AThornquist
Puritan Board Doctor
So far today I've listened to Matthew McMahon's three-part series on the basics of covenant theology and am in the process of listening to his two-part series on being reformed. I found CT to be very intriguing! I've never been in a church that has taught covenant theology and in fact have never lived near a church that is more than just soteriologically reformed. Thus, I am a baptist and I am really unsure about some theological issues, particularly new covenant versus covenant theology. I don't buy into dispensationalism (though NCT is called by some a "repackaging" of dispensationalism to have a reformed flavor).
Anyway, because of McMahon's explanation of progressive revelation and the continuity of the covenant(s?) I finally began to understand the case for infant baptism. Here is something I still don't quite understand though: is the new covenant really a new covenant? If it is a new covenant, then is the old covenant done and no longer binding because it is unnecessary? If it is not a new covenant, why does it seem different than before and what's up with the name? Also, what texts support that baptism is a "new" circumcision for those under the new covenant? Or, if it's not a new circumcision, why still apply it to children before they have given a confession of faith?
Boy am I confused. Any help would be much appreciated.
Anyway, because of McMahon's explanation of progressive revelation and the continuity of the covenant(s?) I finally began to understand the case for infant baptism. Here is something I still don't quite understand though: is the new covenant really a new covenant? If it is a new covenant, then is the old covenant done and no longer binding because it is unnecessary? If it is not a new covenant, why does it seem different than before and what's up with the name? Also, what texts support that baptism is a "new" circumcision for those under the new covenant? Or, if it's not a new circumcision, why still apply it to children before they have given a confession of faith?
Boy am I confused. Any help would be much appreciated.