Covenant theology lies at the heart of both Presbyterian and Reformed Baptist thought. It shapes how they read the Bible, understand salvation history, and, crucially, how they approach baptism and the church. While they share broad agreement on many foundational points, their differences on covenant theology are meaningful and practical, especially when it comes to the nature of the church, the relationship between Old and New Covenants, and the discipleship of children.
This article explores those key differences as clearly and fairly as possible.
Covenant Theology: Common Ground
Both Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists affirm that God deals with humanity through covenants, that salvation has always been by grace through faith, and that Christ is the fulfillment of all covenantal promises. They reject dispensationalism’s sharp divisions between Old and New Testament believers and agree that the Church is not a “parenthesis” in God’s plan, but the continuation of His redemptive work.
However, where they differ is in how they view the Covenant of Grace itself.
How Presbyterians Understand the Covenant of Grace
Presbyterians teach that the Covenant of Grace was formally established after the fall (Genesis 3:15) and continues unbroken through Abraham, Moses, David, and into the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ. Though the administration of the covenant changes (from circumcision to baptism, from sacrifices to the Lord’s Supper), the essential promises remain the same: "I will be your God, and you will be my people."
Thus, just as Abraham’s children received the covenant sign of circumcision, so today, Presbyterian parents give their children the covenant sign of baptism. The visible church is understood as a mixed community—containing both the regenerate and the unregenerate—just as Israel did under the Old Covenant. Baptism does not guarantee salvation, but it marks a person as belonging to the covenant community, under the blessings and obligations of God's covenant promises.
Key Scriptures for this view include Genesis 17, Acts 2:39 (“the promise is for you and your children”), and Colossians 2:11–12 (linking circumcision and baptism).
How Reformed Baptists Understand the Covenant of Grace
Reformed Baptists also affirm the Covenant of Grace but interpret its formal establishment differently. They argue that while the Covenant of Grace was promised throughout the Old Testament (beginning with Genesis 3:15), it was not formally enacted until the death of Christ, when the New Covenant was inaugurated (Luke 22:20).
Thus, they see a sharper break between the Old and New Covenants. The New Covenant, they argue, is better not only in administration but in substance: it is made only with those who are truly regenerate. Citing Jeremiah 31:31–34, they emphasize that all New Covenant members know the Lord and have their sins forgiven—no longer a mixed community.
Therefore, baptism is not given to the children of believers automatically. Instead, it is reserved for those who make a credible profession of faith, demonstrating that they are participants in the New Covenant by union with Christ. Baptism is a sign not of potential inclusion but of realized salvation.
Handling Apostasy and the Church Community
One practical outworking of these differences appears in how each group handles apostasy.
Presbyterians argue that since the covenant community includes both believers and unbelievers (externally), it is possible for someone to be truly part of the visible church and later fall away. Their apostasy is real concerning their covenantal membership, even if it is not a loss of eternal salvation.
Reformed Baptists maintain that apostasy texts (like Hebrews 6 and 10) describe those who were part of the visible community and tasted covenant blessings—but were never inwardly regenerate or truly members of the New Covenant. These people fall away from proximity to Christ, not from saving union with Him.
Thus, both traditions recognize the reality of visible apostasy but locate it differently: Presbyterians within the covenant community itself; Baptists outside of true covenant membership.
What About Raising Children?
One of the most practical tensions comes in parenting. Many Baptist parents, in practice, treat their children as Christians in training: teaching them the gospel, urging them to repent, praying with them, and discipling them daily.
Presbyterians see this as perfectly natural: children of believers are part of the covenant and should be raised accordingly, with baptism marking them as such.
Baptists agree that Christian parents have a unique obligation to disciple their children, but explain it differently. Children of believers are "set apart" (1 Corinthians 7:14), meaning they are under a special sphere of privilege and responsibility—but they are not full members of the New Covenant until they personally believe. Therefore, Baptist parents shepherd their children toward faith, treating them differently from unbelieving neighbors, but without presuming regeneration or covenant membership until they profess faith.
Conclusion
Both Presbyterian and Reformed Baptist covenant theologies seek to honor the Bible’s teaching about God's promises and the unfolding of redemption. They agree far more than they disagree. Yet when it comes to the nature of the New Covenant, baptism, and the visible church, their paths diverge meaningfully.
Understanding these differences deepens our grasp of God’s work in history—and challenges us to think carefully about how we apply His promises to ourselves, our churches, and our children.
