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SEAGOON · #6 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 11:01 AM

Hi Matthew,

Quote:

Originally Posted by armourbearer

This article provides a faithful warning against a dangerous teaching. That regeneration and conversion must be pressed upon covenant children as a clear and present duty is warranted from the example of our Lord, who regularly urged the covenant children of Israel to repent, be converted, and be born again. The only point I would add is that we must guard against going too far in the opposite direction and be careful not to fall into presumptive non-regeneration.

I agree entirely, I note in the article that the idea that the Southern Presbyterians or Old Schoolers generally presumed that the children of believers weren't regenerate isn't true. Their response, and I believe the correct one is to bow out of the presumption game entirely:

Quote:

Finally, please note that Schenck, caricatures the Southern Presbyterian position as a negative presumption. What this means is that Schenck, who presumes that the children of believers are regenerate, assumes that his opponents must presume that they aren’t. This is not the Southern Presbyterian position. In fact the Southern Presbyterian position was simply that of the Scots and Puritans before them, namely that the children of believers are:

1) Members by birth (not baptism) of the Visible Church

2) Part of the outward covenant of God

3) Subject to the inestimable privileges and responsibilities of being part of that community

5) Heirs of salvation and the promises of the Covenant if they close with Christ

They are what we have come to call, non-communing members of the church.

Also, Pergamum, you'll find my answer to your question in the thread Bruce mentions.