The covenant obligations are preceded by God's promises of grace
    -we obey God AS His children...not to BECOME His children

The essence of the covenant is God's promise to be our God, and that we are His people
    -we are set apart from the world, with great privileges in the covenant community (the church)

The covenant sign is applied to adults who already express faith, and to infants who will (by God's grace) eventually express faith