How Grace Is Given In Baptism
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
5/4/2014 AM
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Text:
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Romans 9;
Lord's Day 27
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Psalters: |
131, 335, 393, 359 |
- The biblical practice.
- The apostles practiced the baptism of new believers and their household (Acts 16:15,31,32; I Cor. 1:16).
- Water baptism, like circumcision, is commanded of us; it is not an option.
- When Jesus says, "Suffer the little children to come to Me," then we may not say, "Forbid them."
- Genesis 17:14 declares that refusing circumcision is breaking the covenant and punished by being cut off.
- There is the difficulty that not all the children of believers are saved.
- Serious errors have arisen in the attempt to deal with this difficulty.
- First, that we do not know who are elect does not affect the practice of baptizing because of God’s command.
- Second, Scripture answers this problem by pointing to the Israelites who did not believe (Romans 9:1-8).
- The Biblical grounds.
- First, children are included with their believing parents in the covenant and in the Church.
- Second, God's promise of redemption and forgiveness is directed to children as well as to adults (Luke 18:15,16).
- Thirdly, God promises the Holy Spirit, the author of faith, also to His called children of believers (Acts 2:38,39).
- As infants they partake of condemnation in Adam without conscious knowledge, so they can partake of God's grace without conscious knowledge (cf. Ps. 139:13; Jer. 1:3; Luke 1:15; Mark. 10:13-16).
- The infant of a faithful believer is baptized not because of its response, but because God promised to be the God of His people and of their children (Gen. 17:7 and Acts 2:39).
- The biblical responsibility.
- In obedience to God's command we baptize them and we teach them the truth along with the command to obey (Gen. 18:19).
- We teach our children (as well as everyone) their need for Jesus and forgiveness in Him.
- Our instruction is always accompanied with prayer.
- Teach our children to consider themselves saved only in the way of their believing and repenting, not because they were baptized or because their parents are believers.
- Constantly praise God for His goodness to us and our children, praying He will not cut us off in our generations.