JTB.SDG
Puritan Board Junior
David Engelsma in his book, The Covenant of God and the children of believers says that traditionally, Reformed Churches have taken 3 views of God's promise to the children of believers in Genesis 17:7. He says the first view sees the promise as actually only a PRIVILEGE. The second sees the promises as only an OFFER. While the third actually sees God's promise as a true promise, only to the elect seed within the physical seed.
I can find a lot of others affirm what he says about the second view, and how some traditionally in the Reformed churches have taken varient stances on a "conditional offer" to the children of believers; the most extreme being sort of a form of Arminianism.
I'm trying to *fact check* the first proposition. This is what he writes. Is it actually true? Thanks:
"There are three possible explanations of the inclusion of children in the covenant. All are proposed by various Reformed churches.
The first explanation is that because of their privileged position in a Christian home and in the environment of the church these children are more likely to be converted than the children of unbelievers. . .they are in a better position to be saved than other children. This was the view of some Puritans and of Jonathan Edwards. It is the view of certain Reformed churches today, including the Free Reformed Church of North America and the Netherlands Reformed Congregations of the United States and Canada."
If this is true, can anyone lead me to any actual primary sources?
I can find a lot of others affirm what he says about the second view, and how some traditionally in the Reformed churches have taken varient stances on a "conditional offer" to the children of believers; the most extreme being sort of a form of Arminianism.
I'm trying to *fact check* the first proposition. This is what he writes. Is it actually true? Thanks:
"There are three possible explanations of the inclusion of children in the covenant. All are proposed by various Reformed churches.
The first explanation is that because of their privileged position in a Christian home and in the environment of the church these children are more likely to be converted than the children of unbelievers. . .they are in a better position to be saved than other children. This was the view of some Puritans and of Jonathan Edwards. It is the view of certain Reformed churches today, including the Free Reformed Church of North America and the Netherlands Reformed Congregations of the United States and Canada."
If this is true, can anyone lead me to any actual primary sources?