Quote:
Originally Posted by onemaster  Quote: |
You need to update your Signature per the board requirements.
| I was careful to do that before my first post. |
Quote:
|
Or, the point may be that the regeneration first initiated in baptism continues for the entirety of the Christian life. That's what Burgess clearly taught. And he apparently though he had the backing of other divines (John Calvin included) and the other reformed confessions of his time.
|
It matters not what Burgess thought or taught as an individual even if I grant your point (which I do not). We don't form Reformed theology by quoting our favorite authors in a "quote mash" to form our favorite Reformed brew, re-define the Confessions according to our scheme, and then announce to the rest: "You guys are not really Reformed...."
Quote:
|
Wouldn't it have been a lot easier to just say that then? It says no such thing. Rather, the wording implies the opposite when it says that grace and salvation are not inseparably annex unto baptism. Annexed unto--yes; Inseparably annexed unto--no. In other words, God has appointed baptism as his ordinary instrument of initial regeneration, but he himself is not tied to it but free to work how and when he pleases.
|
It says precisely what I said. Are you really having trouble reading the sentence? Let me make it more explicit:
Quote:
|
...the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongs unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in His appointed time.17
|
The Sacrament of Baptism is
not the instrument of regeneration. It says no such thing. It says it is a sign thereof and is related to it as sign is to the thing signified. The efficacy of Baptism is found in the Promise of God, which always "Yes" and "Amen".
Consider, carefully, how you proceed. I'm really not interested in your re-definitions of the Confession. Your response will determine your continued participation on this board. You've received adequate correctives to your faulty views in this thread, though it is quite apparent that you have a fairly ensconced view prior to coming here. You have very clearly stated that which the Confessions deny and try to re-define them to suit your view. I don't allow this sort of game playing here.