Comments on: Baptism and Christian Identity: Ecclesial Pedagogy and John Calvin http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/baptism-and-christian-identity-ecclesial-pedagogy-and-john-calvin/ Serving the joyful cultivation of the theological craft for the life of the church: inquiring honestly, deliberating wisely, acting faithfully Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:38:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Geordie Ziegler http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/baptism-and-christian-identity-ecclesial-pedagogy-and-john-calvin/#comment-15739 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:17:02 +0000 http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/?p=2804#comment-15739 Perhaps the divide becomes clearer if we ask the question, ‘Who’s faith are we talking about in baptism?” If the faith is mine alone, then baptism is a sign of my faith. But if the faith is Christ’s, in the sense that I am baptised into Christ and with Christ’s baptism, then the focus becomes less on me and my faith and my ‘in or outness’ in terms of the people of God, and more a reposing upon the grace of Christ.

I also see that you want to make a link with circumcision and regeneration, which of course Paul does in talking about circumsicion of the heart. But how does that relate at all to the OT concept of circumcision? Are you saying that OT circumcision as initiation into the people of God is equivalent to our regeneration/sanctification/justification in Christ? And that we respond to that act of God for us with the response of faith?

]]> By: Kyle Strobel http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/baptism-and-christian-identity-ecclesial-pedagogy-and-john-calvin/#comment-15678 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:50:45 +0000 http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/?p=2804#comment-15678 Geordie, yeah, I think that is right, but a sign needs to signify what it is a sign of – faith – which is what I think baptism is doing in the New Testament. In other words, there is no “in the people of God” outside of faith – and I believe that God does the circumcising (regeneration) which is why we seek to respond with a sign of faith – baptism.

]]> By: Geordie Ziegler http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/baptism-and-christian-identity-ecclesial-pedagogy-and-john-calvin/#comment-15628 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:52:32 +0000 http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/?p=2804#comment-15628 but what is the ‘sign’ of that faith? Doesn’t baptism at least signify one’s initiation into this people of God, carrying the ‘set-apartness’ that circumcision would also have conveyed?

]]> By: Kyle Strobel http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/baptism-and-christian-identity-ecclesial-pedagogy-and-john-calvin/#comment-15519 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:45:12 +0000 http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/?p=2804#comment-15519 I just don’t find the biblical work plausible. Circumcision in the old covenant parallels circumcision of heart in the new. If we follow Paul’s line of argumentation concerning the people of God, in my opinion, what makes you a child of Abraham is no longer blood lineage but faith. Faith is what ties you to the father of faith. Likewise, circumcision, on this view, is circumcision of heart in God’s act of regeneration.

]]> By: Georde http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/baptism-and-christian-identity-ecclesial-pedagogy-and-john-calvin/#comment-15452 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:25:25 +0000 http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/?p=2804#comment-15452 What is wrong with Calvin’s linking of circumcision and baptism? I know you said its been a while since you’ve reviewed the argument but i’ve never heard someone refer to it as ‘Calvin at his worst’…. Just looking for a bit of insight here. Anyone?

]]> By: Items of note (11/6/09) : Theopolitical http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/baptism-and-christian-identity-ecclesial-pedagogy-and-john-calvin/#comment-15209 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:35:00 +0000 http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/?p=2804#comment-15209 [...] Kyle Strobel on Calvin and baptism [...]

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