Particular Baptist
Puritan Board Freshman
One thing that has shaped much of my theology is my study of what the church is and to whom it belongs. As a Baptist, I view the church as those who are Christ's elect, both Old and New Testament. The church is made up of "those sanctifed in Christ Jesus" (1 Corinthians 1:2). The Bible says "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25) "that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). The church, the true Israel of God, has always existed and always will, since the Lord has made an everlasting covenant with His elect. This pure view of the church is something that has shaped how I view baptism, eschatology, and the Lord's relationship to His church.
The thing that I think I would differ with Presbyterians or other paedobaptists is that they see the church being both visible and invisible. They view the church as a community of both the elect and the damned. I believe this is an errant view of the church and confuses people of the proper definition. What do you think??
The thing that I think I would differ with Presbyterians or other paedobaptists is that they see the church being both visible and invisible. They view the church as a community of both the elect and the damned. I believe this is an errant view of the church and confuses people of the proper definition. What do you think??