Subjects of Baptism, Part 5

Acts 2:39 Baptism

Pastor Martin continues his series on the subjects of baptism by examining indirect biblical evidence often cited for infant baptism. He refutes the use of Acts 2:39, arguing that the promise of the Spirit is conditioned on repentance and faith for all, Jew and Gentile, not on covenant status for children. He then addresses 1 Corinthians 7:14, demonstrating that the 'holiness' of children is paralleled by the 'sanctification' of an unbelieving spouse, neither of which implies church membership or a warrant for baptism. Finally, he briefly considers Ephesians 6:1, concluding that children being addressed in an epistle does not prove church membership but rather their presence in public worship.

2 illustrations in this sermon

Pastoral Application and Anecdote on Acts 2:39

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Minister's Fortress in Acts 2:39

The point: We must not only hold out before the unconverted the threat of judgment, but in the preaching of the gospel, we must also lay out before them the promise of the blessing of the Holy Spirit that comes to those who repent …

A Reformed minister, after 30 years of practicing infant baptism, admitted that Acts 2:39 was his 'incredible fortress and refuge' whenever his convictions were shaken, illustrating the perceived weakness of the paedobaptist argument for Martin.

But when a certain meaning is attached to the text early in our lives, and we always associate that meaning with the text, it's very hard to bend the line in another direction. And I can remember an occasion a few years ago when a group of reformed ministers were together, and the whole question of baptism was discussed from both standpoints. And a man who'd been a minister practicing putting water on the head of infants for over 30 years said that he went away from that discussion tremendously shaken in his convictions about infant baptism. But he said, however, I'm no longer shaken because w...

26:42 - 27:38 Read in full sermon

Paedobaptist Responses and Alternative Interpretations of 1 Corinthians 7:14

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J.L. Dagg on 'Unclean' Gentiles

Driving home: But this argument presupposes that the children like the unbelieving husband and wife were not members of the church. And the text therefore furnishes decisive proof that infant church membership was unknown in the time …

Martin quotes J.L. Dagg's explanation that 'unclean' and 'holy' in 1 Corinthians 7:14 refer to the Jewish concept of Gentiles being 'untouchable' and unsuitable for familiar intercourse, clarifying the meaning of the terms in the passage.

And I believe I'll simply quote several sections from Dagg. If it be asked, what holiness could be predicated of these children or of the unbelieving husband and wife, which did not include church, the answer is at hand. The Jews accounted Gentiles unclean and thought it unlawful to enter their houses to keep company or eat with them or to touch them. They were untouchable.

44:17 - 44:51 Read in full sermon

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