This is great. We recently left a Southern Baptist church and joined a reformed church. My two year old was baptized and my in-laws were not too happy, being staunch baptists. It’s been a difficult conversation to have with them to say the least because, in the South, baptist churches are everywhere and credobaptism by immersion is almost hardwired into our DNA. Thanks for this information. Much of it is brand new to me and will be useful as I talk with my family and friends.
@@kuzivaj.z it started with being convinced of reformed soteriology. From there I began reading and studying more and more of what the reformers taught and believed on certain issues. I had never considered covenant baptism until I providentially came across an article from the OPC website on the biblical basis for infant baptism and I was amazed. That led to deeper study. Later I found a similar article defending Presbyterian ecclesiology. I made my mind up and convinced my wife as well. We decided a confessional Presbyterian church was where we belonged and it best fit our biblically informed convictions.
@@adamkpetty I see! Thank you so much for responding. I'm coming from a reformed Baptist background and never thought I'd ever consider taking paedobaptism seriously until I heard actual Presbyterians speak about it and what it entails. I haven't looked at Presbyterian ecclesiology, I'll certainly look into that
I've seen some Presbyterians give Gregg Strawbridge a hard time for his debate against James White on this subject but I've watched that debate a couple of times and feel that he did well and gave some very nice arguments.
I haven’t seen it yet, but I did liked the debate between white and shishko mostly because shishko won haha. What book(s) have been helpful for you in convincing you of paedobaptism?
I watched it recently and in my opinion he absolutely exposed the holes in James Whites view by asking simple questions that White deflected because he couldn't answer.
_Why do Christians baptize?_ [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16 _Why do Christians baptize infants?_ Infants are included in “the whole creation.” _But we are only to baptize “whoever believes”! Can infants believe?_ Indeed, they can. John the Baptist had and demonstrated faith from his mother’s womb.“And of the Holy Spirit he shall be filled even from the womb of his mother. ... And it happened that as [Elizabeth] heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb.” Luke 1:15, 41. A psalmist had faith from birth. “For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. I have *relied upon you from my birth;* You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.” Psalm 71:5-6.Timothy had faith in the Gospel from infancy. “From infancy you have known the holy writings.” 2 Timothy 3:15.David had faith from birth. “You have made me to trust while on the breasts of my mother. I have relied on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.” Psalm 22:9.David and Jesus do not find it incredible that nursing infants can praise God in faith. “And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,‘ Out of the mouth of babies and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Matthew 21:16. _But surely those infants were special cases. How can infants believe today?_ Jesus commands us not to hinder those who wish to bring their infants to him. In fact, he calls them to himself, and says not that they are brought, but that they come to him. “Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to himself, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” Mt 19:13; Lk 18:15-17; Mk 10:16 _But Jesus did not baptize the children. He put his hands on them and held them. Is that the same?_ “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:15. There is noway to be closer to Jesus than this! _But in addition to faith, the Bible nearly always connects baptism to repentance. Can children repent?_ No one can repent without the Holy Spirit. No one can have the Holy Spirit without repentance. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38. No one can enter the Kingdom without repentance. "The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15. Yet children certainly can receive the Holy Spirit and enter the Kingdom, as shown above.
Exodus 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
@@BeefyPreacher ...for the record ...I'm not defending anything...only pointing out the obvious to the scripturally "stupid"☞ (...your choice of word)...Rather, it is in fact, their God given Free Will, to be pushed even further in that fat headed direction, by those facts and triggered reactive emotions.. if they be so foolish and fearless of hellfire🔥 ..so Where's the Beef?... "¿Preacher?"...you know The Book🍔📖✨...how about a book, chapter, and verse for baby baptizing ???...
@@anarchorepublican5954 How about a book chapter or verse saying NOT to baptize babies? Everybody, and I mean everybody, that was an audience of Jesus and the Apostles would've assumed that covenants with divine beings applied to whole households regardless of age. The Jews would've assumed this because they'd already been directly told that by God (RE: Circumcision), and the Gentiles would've assumed this because the Pater Familia (head of household) determined fully the beliefs and practices of their family (Greece and Rome where extremely patriarchal at the time). So really, the onus is on you to prove that the Apostles explicitly said "don't baptize babies." "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14
@@etheretherether ..How about a book chapter or verse saying not to use Twinkies, & Coca-Cola for the Lord's Supper? ...everything and anything God has not specifically commanded, is excluded from worship..Infants cannot Believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16; Gal 3:26-27; Acts 8:36-37)...nor Repent, nor Confess(Acts 2:38; Mark 1:4-5)...nor Call on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16)...etc.etc, infinitum....Adult Believers are commanded to become like unto Infants...Infants aren't commanded to remain infants..of course they can come unto Jesus...they are pure...infants don't even know right from wrong, let alone being "sinners" in need of conscience Baptism (Deut 1:39)....your "Household" argument is pure assumption...as any adoring parent will tell you, "...children just don't stay little very long"...nor do they remain innocent much longer...Baptism isn't described isn't as a covenantal replacement for circumcision... Baptism is more Universal for both Jew and Greek; Rich & Poor; Male & Female..but nothing about both infants & Aged)...because Baptism is the Seal & Climax of personal Salvation (Mark 16:16 & 1Pet 3:21) ...Frankly, faith is not something "Godparents" can decide for you...
This is great. We recently left a Southern Baptist church and joined a reformed church.
My two year old was baptized and my in-laws were not too happy, being staunch baptists. It’s been a difficult conversation to have with them to say the least because, in the South, baptist churches are everywhere and credobaptism by immersion is almost hardwired into our DNA.
Thanks for this information. Much of it is brand new to me and will be useful as I talk with my family and friends.
Hi what made you switch?
@@kuzivaj.z it started with being convinced of reformed soteriology. From there I began reading and studying more and more of what the reformers taught and believed on certain issues. I had never considered covenant baptism until I providentially came across an article from the OPC website on the biblical basis for infant baptism and I was amazed. That led to deeper study. Later I found a similar article defending Presbyterian ecclesiology. I made my mind up and convinced my wife as well. We decided a confessional Presbyterian church was where we belonged and it best fit our biblically informed convictions.
@@adamkpetty I see! Thank you so much for responding. I'm coming from a reformed Baptist background and never thought I'd ever consider taking paedobaptism seriously until I heard actual Presbyterians speak about it and what it entails. I haven't looked at Presbyterian ecclesiology, I'll certainly look into that
Amen.
@@adamkpetty Thank you for your story brother. I'm an ex-Reformed Baptist now Presbyterian. My wife is not convinced yet but hopefully soon! Blessings
I was born and grew up in Lancaster! It's so cool to hear from someone reformed folk around that area.
I've seen some Presbyterians give Gregg Strawbridge a hard time for his debate against James White on this subject but I've watched that debate a couple of times and feel that he did well and gave some very nice arguments.
I haven’t seen it yet, but I did liked the debate between white and shishko mostly because shishko won haha. What book(s) have been helpful for you in convincing you of paedobaptism?
Signed, sealed and delivered, by Ray Sutton.... I think that's the author
I watched it recently and in my opinion he absolutely exposed the holes in James Whites view by asking simple questions that White deflected because he couldn't answer.
God bless Dr Gregg Strawbridge.
_Why do Christians baptize?_
[Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16
_Why do Christians baptize infants?_
Infants are included in “the whole creation.”
_But we are only to baptize “whoever believes”! Can infants believe?_
Indeed, they can. John the Baptist had and demonstrated faith from his mother’s womb.“And of the Holy Spirit he shall be filled even from the womb of his mother. ... And it happened that as [Elizabeth] heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb.” Luke 1:15, 41. A psalmist had faith from birth. “For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. I have *relied upon you from my birth;* You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.” Psalm 71:5-6.Timothy had faith in the Gospel from infancy. “From infancy you have known the holy writings.” 2 Timothy 3:15.David had faith from birth. “You have made me to trust while on the breasts of my mother. I have relied on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother’s womb you have been my God.” Psalm 22:9.David and Jesus do not find it incredible that nursing infants can praise God in faith. “And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,‘ Out of the mouth of babies and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” Matthew 21:16.
_But surely those infants were special cases. How can infants believe today?_
Jesus commands us not to hinder those who wish to bring their infants to him. In fact, he calls them to himself, and says not that they are brought, but that they come to him. “Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to himself, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” Mt 19:13; Lk 18:15-17; Mk 10:16
_But Jesus did not baptize the children. He put his hands on them and held them. Is that the same?_
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” 1 Corinthians 12:15. There is noway to be closer to Jesus than this!
_But in addition to faith, the Bible nearly always connects baptism to repentance. Can children repent?_
No one can repent without the Holy Spirit. No one can have the Holy Spirit without repentance. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38. No one can enter the Kingdom without repentance. "The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15. Yet children certainly can receive the Holy Spirit and enter the Kingdom, as shown above.
Exodus 2:10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
Fascinating conversation.
Around 31min
Why not just multiple people?
Q: What is Infant Baptism?....
A: unscriptural
So deep... convinced
For the record, stupid comments like this actually push people away from whatever position you’re defending.
@@BeefyPreacher ...for the record ...I'm not defending anything...only pointing out the obvious to the scripturally "stupid"☞ (...your choice of word)...Rather, it is in fact, their God given Free Will, to be pushed even further in that fat headed direction, by those facts and triggered reactive emotions.. if they be so foolish and fearless of hellfire🔥
..so Where's the Beef?... "¿Preacher?"...you know The Book🍔📖✨...how about a book, chapter, and verse for baby baptizing ???...
@@anarchorepublican5954 How about a book chapter or verse saying NOT to baptize babies?
Everybody, and I mean everybody, that was an audience of Jesus and the Apostles would've assumed that covenants with divine beings applied to whole households regardless of age.
The Jews would've assumed this because they'd already been directly told that by God (RE: Circumcision), and the Gentiles would've assumed this because the Pater Familia (head of household) determined fully the beliefs and practices of their family (Greece and Rome where extremely patriarchal at the time).
So really, the onus is on you to prove that the Apostles explicitly said "don't baptize babies."
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14
@@etheretherether ..How about a book chapter or verse saying not to use Twinkies, & Coca-Cola for the Lord's Supper?
...everything and anything God has not specifically commanded, is excluded from worship..Infants cannot Believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16; Gal 3:26-27; Acts 8:36-37)...nor Repent, nor Confess(Acts 2:38; Mark 1:4-5)...nor Call on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16)...etc.etc, infinitum....Adult Believers are commanded to become like unto Infants...Infants aren't commanded to remain infants..of course they can come unto Jesus...they are pure...infants don't even know right from wrong, let alone being "sinners" in need of conscience Baptism (Deut 1:39)....your "Household" argument is pure assumption...as any adoring parent will tell you, "...children just don't stay little very long"...nor do they remain innocent much longer...Baptism isn't described isn't as a covenantal replacement for circumcision... Baptism is more Universal for both Jew and Greek; Rich & Poor; Male & Female..but nothing about both infants & Aged)...because Baptism is the Seal & Climax of personal Salvation (Mark 16:16 & 1Pet 3:21) ...Frankly, faith is not something "Godparents" can decide for you...