Infant Baptism | Douglas Wilson (Reformed Basics #15)

Say that you know about some infidel at college, living like the devil. He was baptized as an infant many years before, but that was a ritual that he doesn’t remember, he was never taught in terms of it, and consequently, he assigns no meaning to it. Now let us assume that one day he is radically and remarkably converted. The Lord gets a hold of him, and utterly transforms his life. He starts going to church and Bible studies, and one of the questions that pops into his mind is the question of whether he needs to be baptized. He cracks open his (very new) Bible, and looks up every use of the word baptism or baptize in the New Testament. In every instance, he sees that baptism follows conversion. He therefore concludes that it should follow conversion in his case also, and so he asks to be baptized. What could be simpler?

Now we have no objection to him studying the Bible to answer this question. That part of it was exactly right. In fact, our wish is that he had studied a little longer, and that he had looked up more words than those that were just a variant of baptism or baptize. We think he should have looked up *covenant,* and *olive tree,* and *circumcision,* and *Israel,* and *promises,* and *children,* along with quite a few more.
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[williambradley]

I was baptised as a child and walked away from the faith as a young adult for a time. I have since returned and have been serving the Lord in Christian ministry for over 20 years. I live in Southern Baptist land and have absorbed many of their beliefs without trying to which made me doubt the efficacy of my baptism for a time. This is clear and concise teaching which is necessary. I am filled with gratitude towards my parents for raising me in a Godly manner and baptising me as a child.

[jamestandy]

This is one of the more even-handed discussions I've seen on the topic. He doesn't address every possible objection but he does a good job of showing the differences in background assumptions and explaining the Reformed covenantal view.

[annodominiministries]

Much desired video for myself as I intend to know the full argument of paedobaptism as a baptist. I now see that the credo- side is inconsistent, and paedo- is consistent. Thank you for this resource.

[youthdive]

Infant baptism is one of the most important gifts a parent can give his child.

[toddcote]

It's finally making sense to me, thanks in large part to Doug's book. This is a helpful summary. Thanks.

I was never satisfied with the typical debates because they always seemed like they were talking past eachother. RC vs JM for example.

[gummo]

We’re waiting for a similar approach and explanation on the Sabbath.

[Sundayschoolnetwork]

I was raised Baptist and have been going to a Presbyterian church for 25 plus years. I appreciate both views and think there is value in both. Excellent teaching.

[YSLRD]

I believed ( as I was taught) in believer baptism. Yet I gave my kids the Lord's supper as soon as they could hold a cup. Never even thought about it. It seemed right.
Now, I see more clearly.
As always, thanks, Doug.

[auntieanna]

Excellent! Thankyou!!!

Baptist upbringing here.... and you've got household 'converts'!

So much more imagery swirling through my mind 🎉

[dougdoesit]

Most logically coherent explanation I have heard thus far. . .

[thundergrace]

Thank you for such a thorough explanation . This was very informative.

[Presby]

🙏🏼 Fantastic videos, keep em commin’! 🙌🏼

[TheGreaser]

You cannot complete the square because there is no directionality within a square. One could move from physical circumcision to physical baptism to spiritual baptism. Which is exactly what Paul was arguing against.

[katherinecornette]

Such a great explanation! I was baptized in Catholic Church as an infant. I am now in a Protestant church and have been rebaptized as an adult. I look at my life in Christ and see how God has carried me through my life. I must say this argument is compelling and I am thankful my children were also baptized.

[lazaruscomeforth]

The Reception History of the Apostolic texts is an important aspect of coming to clarity concerning whether the Apostolic Teaching was ever understood as including or excluding infants from Baptism. Considering that there never was a major or minor controversy over the matter (and no, Tertullian recommending the deferral of Baptism because he didn't believe post-Baptismal sin could be forgiven does not qualify as a controversy or as a point in favor of modern Credo Baptism) and that infants were never known to be excluded, that the practice of infant baptism was universal, both inside and outside the Roman Empire, and that infant baptism is known with certainty at the latest in the 200s, this gives clear testimony to how the Apostolic Word was universally understood and applied, which settles the case in favor of infant baptism unless one is willing to affirm that Christ's Promise that the Church would not fail was broken from the beginning and only fixed by Calvinist Baptists in the 17th Century.

[MrMonchis]

Wow nicely done as a Catholic I approve

[intheschoolofgodandnature]

In the Methodist church, we also practice both infant baptism and paedocommunion ❤ 🍷 I love the point about we don't see women being communed in the NT but they are surely not meant to be excluded from the Sacrament of the Altar

[simplifythecomplicated]

Question: Would not a boy who had been circumcised in 30 AD, if his family would have come to Christ in 35 AD, need to be also baptized into the covenant?

[intheschoolofgodandnature]

"All who are bread, should get bread." (Pr Wilson) ❤❤❤

Discussion of chikdren as having status of saints, differs from Pr. Baucham's "vipers in diapers" 😂

Love both teachers but it shows this distinction between views of Ref Presby and Ref Baptists interesting

[gregb]

Christians today are the seed of Abraham (Gal 3:29) ONLY because they are in Christ, who is THE SEED of Abraham (Gal 3:16), and it is only by faith that one becomes part of Christ's Body, the Church. One can not be born into the New Covenant, the Kingdom of God; he can only be REBORN into it (John 3:3-8).