Credo-Baptism Answers Circumsicion and baptism parallel

[cw_theology]

In the institutes of the Christian religion by John Calvin how would you guys refute book 4 chapter 16 sections 3-5 and well as 6? I'm looking for a short response to the key areas where you guys think Calvin has gone wrong

 

[TheInquirer]

Can you summarize the arguments?

 

[Ben Zartman]

Calvin here shows the usual paedobaptist misunderstanding of types, shadows, and symbols. Abraham and his immediate physical seed, circumcised by virtue of being physically born, were painting a picture of a people, the sons of Abraham in a way that really matters, entering the New Covenant community by means of the New Birth. Like the other types and shadows of the OT, circumcision fades in the glory of what it was merely shadow of.
His only argument--and the most common one--is: "children were not denied covenant membership them, so why deny it now?" Well, because physical descent has nothing to do with salvation now: "Think not to say to yourselves, 'we have Abraham for our father'". In this New Covenant, founded on better promises, all the nations of the earth are commanded to be born again, and thus are born into the family of God. Having been joined to the Seed of Abraham by this new birth, they receive the sign of an unbreakable covenant: of the real fulfilment of the covenant that God made with Abraham.

 

[cw_theology]

Calvin here shows the usual paedobaptist misunderstanding of types, shadows, and symbols. Abraham and his immediate physical seed, circumcised by virtue of being physically born, were painting a picture of a people, the sons of Abraham in a way that really matters, entering the New Covenant community by means of the New Birth. Like the other types and shadows of the OT, circumcision fades in the glory of what it was merely shadow of.
His only argument--and the most common one--is: "children were not denied covenant membership them, so why deny it now?" Well, because physical descent has nothing to do with salvation now: "Think not to say to yourselves, 'we have Abraham for our father'". In this New Covenant, founded on better promises, all the nations of the earth are commanded to be born again, and thus are born into the family of God. Having been joined to the Seed of Abraham by this new birth, they receive the sign of an unbreakable covenant: of the real fulfilment of the covenant that God made with Abraham.

What has replaced circumsicion? What was it a type of?

 

[Ben Zartman]

Circumcision was the sign of entry into the Old Covenant. You were physically born, you received the sign.
Baptism is the sign of entry into the New Covenant. You are spiritually re-born, you receive the sign.
Calvin is not wrong in that baptism answers to circumcision; he's wrong regarding the subjects to whom it applies.

 

[cw_theology]

Circumcision was the sign of entry into the Old Covenant. You were physically born, you received the sign.
Baptism is the sign of entry into the New Covenant. You are spiritually re-born, you receive the sign.
Calvin is not wrong in that baptism answers to circumcision; he's wrong regarding the subjects to whom it applies.

Ok this is helpful thanks.