Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '11. Whose children are entitled to baptism'.
My summary
Today Hodge tells us who should be baptised.
When baptism is for adults, Hodge says that there should be a profession of faith in Christ and a promise of allegiance to Him. Hodge dismisses the Romish theory of baptising all citizens of the state.
Hodge then goes on to make a case for infant baptism - he gives the following propositions:
(i) the visible church is a divine institution;
(ii) the visible church does not consist exclusively of the regenerate;
(iii) the commonwealth of Israel was the church;
(iv) the church under the new dispensation is identical with that under the old;
(v) the terms of admission into the church before the advent were the same that are required for admission into the Christian church;
(vi) infants were members of the church under the Old Testament economy;
(vii) there is nothing in the New Testament which justifies the exclusion of the children of believers from membership in the church;
(viii) children need, and are capable of receiving the benefits of redemption.
What grabbed me
It should be no surprise to readers that I would have a number of difficulties with this section.
One of the main points of disagreement with Hodge is his linking the old and new covenants so tightly together - even going so far as to say they are 'identical'. That is not the message of the New Testament. There are many, many differences between the two.
And, to be honest, his third and fourth propositions could easily be used to justify the Romish position of linking church and state again with baptism, a position he has denied a few pages earlier.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '12. Efficacy of baptism'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment