A Child of the Covenant?

By: M. S. Shiflett

There's a doctrine being taught today that has been around for many years.  This doctrine is being taught as Biblical truth, but it was in fact started by a man named John Calvin.  He taught that the children of believers were also believers.  He taught what he called "Covenant Succession".  Building on his conviction that the covenant which God established between himself and Abraham contained nothing less than the promise of eternal life and that it was a spiritual reality and communion of life between God and man, [ Institutes of the Christian Religion, IV, xvi, 3; Schenck, pp. 6­9. ] Calvin proceeded to draw out the implications of the fact that Abraham's descendants were likewise participants in this covenant.

The fact that God made a covenant with Abraham has nothing to do with individuals today as far as their personal relationship with God is concerned.  Calvin taught that believers automatically beget believers, and that the children of believers are also believers that have to simply be cultivated and trained into mature Christians.  This is NOT what the Bible teaches!  The Bible is very clear on this matter.  To take an Old Testament covenant between God and a man, and try to make it apply to people 4,000 years later, one would have to wrest the Scriptures in a painful manner, as well as deny a multitude of other Scriptures.

To begin with, we must realize that salvation does not come by being born into a God fearing home.  It is much more than having Christian parents.  It is very obvious from Scripture that a parent's relationship with God does not insure their child's relationship with God.

Adam begat Abel as well as Cain.  Noah begat Shem, Japheth as well as Ham.  Abraham begat Isaac as well as Ishmael.  Isaac begat Jacob and Esau. Romans 9:13  "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."  David begat Solomon as well as Absalom.  The list goes on and on.  No my friend, a parent's love for God does not guarantee his child's salvation.  If John Calvin is right, then every Jew born after the Abrahamic Covenant was safe in God's promise of salvation.  Of course, nobody believes that.  Yet, today there are millions of people being taught that because their parents were Christians, that they are Christians as well, and it's all based on Calvin's misinterpretation of God's covenant with Abraham!  If that is the case, then there are many Scriptures that must be ignored or explained away.  For example:

• Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
• Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
• John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
• John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
• John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Another serious flaw in this Covenant Succession theology is the children of unbelievers are not addressed.  There is no mention of them.  It's assumed that they are not a part of God's elect, and therefore can't be saved, or as Calvin puts it, they are predestined to Hell.  It is just God's will that they go to Hell.  Of course, this totally contradicts the following Scriptures:

• 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
• Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
• Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
• John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Some people even go as far as to teach that Christ did not die for everybody.  They teach he only died for the elect.  This also contradicts many portions of Scripture.

• . . . Christ died for the UNGODLY . . . Rom. 5:6
• . . . while we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for us . . . Rom. 5:8
• . . . when we were ENEMIES, we were reconciled to God . . . Rom. 5:10
• . . . so death passed upon ALL men, for that ALL have sinned . . . Rom. 5:12
• . . . the free gift came upon ALL men unto justification of life. Rom. 5:18
• . . . And if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw ALL men unto me. John 12:32.
• . . . I exhort . . . prayers . . . be made for ALL men . . . 1 Tim. 2:1
• . . .Who will have ALL men to be saved . . . 1 Tim. 2:4
• . . . Who gave himself a ransom for ALL . . . 1 Tim. 2:6
• . . . the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men . . . Titus 2:11
• . . . God, who is the Saviour of ALL men, specially of those that believe. 1 Tim. 4:10

The point that needs to be understood is the simple fact that if an individual does not accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, and be birthed into the family of God, they will die in their sins and spend an eternity without God.  One day you will die.  God will not ask you for your church membership.  He will not ask to see your baptismal certificate, or your confirmation papers.  He will not ask you who your parents were.  He will look and see if your name has been written in the Lamb's book of life.  If it is not there, you will be cast into a lake burning with fire and brimstone.

Revelation 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Dear friend, are you prepared to meet the Lord?  Can you remember the time, the place, the day when you were saved?  If not, don't put it off another day.  Jesus is coming soon.  Don't delay!

• 2 Corinthians 6:2 ... behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.