Infant Baptism: Is It Biblical?

The titles on the 32 original cassette tapes were very short because of the limited space constraints on cassette labels, and also because "titles" are supposed to be short by nature.
This page seeks to put the messages into the larger categories that were mentioned by Pastor Nichols, and give an expanded explanation of the contents of each individual lesson.



Introductory Matters:
1) Introductory Approach to the Subject
   - Spirit of approach
   - Methodology of laying it out
   - Dangers/tendencies when dealing with controversial topics
   - Acknowledgment of indebtedness to & unity with the reformers who were pedobaptists
   - Purposes for dealing with the topic
   - Terminology

I. Subjects of Baptism:
   Direct & Indirect Evidences:

I. Direct:
2) Subjects of Baptism, Part 1 (in the Gospels)
   Biblical witness regarding etymology & subjects of baptism in the
   Gospels - the practice & perpetuation of the practice of the Lord Jesus
   (“disciple baptism”).


3) Subjects of Baptism, Part 2 (in the Acts)
   Subjects of baptism in Acts: The Practice of the Apostles (Part 1)
   - Multiple baptisms (Acts 2 & 8)
   - Individual/Isolated baptisms (Acts 8 & 9)
   - Household baptisms (Acts 10:47; 16:33; 1 Cor 1:14)


4) Subjects of Baptism, Part 3
   - Jewish Proselyte Baptism
     Subjects of baptism in Acts: The Practice of the Apostles (Part 2)
   - Acts 19: John's disciples rebaptized
   - Q&A


II. Indirect:
 - “Suffer the little children to come to me for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Part 1)
   (Matthew 19:13-15).

   (Note, In this section Pastor Nichols refers to a sermon by Charles Spurgeon
   called Children Brought to Christ, and Not to the Font. For computers online, an
   audio & text version of this message can be accessed here:
Audio Text

5) Subjects of Baptism, Part 4
   - “Suffer the little children to come to me for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Part 2)
      (Matthew 19:13, 14).
   - Q&A


6) Subjects of Baptism, Part 5
   - “The promise is to you, and to your children” (Acts 2:39).
   - “Else were your children unclean, but now they are holy” (1 Corinthians 7:12-14).
   - “Children obey your parents in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1/Colossians 3:20).


7) Conclusions drawn from this Biblical evidence
   - 1) Obligation to baptize infants not established (pedobaptists generally would agree)
   - 2) Right & obligation of all disciples to disciple baptism is established
       - Pedobaptists deny disciple baptism to adult disciples of believing parents
       - If infant circumcision is the same ordinance as infant baptism (as pedobaptists
         say), adult disciple baptism should be administered because the apostles baptized
         disciples who were circumcised.
       - Circumventions of the above addressed.


8) Hermeneutics - Q&A (Albert Martin)
   - 1) Differences in interpretive principles between pedobaptists & non-pedobaptists
   - 2) Open forum/class discussion.


9) Why Do So Many Practice It? (Part 1) (Albert Martin)
   - 1) A humble but misguided deference to godly, learned men of the past & present
   - 2) Sincere, grateful, but uncritical acceptance of a religious tradition.


10) Why Do So Many Practice It? (Part 2) (Albert Martin)
   - 3) A capitulation to powerful but unsanctified parental emotions.

11) Why Do So Many Practice It? (Part 3) (Albert Martin)
   - 4) A subtle but essentially pagan superstitious notion regarding infant sprinkling
        & infant salvation.



II. Significance/Definition/Meaning of Baptism:
12) Significance of Baptism
   - Two-fold significance: 1) Symbolic & 2) Declaratory.

Baptism is a symbolic/initiatory/declaratory rite/ordinance for disciples (John 4:1, 2;
Mat. 28:19-; Acts 8:12, 13; Acts 22:16) identified with a complex of blessings that come
in conjunction with conversion/applied salvation; i.e., repentance, forgiveness/remission/
washing of guilt/sin/pollution, the gift of The Holy Spirit, attachment to the triune God
& the company of the disciples, death to sin, & union with the crucified/buried/resurrected/
ascended Christ (Matthew 28:19-; Acts 2:38-41; 9:17, 18; 8:12, 13; 10:44; 22:16; Romans 6).


