Sonoftheday
Puritan Board Sophomore
I am curious as to the biblical grounds for awaiting fruits of regeneration in our children before baptizing them. My children are not yet to the age where this is a primary concern for me, however, I was recently listening to a sermon and he made the point that if his son came to him professing faith he would say basically wait and we will watch for signs of regeneration. I have heard this many times and I find it at odds with our understanding of who is baptized. We make quite the fuss that baptism is given to professing believers (whether regenerate or not) in the book of Acts, it is evident from these passages that no fruits of regeneration are seen but the professors are swiftly baptized.
Why do we (or many of us) maintain that only those making a credible profession of faith are given Baptism, but then show inconsistency when we baptize children of believers?
If being baptized is an act of obedience are we impeding our children's swift obedience of this command?
EDIT: I removed the name of the man who's sermon I was listening to because; 1.) While this is what I understood him to say it may not have been what intended to teach. The man who I was listening to is graciously gifted by God to preach and I do not wish to missrepresent him. and 2.) What he teaches is not the point of my post, but rather this teaching which I have heard several times in baptist circles.
Why do we (or many of us) maintain that only those making a credible profession of faith are given Baptism, but then show inconsistency when we baptize children of believers?
If being baptized is an act of obedience are we impeding our children's swift obedience of this command?
EDIT: I removed the name of the man who's sermon I was listening to because; 1.) While this is what I understood him to say it may not have been what intended to teach. The man who I was listening to is graciously gifted by God to preach and I do not wish to missrepresent him. and 2.) What he teaches is not the point of my post, but rather this teaching which I have heard several times in baptist circles.
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