Presbyterian New Covenant

There is a confession of a Reformed Baptist I need to make. I almost became a Presbyterian. Its kind of complicated. I both love and loathe Presbyterians. Its because of my experience with them. This came about by considering some of old testament types in Hebrews used. This relates to the covenant of grace, warnings, and covenants in the Old Testament. It is related to the perseverance of the saints.

It began with a standard accusation by a Presbyterian, reformed baptists are somewhat dispensational in their thinking. (Knowing that most covenantal baptists hate the scourge called dispensationalism.) Yet, there are some interesting facts that were brought to my attention that go against some things Reformed baptists have said before. This made me consider every accusation.

The first thing was that the holy spirit indwelt people prior to Pentecost. Not just regenerated but indwelt. (Read about Elijah and his successor.) This is true. The spirit was around before Pentecost. I shall discuss this later.

Hebrews also says Spiritual Israel was not content to just dwell in the promised land. They wished to be given a further rest. They wished for an imperishable inheritance that could not be lost through their corruption. They wished to further commune with God. There was much of the gospel in existence, hidden such that mere flesh could not understand it. Thus, in John 3 when Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus. He is calling him to account as a teacher of Israel for why he does not know what about what he is teaching. Especially about being born again, it was not something to be done only later at Pentecost. It was already in existence among the prophets. Old testament saints could be saved and given the pledge of salvation. Luckily, Christ and the gospel have been clearly displayed in these times and the spirit is poured out in a way that even we can see it. Especially in Christ's flesh and in His ressurectiton.

Now in the framework of the old testament covenants, there were blessings and curses. The Presbyterian question that Hebrews brings up in relation to the new covenant is this. Is the new covenant filled with warnings such that it also includes unbelievers? A cursory reading suggests this, while it is enforced by its negative that says that the promises of the new covenant comes by faith. This seems to allow a larger group of people in the new covenant. (Including unsaved.) Now, this partial picture allows church children to be included in the new covenant. The church/covenant here looked closer to a nation in which people may be born. After a reading of Hebrews, I felt that I understood it as a Presbyterian would. Upon further consideration there were catholic traits too. It also allows the necessity of sanctification in the new covenant to distinguish faith from one group verses the other. I put off converting my 'allegiance' to presbyterian till I clearly convicted of this truth. (If such can be said. My allegiance is towards Christ. I would have been faithful to the Word and my conscience if it stuck.)

I read it again but it was not as Presbyterian or Catholic upon further inspection. The warnings arose from considerations of an Exodus type for Israel. It should be known that Israel requires another Exodus. An exodus from the covenant law into a greater rest, a rest of the spirit. Israel requires another law. It required another savior (not moses). They require more blood to cover their door post for they are under judgement. The new covenant is a fulfillment of the law and promises. Thus, the warnings pertain to reliance on the old testament covenant after the arrival of the new covenant, which consists of the Spirit in greater measure. The warning is not for the unfaithful of a church or the children of a church. These were not for the church period. It is for the Hebrews.

There is an importance placed on the graces of the spirit and on the sacrifice of Christ in these warnings. Now these very things are not new. Some exist under the types of the old covenant. These things increased visibly in relation to Christ in this last age. Yet, some eternal things were hardly new. The warning was for those of the old covenant to spiritual discern and turn. Those who have been enlightened, given grace under the law, believers of the goodness of God's word, and who have experience and observed heaven's power. As well as those, who have partook of the holy spirit in some limited fashion. The details of this relationship are a point of contention.

The next verses seem to suggest that this relationship may simply be for those who lie under the streams of grace (non-specific) but yield up thorns. This non-specific grace can apply to Israel and people in the Old covenant. Yet, this is the issue for the church when one says that the holy spirit ineffectually indwells or sanctifies people in the church (by baptism). It is just as vague and destructive to the gospel. Unfortunately, this type of relationship of the Holy spirit outside of saving grace destroys the incorruptibility of the new covenant. This corrupts the truth about God writing laws on people's hearts as is common practice in the covenant of grace which is fulfilled more completely in the new covenant. It also places an importance on faith itself that aught not be there. The importance is rather on God alone. The relationship to the doctrines of Christ mentioned prior to this warning implies the old covenant for those who had known of God already but required instruction in Christ and basic christian practices. This also speaks of why Paul is so confident that it is apart from the things that accompany salvation.

A Presbyterian is not wrong on a lot of things. They are wrong only in one or two. Yet, they are more often wrong in their focus. I need to pray for them instead of both loving and loathing, the church and denomination, that I was not saved in. Or esteem myself to never be saved in.