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A Reformed Baptist insists upon a pure Church (believers baptism). The nation of Israel was not pure (believers only) so how can it be called the Church (by Baptist) in a consistent way it can't and this leads to a sometimes subtle difference between the Testaments.

William while I will admit that Baptist Covenant Theology (here after BCT) is different than our Presbyterian brothers form the concept of the invisible/visible church still remains the same. Thus I can say along with Spurgeon:

These who saw Christ's day before it came, had a great difference as to what they knew, and perhaps in the same measure a difference as to what they enjoyed while on earth meditating upon Christ; but they were all washed in the same blood, all redeemed with the same ransom price, and made members of the same body. Israel in the covenant of grace is not natural Israel, but all believers in all ages.

And I believe that we have definitely strayed completely off topic at this point. scared In fact this smacks of what is going on in the Open Forum so William if you wish to start a new thread regarding this please feel free to do so. I believe I've given you my thoughts on these matters and have nothing more to say in this particular thread.

Peter

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. Augustine of Hippo