13) How infant baptism relates to:
    1) the symbolism inherent in baptism
       a) the clear Biblical teaching on what baptism symbolizes is recognized
          and asserted by leading pedobaptist authors & standards
       b) this clear teaching is incompatible with infant baptism
       c) attempts by pedobaptists to circumvent (Colossians 2:12 & other texts)


14) Q & A. What about those promises?
    - Acts 2:39; Acts 16:30; Proverbs 22:15

15) How infant baptism relates to:
    2) the declaratory aspects of baptism
       a) the clear Biblical teaching on the decaritory aspects is recognized
          and asserted by leading pedobaptist authors & standards
       b) this clear teaching is incompatible with infant baptism
       c) attempts by pedobaptists to circumvent
       d) the eventual effects upon the churches



III. The Sacraments/Ordinances & Infant Baptism:
16) Infant Baptism & The Concept of a Sacrament/Ordinance
    a) definition of a “Sacrament”; infant baptism incompatible
    b) efficacy of the sacraments; infant baptism incompatible; circumvention attempts
    c) validity of the sacraments; infant baptism incompatible; circumvention attempts
    d) Q&A


17) Infant Baptism & The Lord's Supper
   - Three Positions:
   1) Disciple/believer baptism & disciple/believer communion (baptists)
   2) Infant baptism & disciple/believer communion (pedobaptists)
   3) Infant baptism & infant/toddler communion (E. Orthodox/PCUSA/R. Catholics [modified form])

- Major point of this message: “The incompatibility of this (second) teaching with the Biblical
concept of coherence & unity of the sacraments; this position is contrary to the arguments of our
brethren to their own arguments which are used to condemn believer's baptism, & which are used to
support infant baptism. The point is this: whatever they use to condemn believer baptism also
condemns believer communion; & whatever they use to support infant baptism also supports infant/
toddler communion.

- Applications


18) Circumcision: OT Survey
    Old Testament survey of the Biblical teaching on circumcision
      - when/how/why was it instituted?
      - what does it signify?
      - what are it's characteristics/attributes?
      - two types: circumcision of the body & heart
      - tension: OT Israel circumcised in flesh but not in heart (resolved in NT Israel)


19) Circumcision: NT Survey, #1
    New Testament witness on circumcision (beginning)
      - element of continuity between OT & NT
      - occasion of controversy
      - significance to Abraham
      - significance to Jews/others


20) Circumcision: NT Survey, #2
    New Testament witness on circumcision (cont'd)
      - conclusions:
      1) circ. is a symbolic rite instituted by God in conjunction w/Abrahamic cov't
      2) circ. marks out Abraham's posterity/seed (2 kinds: earthly & spiritual)
      3) two types of circumcision: flesh & body
      4) circ. is a change in the secret place of the body and/or heart
      5) there are 2 circumcisions, 2 Israels, 2 Jews, 2 covenants, 2 communities
      6) tension: OT Jews distinguished by circ. of body but not heart
      7) tension resolved: NT Jews distinguished by circ. of heart
      8) circumcision is a change in secret place, essential to participation in cov't
         fellowship/blessing/communion with God
      9) some NT Jewish believers continued to practice circumcision of body (it became
         a matter of things indifferent)


21) Relationship Between Circumcision & Infant Baptism
      - this is the hinge/heart/foundation/pillar of pedobaptist perspective/approach
      - prominent pedobaptist apologists/confessional statements
      - Biblical analysis/critique/refutation


22) Q&A (Albert Martin)
      - The Holy Spirit's interpretation of the Abrahamic covenant in Romans 4, Galatians 3,
        Acts 2:39.


