believers. In the New Testament baptism occurs immediately after repentance and belief. There is no waiting until the next Lord's Day to be baptized in a worship service.
In contrast, we see the Lord's supper included in Paul's discussion of the gathering of believers in First Corinthians. We see the disciples breaking bread on the first day of the week. We have every indication that the Lord's supper is an element of worship.
So, according to the Regulative Principle of Worship, where do we see baptism commanded in the worship service? Would this not be "adding" to the worship service? Or perhaps there is freedom in whether baptism is to be in the worship service or apart from it?