covenant and baptism

Baptism now can be discussed in covenantal framework. Being baptised into christ's death is very similar to the idea represented in union with christ with our iniquities of the flesh and our person being punished on the cross. It shows how the flesh as a whole is condemned in Christ and killed, dead and buried. And how we are in a way. Yet we are raised also. This applies to how new humanity is raised in 2nd adam.

Yet, true grace of baptism occurs in regeneration and not necessarily in water. Water is merely a sign because it is outward truth not an inward one. It can never be an inward one for it is a sacrement. Its efficacy depends on what is inward. Water baptism fits with circumcision as an outward covenantal sign on all its members. Yet we also know that the water does not reveal those who are sons of light but only does so in part. The egyptians also circumcised yet were not of abraham nor under the covenant. Their circumcision was counted as uncircumcision.

In this idea, the perserverance of saints seems to be reject if water baptism of the external church is meant to reveal sons of light who are not such. Such we must consider the baptism of unbelieving childs as uncircumised but not necessarily unclean. We know that Water Baptism is a sacrement so if efficacy does not arise from what is outside but rather from the inward truth of baptism. (Like circumcision) It then appears that water baptism is as much of a part of being shown justified by likeness within the revelation of covenant as it is to covenantal adminstration and identification to the covenant. This is to say it is for believers who have been regenerated and part of sanctification. It follows from the idea that christ's blood cannot justify a believer and be ineffectial. I call into question the purpose of a sacrement otherwise. One would dare not give communion to a non-believer. Why should baptism be different?

Now should paedobaptised people be rebaptised. This is difficult to say since one cannot be recircumsized. Yet, baptism is like the sign circumcision. While regeneration is like the truth and seal of circumcision. Paedobaptized are only accounted uncircumcised even if they are. It follows that it may be possible to be rebaptised since the first one was a sacrement without grace. Yet, does the grace arrive after someone who is clean is next considered circumcised. It was not a covenantal sacrament originally but merely a ritual denoting change. Yet, does it become one? Is this proper to rebaptise? I do not easily know.

Spiritual baptism remains to be discussed at a later time. Yet, it is related to the grace and power of showing Christ's image outwardly.