Benefits of covenant membership for infants

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anotherpilgrim

Puritan Board Freshman
Hi Everyone,
I know what I'm about to ask has been touched on in various ways in passing through out many of the threads already. But I wanted to bring it up again in a way that directly deals with this question and as a way of collecting all those various passing responses. If it's explicitly come up before and someone can direct me to it, I'd really appreciate it! Here goes...

What specifically are the promises to and benefits that an infant born into the New Covenant community enjoys, and are signified/sealed in their baptism, that is not made and/or not enjoyed by infants born outside the covenant community?

I know the confessions address directly the promises and benefits to those being baptized, but I was looking for help responding to the second part; namely what are the promises/benefits over and above those available for non-covenant infants, or a biblical basis for showing how those promises are unavailable for non-covenant infants.

Thanks!!
 
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (Rom 3:1-3, ESV)
 
Westminster Larger Catechism:

Question 63: What are the special privileges of the visible church?

Answer: The visible church has the privilege of being under God's special care and government; of being protected and preserved in all ages, not withstanding the opposition of all enemies; and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved, and excluding none that will come unto him.
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Peairtach said:
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (Rom 3:1-3, ESV)
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Hi Richard, could you elaborate on this a bit?

---------- Post added at 05:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------
Tim said:
Westminster Larger Catechism:

Question 63: What are the special privileges of the visible church?

Answer: The visible church has the privilege of being under God's special care and government; of being protected and preserved in all ages, not withstanding the opposition of all enemies; and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved, and excluding none that will come unto him.
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Hi Tim! It's precisely the last part of that answer that I had difficulty addressing in a recent conversation on this topic; namely if baptism is supposed to signify personally the promises like salvation to all who believe, why the Covenantal distinction, since those promises are available to non-covenantal people as well. What would be a good way to respond to that?
 
Anish
why the Covenantal distinction, since those promises are available to non-covenantal people as well. What would be a good way to respond to that?
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They have always been available to non-covenantal people who heard the Word of God - e.g. Naaman the Syrian, the Roman Centurion whom Jesus commended for his faith, etc.

Quote Originally Posted by Peairtach View Post
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (Rom 3:1-3, ESV)
Hi Richard, could you elaborate on this a bit?
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It seems pretty obvious what the Apostle is saying is that God in His providence deposits His Word with His Church - including those that in His providence are born in His Church -in a way that He doesn't with those outside the Church. This is a great blessing whether we despise it or not.
 
anotherpilgrim said:
since those promises are available to non-covenantal people as well.
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There are differences of propriety (Acts 2:38-39) and priority (Acts 3:25-26). With respect to propriety, the promise belongs to covenant children. God is their God in Christ. They grow up within the believing community and with the consciousness of crying "our Father" with all God's children. Concerning priority, Christ is preached to them first in order to bless them. As with the Jews, it is a matter of divine faithfulness that they are called to faith and repentance. This is the "usual" way in which God draws His elect and saves them from their sins.
 
armourbearer said:
anotherpilgrim said:
since those promises are available to non-covenantal people as well.
Click to expand...

There are differences of propriety (Acts 2:38-39) and priority (Acts 3:25-26). With respect to propriety, the promise belongs to covenant children. God is their God in Christ. They grow up within the believing community and with the consciousness of crying "our Father" with all God's children. Concerning priority, Christ is preached to them first in order to bless them. As with the Jews, it is a matter of divine faithfulness that they are called to faith and repentance. This is the "usual" way in which God draws His elect and saves them from their sins.
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Thank you Rev. Winzer! Your reply has really helped wrap my head around the covenant blessings a little better, and I'm going to have to ponder it a little more to let it sink and feel the full force.

Could you make the explicit connection of your response with baptism for me?
 
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