Infant Baptism and The Lord's Supper

In this part of the sermon: Martin reviews the previous lessons on infant baptism, emphasizing the biblical doctrine of the unity, harmony, and coherence of the sacraments, which is founded on the…

Martin mentions that listeners to his tapes complained about not hearing him when he went to the board, only the chalk, prompting him to stay near the microphone. This illustrates his awareness of the audience and his effort to be clear.

Some people, while I was away, told me that they get the tapes and they can't hear when I go to the board. All they can hear is the writing of the chalk upon the board. So I'll attempt to do what I can for the sake of those who may, potentially listen to this by tape to keep myself at least pointed toward the microphone while I'm speaking. Unit 3 has to do with the sacraments and infant baptism.

1:30 - 1:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider the implications of these contradictions for your own theological system and practice.

Martin recounts a conversation with a Reformed minister who admitted that the inconsistency between infant baptism and believer communion was their 'Achilles heel,' and that he was advocating for toddler communion to achieve consistency. This illustrates the intellectual pressure paedobaptists feel regarding this issue.

Now, what's the point of all this? Yes. Can I just take 30 seconds to buttress that last point? Go ahead.

43:24 - 43:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider the implications of these contradictions for your own theological system and practice.

Martin mentions Pastor Fred Malone's journey from paedobaptist to Reformed Baptist, stating that the key factor was this very inconsistency. This serves as an example of how this doctrinal issue can lead to significant theological shifts.

And that's as current and real as something that happened within a few miles of here. Hmm. Well, the force of this, that men have felt the force of this is unquestionable. In his little pamphlet called A String of Pearls Unstrung, which describes the exodus and trek of Pastor Fred Malone from being an evangelical paedo-Baptist to being a reformed Baptist, the key that unlocked the thing and started Pastor Malone on his trek was this very inconsistency.

44:18 - 44:54 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And blessed inconsistency, blessed inconsistency of Jonathan Edwards that was prepared to stand and fight to have a holy church that consisted of only believers coming to the communion table.

Martin praises Jonathan Edwards for his 'blessed inconsistency' in fighting for a holy church with only believers at the communion table, despite the logical tension with paedobaptism. This illustrates that pastoral concern for holiness can sometimes override strict logical consistency.

And blessed inconsistency, blessed inconsistency of Jonathan Edwards that was prepared to stand and fight to have a holy church that consisted of only believers coming to the communion table. And blessed inconsistency of this brother from down south who's recently also taken a stand on this issue. Blessed inconsistency. And there's a young man in one of the Presbyterian denominations, and this comes from the Presbyterian Journal, who's recently been defrocked.

46:51 - 47:23 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And blessed inconsistency, blessed inconsistency of Jonathan Edwards that was prepared to stand and fight to have a holy church that consisted of only believers coming to the communion table.

Martin shares the story of a Presbyterian minister who was defrocked for refusing to participate in women's ordination and to admit children without a profession of faith to the Lord's Supper. This illustrates a contemporary example of a minister prioritizing church holiness and discipline over denominational consistency.

And blessed inconsistency, blessed inconsistency of Jonathan Edwards that was prepared to stand and fight to have a holy church that consisted of only believers coming to the communion table. And blessed inconsistency of this brother from down south who's recently also taken a stand on this issue. Blessed inconsistency. And there's a young man in one of the Presbyterian denominations, and this comes from the Presbyterian Journal, who's recently been defrocked.

46:51 - 47:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not give up believer-disciple communion, even if it is incompatible with infant baptism, because it is vital to the health and well-being of paedobaptist churches.

Martin uses the metaphor of a 'church within the church' to describe how paedobaptist churches, by practicing believer-disciple communion, effectively maintain a core of regenerate members. This illustrates the vital role believer communion plays in preserving spiritual vitality within paedobaptist denominations.

You see, for all of us, all of its inconsistency and incompatibility with the practice of infant baptism, this practice of believer-disciple communion is vital to the health of Paedo-Baptist churches. Absolutely vital. Because what they have, you see, they have a church within the church. And that church within the church is the church.

48:44 - 49:08 Read in full sermon