The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Continuity in Old and NT

There are actually 2 questions here:

1) [can] unbelievers can actually be IN the Covenant of Grace?
Again, one's understanding of the "Covenant of Grace" will determine how one answers. IF, as baptists are want to do, define the CofG in strict terms, i.e., it is only salvific, then the answer would have to be, "No!". Only the elect are included in the eternal CofG and will be brought into a living covenantal relationship in time. IF, as paedobaptists are want to do, define the CofG as having a duel nature, i.e., salvific and general, then the answer would be "Yes!" And if you haven't grasped it by now, this issue is one of the reality of the "visible/invisible" church distinction, which many Baptists here deny exists, although they contradict their denial by admitting that not all who are given the sign of the CofG are in the covenant, i.e., there are unbelievers who are members of the church.

2) [can] a person can actually be in this eternal covenant temporarily?
Again, if by "eternal covenant" you mean the "Covenant of Salvation", then obviously the answer must be, "No!" This is what the "hyper-covenantalists", protagonists for the NPP, Shepherdites, Auburnites, and all the myriad other expressions of that heresy hold. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,