baptism

6 part series https://www.whitehorseblog.com/2014/08/17/that-he-might-purify-the-water-pt1/ https://www.whitehorseblog.com/2014/08/24/that-he-might-purify-the-water-pt2/ https://www.whitehorseblog.com/2014/08/31/that-he-might-purify-the-water-pt3/...

I have been trying to figure out the Reformed view of the sacrament of Baptism for a long time now. The Westminster confession states that Baptism is an effectual means of salvation for the Elect, even though it usually isn't tied to the exact moment of it happening. I also understand that...

1) What is essentially required for a valid baptism? 2) Would any private baptisms be valid? If not, what essential requirement does it lack? If so, why? 3) Would two random christians baptizing each other in the pool be valid (assume they’re genuine in intent and not joking)? If not, what...

Matthew 3:11 If I may pose the question, what do you believe John the baptist meant that the Lord Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire?

Hi there! I am newly Presbyterian and had a question regarding paedo communion. If Circumcision is the Old Covenant version of baptism, and Passover is the Old Covenant version of Lord’s Supper, why don’t we give communion to our children? Why do they get to partake in only some aspects of the...

In extra-ordinary circumstances where a sacrament may not be performed in the exact way that Christ prescribed, ought a church to forego the sacrament (or that part of it) or ought principled accommodations be made which keep the essential, spiritual principles of the sacrament? In the...

Hello everyone, God bless you. First of all, let's remember that Jesus Christ is what unites us, so my desire is to receive informative answers without create a divisive debate. I) Is this short video an appropriate representation of the basics differences between paedobaptism and credobaptism...

First Apology, Chapter 61 - https://ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01/anf01.viii.ii.lxi.html In the second half of this chapter, Justin clearly contrasts our natural birth which happens without our choice, to baptism which happens when a person has the capacity of sufficient "knowledge" and "choice"...

Hello All, Being an adherent into a Presbyterian Church considering membership I am studying Baptism out extensively. Here are two questions that I am tossing around and wanted to understand your perspective. two questions: 1.) When I consider Calvin's definition of a Sacrament and pair...

I was reading through some very old works and came across two interesting observations on Baptism. For example Tertullian says, “Tertullian spoke of [the sacrament of] baptism as the beginning of the militia Christi [(service to the church)] and the early church referred to baptism as the...

After a long journey as reformed baptists, this past year while entertaining membership at a URCNA church in PA we had to wrestle with the idea of Paedobaptism. We became convinced of it's truths and fulfilled the call to baptize our children today. Anyway, I know we're in mixed company...

How would you respond to this concept? I have a friend who is currently a youth pastor at a pentecostal church, but has recently been studying the church fathers. He has been convinced that Baptism and Union with Christ are one and the same in what seems to be a lutheran sense. He doesn't...

After talking with one of the deacons of my church, the general teaching surrounding baptism seems to be that it is solely a profession of faith. Essentially that baptism is just a testimony to the congregation that you believe in Christ and are not ashamed to follow and obey Him. This is very...

Hello! I have been rereading Book Fourth, Chapter 14, Section 13 repeatedly tonight and I am having trouble grasping the takeaways from this section. I'm not sure why, maybe I've been reading for too long tonight and my brain is melting haha. The section heading tells me he is refuting the...

I wish I could leave like a voice clips or something, hahaha. I have much on my mind and need other minds to bounce ideas off of. Thank you my friends for any answers that follow. I am currently a credobaptist who seems to be slowly but surely transitioning into a paedo position. I'd love to...

In various passages it describes a person believing and an apostle stating that their household will be saved. What happens when an individual in ones household doesn't believe or is incapable of believing. In other words, why would you baptize somebody who doesn't believe. So many verses...

Forgive me if this has either been discussed (I'm sure it has but couldn't find a concise thread here) or this is the wrong place. Hear my plea: I am reformed baptist (inb4 we all joke that baptists can't be fully reformed). However, my wife and I have both come to a place where we feel like...

Primitive Baptism and Therein Infant’s and Parent’s Rights by Matthew Sylvester (1636–1708) Matthew Sylvester (1636–1708) was a nonconformist divine, a meek and spirited Reformed preacher, and scholarly linguist. This wonderful work by Matthew Sylvester is an exegetical triumph of proper...

Greetings again PB friends, As I mentioned in an earlier thread here, I attended a worship service last Lord's Day at a Presbyterian Church (PCA) and the congregation celebrated the baptism of several of its member's children. My question this time has to do with the baptismal rite common to...

Hello Brothers and Sisters, I was raised Credo, I have remained Credo. Yet, I have some most likely classic questions about Peado (I am always willing to learn and be proven wrong). I think a good starting point would be this. Is Baptism the visible sign of the New Covenant being applied...

I have 2 categories of question; the first is points of clarification, the second is points which I see as necessarily supporting the credo position. However, I'm only going to post the points of clarification in this post, so that I can understand better and perhaps answer some of my own...

While I was reading Michael Horton's treatment on the history of Justification, I came across Origen's doctrine. Horton writes of Origen's Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, "When Origen affirms justification by grace (even by the gift of Christ's merits), it is always with respect to sins...

In 1 Corinthians 15:29, what is Paul getting at with the baptism of the dead?

Hey Guys. I just started getting deep into reformed theology a few years back (or really just theology in general) and I am reformed baptist as of now. Of course, I have learned much from reformed Presbyterian theologians and others such as Anglican as well. I love the things they have to say...

My friend wrote this paper giving his objection to paedobaptism for a class at TEDS. This more or less summarizes his view. He said he would love to switch views should Scripture support it. I know, y’all know, that Scripture supports our view, but I’m too new to give a rebuttal at this level...

A credobaptist friend of mine posed these questions and I want to know how to correctly answer them. He tends to be a "chapter and verse" type of guy who will seldom settle for anything other than explicit scriptural support. Is baptism and circumcision related in any way? If so, how so...

I've noticed in some other discussions dealing with the relationship between the Covenants, specifically regarding the validity of baptizing households, that often the question arises as to how the saints in the Old Covenant were dealt with by God. Let me be as transparent as possible. I was...

Hey all, I’m new to Puritan Board. I have been recently convinced about Westminster covenant theology and that includes infant/child baptism. My wife and I currently are members at a baptist church that teaches the Doctrines of Grace (they aren’t reformed baptists per se). We are very happy at...

Hi everyone, For those who have read Witsius's On the Efficacy and Utility of Baptism in the Case of Elect Infants Whose Parents Are Under the Covenant, I had a question that I hope someone can answer for me. This was published in the 2006 issue of Mid-America Journal of Theology, vol 17, pp...

I was listening to a Reformed Forum podcast that stated Credobaptism (meaning the view that believers only should be baptized) originated in the Reformation era and there is little to no evidence of it prior to that or in the early church. Is this true? My wife is Baptist and I am Presbyterian...