Quote:
Originally Posted by PuritanCovenanter  I think a man can belong to Christ and be a Christian before he is baptized. It is by faith alone. |
So Christ's command to His apostles to make disciples by baptizing them and teaching them everything He commanded is a superfluous step to what it means to be a disciple?
As I see it, you detach the elective work of God (the hidden things) from the revealed things. The revealed things belong to us Randy. Where do the Scriptures reveal that a man may be a disciple apart from baptism and the doctrine of the Apostles? You speak theoretically of the things hidden but the revealed things of the Covenant of Grace show a sign ordained by God to mark out those that are Christians.
I don't say of myself that I'm a Christian. The Church administers that with the authority vested in it by Christ. Your ideas are not mediated by the Word. God's election remains veiled in a cloud of mystery and you would have it remain there without reference to the revealed things about what God states are the requirements to be called one of His disciples on this Earth. You don't preach the hidden things to a man (if God has elected you then you are a Christian and we'll get around to baptizing you), you preach the revealed things (repent and be baptized).