23) Relationship Between Circumcision & Infant Baptism
      - Pedobaptist/Dispensational positions
      - exposition of Colossians 2:11:
         a) Identity of the circumcision mentioned in the text
         b) Recipients of the circumcision mentioned in the text
         c) Connection of this particular circumcision to baptism
      - Reformed Baptist position


24) Q&A (Albert Martin)
      - (Pastor Martin deals briefly with women asking questions during the SS hour)
      - various questions/answers



IV. Relationship to the Biblical Doctrine/Identity of the Church:
25) The Church & Infant baptism, Part 1
      - Pedobaptist perspectives/arguments:
         a) the Church existed from the time of Abraham
         b) the NT Church is the identical institution as the OT Church
         c) infants were included in the OT Church
         d) there is no hint of infant exclusion in the NT Church
         e) since those in the Church have a right to the initiatory ordinance, and since
            infants are members of the church, they have a right to baptism
      - Biblical response/analysis/critique/refutation (part 1):
         a) yes, there is a unity of OT/NT saints (one Olive Tree; Eph 2:15; Heb 11:39, 40)
         b) yes, infants were included in the OT community
         c) yet, there is much that would justify their exclusion
         d) “this argument from the Church proves too much”: Church members have a right to
            all of the ordinances, so if children partook of the Passover, why not Communion?
         e) specifics as to why children should be excluded (beginning):
            I.) incompatible with descriptions of the growth of the Church


26) The Church & Infant baptism, Part 2
         e) specifics as to why children should be excluded (continued):
            II.) incompatible with descriptions of the membership of the Church (beginning)


27) The Church & Infant baptism, Part 3
         e) specifics as to why children should be excluded (continued):
            II.) incompatible with descriptions of membership of the Church (continued)
               - Circumventions of this (generally) by:
                 Dutch Calvinists: presumptive regeneration
                 Presbyterians: two different & incompatible definitions of the church
               - answers to pedobaptist objections (actual & anticipated), Part 1:
                 1) “Arguing from silence” (verses “good & necessary inferences”)
                 2) Wheat & Tares Parable (“the field is the world”, not “the Church”)


28) The Church & Infant baptism, Part 4
         e) specifics as to why children should be excluded (continued):
            II.) incompatible with descriptions of the membership of the Church (continued)
               - answers to pedobaptist objections (actual & anticipated), Part 2:
                 3) Usage of the word “ecclesia” to describe OT Israel (Acts 7)
                    “Assembly of Jehovah”


29) The Church & Infant baptism, Part 5
         e) specifics as to why children should be excluded (continued):
            III.) incompatible w/descriptions of the spiritual experience of the Church (#1)


30) The Church & Infant baptism, Part 6
         e) specifics as to why children should be excluded (continued):
            III.) incompatible w/descriptions of the spiritual experience of the Church (#2)
            (“Children's church” is briefly addressed at the end of this message.
              Children at the pubic Church meetings addressed at the beginning of message 32)



V. Relationship of Infant Baptism to the Covenants
31) The Covenants & Infant Baptism
      - Summary of the Biblical teaching on covenants
      - Relevance to infant baptism
      - Post script by Albert Martin

As is mentioned during the above message, it was decided at this time not to deal with this
aspect of the series in any great detail. The "written notes" which pastor Nichols mentions,
eventuated in both an audio series (called
The Covenants, available here), and in a recent
book (see here). A blurring of the lines between the eternal covenant of grace, and the various
temporal covenants which God made, is at the heart of making the pedobaptist argument seem
plausible, and thus all are strongly encourged to hear
The Covenants series.



VI. Overview of the Positive Biblical Teaching
32) How Should Parents/the Church Regard & Treat Minor Children?
      I. Several general Biblical principles regarding children
         1) Minor children were the subjects of Christ's tender & loving embrace, well-wishes
           & prayers while on earth
         2) Minor children of Christians were assumed to be present & were addressed in the
            public meetings of the Churches, & other social occasions
         3) Minor children from mixed marriages are suitable for the most intimate parental
            contact
         4) Minor children of Christians are also born dead in trespasses & sins
         5) Minor children have same Gospel promises as are made to their unconverted parents
         6a) Parental discipline/nurture the means usually used to impart common/special grace
         6b) Temporal promises of provision to saints includes provision for their children
         7) Character of a child is revealed by its behavior, as with adults

     II. Major duties of Christian parents regarding religious instruction of their children
         1) Responsible to instruct in the ways & things of God
         2) Encourage, expect & enforce obedience to religious training
         3) Expectantly plead with God to bless our faithful but imperfect training

    III. Different attitudes/perspectives/approaches Christians have on training children
         1) Presumptive regeneration
         2) Presumptive innocence/neutrality coupled with easy believism
         3) Presumptive wickedness
         4) Realistic & optimistic uncertainty