Why do some Bible-believing Christians baptize their children—even before those children have professed faith in Jesus?

If you're a Baptist, this practice may seem strange, especially if you've always understood baptism as something that follows personal faith in Christ. I understand that perspective because I once held it myself.

In this lesson, John Musgrave explains why Presbyterians and other Reformation-minded Christians practice infant baptism, and why they believe it is Biblical—not because baptism saves a child, but because they understand baptism as a covenant sign that can be given to the children of believers.

This video is especially intended to help Baptists understand why Bible-believing Presbyterians and Reformed Christians baptize their children. It is also intended to help Presbyterians and Reformed Christians better understand and graciously explain their own practice when talking with Baptist brothers and sisters.

We will consider the relationship between circumcision and baptism, God's covenant promises to believers and their children, the significance of Acts 2, Colossians 2, and the Biblical distinction between receiving the covenant sign and possessing saving faith.

Infant baptism does not mean that a child is automatically saved. Saving faith in Jesus Christ is necessary. The question is what baptism signifies and to whom God has given the covenant sign.

John grew up in theologically liberal Presbyterianism, came to faith in Christ as a young man, spent time in charismatic theology, and later became Baptist before eventually becoming a Bible-believing Presbyterian. So this is not an argument against Baptists from someone who has never understood the Baptist position. It is an invitation to understand why fellow Christians who believe the Bible come to a different conclusion about baptism.

My hope is that Baptists will better understand their Presbyterian and Reformed brothers and sisters—and that Presbyterians and Reformed Christians will be better equipped to discuss this difference with Baptists in a gracious, patient, and loving way.

Thanks for watching! Please listen, leave a like, and write a comment. If you can, tell me where you're listening from. And if you have another question about baptism, Presbyterian theology, or Biblical interpretation, put it in the comments and I'll be glad to respond.

#InfantBaptism #Baptism #credo-baptists #credo-baptism #Presbyterian #Baptist #ChristianBaptism #CovenantBaptism #Paedobaptism #ReformedTheology

Here’s the video @ https://youtu.be/7FbkJWk-MLs

See other resources and teaching @ https://www.christchurchclayton.org/media

Watch other lessons of “The Bible: Each Book” @ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm8Dt3kxWQ8TwYS3sMbl-LjnSVJi9q8V0

#JohnMusgrave #ChristChurchOfClaytonNC #TheGospelForLiving #RTS #ReformedExpositoryBibleTeaching #Reformed #Bible #ReformedTheology #CovenantTheology #PCA #URC #OPC #RPCNA #JohnMusgrave #ChristChurchOfClaytonNC #redemptive-historical #BiblicalTheology #redemptivehistorical