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Help with Romans 11:20-21

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
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I just listened to Ligonier Ministries debate on Credo v Paedo baptism. MacArthur argues for credo and Sproul argues for paedo.
The verse upon which Abrahamic Covenant and New Covenant hinge is found in 1 Corinthians 7:13-14.

If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

The argument is that a sign of the Abrahamic covenant is circumcision. The sign of the New covenant is baptism. Children, not yet believing, were circumcized into the Abrahamic covenant so that they might be set aside to know God. Thus children who are baptized into the New covenant so that they might be set aside to God. In neither situation did it mean the children were saved. In both covenants salvation is by grace through faith alone. One was never saved by circumcision nor is one ever saved by baptism.


"A Paedobaptist Position on Baptism" from Ligonier Ministries A Paedobaptist Position on Baptism by R.C. Sproul

MacArthur has a different take on the passage in 1 Corinthians 7.

"A Credobaptist Position on Baptism" from Ligonier Ministries A Credobaptist Position on Baptism by John MacArthur
Depends a lot on just how new is the NC, as tend to see it as all new, and that those under it would be the redeemed of the Lord jesus!
That is why would hold to believers baptism....
 
I believe in the eternal security of the church-age believer, but I don't have an exposition that perfectly satisfies me when it comes to:
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

The commentators I have read which defend eternal security did not truly tackle the verses head-on.
My own best answer for the moment is that the thou standest by faith is national, not individual.
I can relatively well make that case from the verses in context.
But I wish to have as good an answer as possible in relation to defending eternal security. Could you thus help me expound the passage without resorting to the amateurish and ubiquitous "this verse is poorly translated" escape?

Thanks

Maybe going further in the context of Romans 11 helps -
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
 

George Antonios

Well-Known Member
Maybe going further in the context of Romans 11 helps -
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Ok, I'm following. Go on.
 
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