We confess and acknowledge that baptism appertains as well to the infants of the faithful as unto those that be of age and discretion. And so we damn the error of Anabaptists who deny baptism to appertain to children before they have . . . Continue reading →
Paedobaptism
Geneva Seminary Students (1551) Reject The “Ravings” Of The Anabaptists Against Infant Baptism
Moreover, although the sacraments are (given) to us for a pledge (arrabon), through which we are reassured of the promises of God, nevertheless I acknowledge that they will be useless to us unless the Holy Spirit should render them efficacious in us, . . . Continue reading →
Zwingli Against The “War Engines Of The Anabaptists” In 1530
Hence I believe that there is one Church of those who have the same Spirit, through whom they are made certain that they are the true children of the family of God; and this is the first fruits of the Church. I . . . Continue reading →
Reformed Church Of Basel (1534): The Denial Of Infant Baptism A “Damnable And Depraved Opinion”
We clearly protest those strange and erroneous doctrines, which turbulent spirits have invented [so as] to reject and condemn, among other damnable and depraved opinions, as when they say infants are too small to be baptized (whom we baptize according to the . . . Continue reading →
Circumcision And Baptism
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith . . . Continue reading →
Babies And Baptisms For The Dead: Another Look At 1 Corinthians 15:29
I have to admit, I rather enjoy preaching some of Scripture’s difficult passages. Usually, I have a sense of invigoration in working hard to think through a challenging text and see how I can make good enough sense of it without punting . . . Continue reading →
Perkins Explains What Baptism Does And Does Not Do
The third point is, how baptism confers grace? Answer. It confers grace because it is a means to give and exhibit to the believing mind Christ with His benefits, and this it does by His signification. For it serves as a particular . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: If We Baptize Holy Covenant Children Why Not Holy Unbelieving Spouses?
If Reformed Church baptize covenant children because Paul calls them “holy” in 1 Corinthians 7, why don’t we baptize unbelieving spouses, whom Paul also calls holy? Continue reading →
William Perkins On Infant Baptism
Infants of believing parents are likewise to be baptized. The grounds of their baptism are these. First, the commandment of God, “Baptize all nations” (Matt. 28:19), in which words the baptism of infants is prescribed. For the apostles by virtue of this . . . Continue reading →
Video: The Abraham Paradigm
Friday and Saturday of this past week I had the privilege of speaking to congregation of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) and to their guests in Ft Worth, TX on “The Abraham Paradigm.” They were very gracious and patient with me. It is . . . Continue reading →
This Year’s Top Podcast Episode: Chad Vegas On Covenant And Baptism (1)
This year’s top podcast episode was part one of a six-part Heidelcast series by Chad Vegas on covenant theology and baptism. This Heidelcast series was followed by a series of articles on Recovering the Reformed Confession, which you can find here. . . . Continue reading →
The Belief Continuum
Often, we employ a single word for many uses; even for similar uses. We employ belief (and its cognate verb) to mean at least four things, each of which can also be usefully distinguished from the others, on a continuum: prejudice, opinion, . . . Continue reading →
Abraham, Moses, and Baptism
I am in the midst of an interesting discussion of baptism with a friend. This friend has Baptist convictions, yet he understands Reformed theology better than many of the Reformed. He is quite sympathetic to historic and confessional Reformed theology. For example, . . . Continue reading →
On The Death of Infants and the Promise of the Covenant of Grace
Despite the widely accepted American dogma of an “age of accountability”–that unspecified moment when children supposedly become responsible for their sins, and for any possible rejection of Christ–there is no such doctrine taught anywhere in Scripture. Sadly, this unsupported dogma holds out . . . Continue reading →
Is Baptism A Secondary Doctrine?
More than one person has said to me, through the years, that baptism is a “secondary doctrine” and not a doctrine over which the church should be divided. Obviously, confessional Baptists do not agree with such a claim, or else they would . . . Continue reading →
Tertullian Acknowledged The Existence Of Infant Baptism
God’s approbation sends sure premonitory tokens before it; every “petition”4 may both deceive and be deceived. And so, according to the circumstances and disposition, and even age, of each individual, the delay of baptism is preferable; principally, however, in the case of . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast Special: Chad Vegas On Covenant and Baptism (6)
This is a special episode of the Heidelcast and a special series featuring my dear friend and colleague in ministry, Chad Vegas, pastor of Sovereign Grace Bakersfield. He’s been walking his congregation from a Baptist to a Reformed understanding of covenant theology . . . Continue reading →
Why You Should Be Listening To This Series (And Stay Tuned For Part 6 Tomorrow)
I want to contend that we can have earnest and vigorous disagreement and yet have earnest and vigorous disagreement in a manner that honors Christ and that is eager to maintain the unity that we have in the Spirit. I know that . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast Special: Chad Vegas On Covenant and Baptism (5)
This is a special episode of the Heidelcast and a special series featuring my dear friend and colleague in ministry, Chad Vegas, pastor of Sovereign Grace Bakersfield. He’s been walking his congregation from a Baptist to a Reformed understanding of covenant theology . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast Special: Chad Vegas On Covenant and Baptism (4)
This is a special episode of the Heidelcast and a special series featuring my dear friend and colleague in ministry, Chad Vegas, pastor of Sovereign Grace Bakersfield. He’s been walking his congregation from a Baptist to a Reformed understanding of covenant theology . . . Continue reading →