tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post7853756785533722774..comments2023-04-14T04:28:54.000-04:00Comments on Reformed Apologist: Confusion Over a Reformed View of BaptismReformed Apologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398596496540697639noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-6573533619063356782011-08-03T13:36:50.634-04:002011-08-03T13:36:50.634-04:00Thanks, Don. One thought only. You wrote: "Th...Thanks, Don. One thought only. You wrote: "The sign is to confirm to the person that what God has said He will perform." <br /><br />If baptism confirms union with Christ in the experience of the believer, then it at least must deal with the present. The sign may confirm what is now the case. <br /><br />Thoughts?Reformed Apologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398596496540697639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24271776.post-68542837022240051152011-08-03T12:33:04.548-04:002011-08-03T12:33:04.548-04:00"...role of baptism is to confirm our interes..."...role of baptism is to confirm our interest in the offered promise,..." <br /><br />By confirm I do not think the authors meant that they are a necessary part of Conversion and that one is not fully converted or justified until this confirming act is accomplished as part of the act/process. <br />Confirmation is not a necessary part of justification or regeneration. <br />Further, I think that the authors by confirmation did not even mean that this confirms the believer that he is converted. <br />The way these men speak is a little different that we speak today. Much reading of their works is necessary to a familiarity with their meanings and nuances. <br />There may be some disagreement but I think that the sign is to confirm the promise of God.<br />The sign is to confirm to the person that what God has said He will perform. Just as the rainbow is a sign of God's promise but has nothing to do with flood prevention and circumcision was a sign but did not convert. <br />The sign is only confirmatory of God's promise. And we are to believe God and His promise and cling to it and pray to that end and obey with all our hearts. He is faithful <br />Ex 20:6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. <br /><br />Deut 7:9 "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; <br /><br />John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." <br /><br />1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.<br />NKJV<br />I wonder if keeping just 9 of them count??<br />Another good post on precise teaching that is often neglected or relegated to theological archives for seminarians only thus the decline of the church. Thanks for your faithfulness to the word and Confession!Don Phttp://donpartridge.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com