Jeffrey D. Johnson: The Fatal Flaw of the Theology Behind Infant Baptism

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Jeffrey D. Johnson, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Conway, Arkansas, will address the theme of his new book "The Fatal Flaw of the Theology Behind Infant Baptism".

For centuries, Calvinistic Baptists and Presbyterians (and other Reformed paedobaptists) have enjoyed precious fellowship with one another due to their shared commitment to the inerrancy, sufficiency and authority of the Holy Scriptures and the Gospel of Free and Sovereign Grace. In spite of their differences, many pulpits have been exchanged, and many joint efforts in teaching and evangelism have been embarked upon by these two communions laboring together in Christ's vineyard. It is also a well known fact that the Westminster Confession of Faith adhered to by Presbyterians was nearly duplicated by the framers of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith (or Second London Confession) to demonstrate the clear doctrinal bond and comradery between themselves and their paedobaptist brethren while also identifying their own baptistic distinctives. Having said all this, however, those things that continue to divide Baptists and Reformed paedobaptists, including the question of who are the legitimate candidates for the biblical ordinance of baptism, are still deemed crucial enough by both groups to prevent full, unfettered union between the two.

According to the book's publishers, "The Fatal Flaw exposes the inconsistencies of the theology behind infant baptism. Rather than rehashing the familiar arguments against infant baptism, this work seeks to undercut its very foundation. What is the theological system which under girds infant baptism and where does this system come unraveled? This work answers these questions by explaining the distinction in the nature of the old and new covenants and their often misunderstood relationship with one another. This critical discussion of the continuity and discontinuity of the covenants is thoroughly explored in this book. To understand the biblical connection between the covenants, it is vital to first understand the dual nature of the Abrahamic Covenant. What is the relationship between Abraham and Moses, Abraham and Christ, and Moses and Christ? The debate of continuity and discontinuity between the old and new covenants cannot be properly solved until the intended nature of the Abrahamic Covenant is fully comprehended."

"If I were a Baptist, this argument would be the one I would want to share with my Presbyterian brethren or anyone considering leaving the Baptist camp to become one. It truly is a must read and should be in the library of every serious student of covenant theology." —Thomas J. Gentry, Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church and President of Veritas Theological Seminary
"Jeffrey Johnson has produced a thorough, vigorous, and impressive interaction with covenant theology as it is used in support of infant baptism. He has given detailed analysis of each part of the system, approved what was biblically warranted, challenged what is indefensibly contrived and offered compelling alternatives to each part of the system that he has challenged. He has not left it at that point but has offered an alternate interpretation of the relationship between the covenants." —Thomas Nettles, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"This is an excellent and outstanding work, which deals with the subject from the ground up—one of the best, if not the best, I have ever seen! Jeffrey deals with all the aspects of the subject and in the logical order of their development in the subject area. He presents his position clearly with solid and sound exegesis and clear discussion and argumentation. Thus, he makes a definite and strong contribution to the subject matter of the day concerning the ongoing debate between continuity and discontinuity of the Divine covenants." —Richard P. Belcher, Sr., Author of A Journey in Grace

Jeffrey D. Johnson graduated from Central Baptist College with a B.S. in Bible and earned his M. Rel. in Biblical Studies and a Th. D. in Systematics from Veritas Theological Seminary. He resides in Conway, Arkansas, with this wife, Letha, and their son, Martyn.