When Should Children Be Baptized? First Three Evidences of Salvation

When should children be baptized? There are basically two views of baptism. One view is paedobaptism, or more commonly known as infant baptism. The word "paedo" means child. Think of a pediatrician, or doctor for babies, and you’ll be able to remember that paedobaptism is baby baptism. This is the view held by Catholics and those Protestant denominations that have the most similarities with Catholicism, such as Presbyterians and Lutherans. We believe these denominations didn’t break away from Catholicism far enough after the Reformation. We reject this view. We don’t believe it originated in the early church. Instead, we believe it originated with the Catholic Church, and is largely a holdover from Catholicism.

The view we hold is credobaptism, or more commonly known as believers’ baptism. Think of the word creed, or confession, and you’ll be able to remember that credobaptism is believers’ baptism, because the idea is those who have confessed Jesus as Lord, or who have a creed they believe in, can be baptized.

Because we believe our children must be saved before being baptized I would like to give you some evidences of salvation to look for in your children’s lives. While no parent can know for sure that their child is saved, I do believe this should be helpful in making that determination.

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00:00 Sermon Lessons for When Should Children Be Baptized?

03:38 Lesson 1: at ______ ______________ play a large part in shepherding their families.

13:48 Lesson 2: __________________ ____ the requirement for baptism (Acts 2:41).

Lesson 3: evidences of salvation to look for in your children:

27:44 • (Part 1) __________ ____________ (2 Corinthians 7:10).

32:12 • (Part 2) __________________ __________ (Matthew 3:8, 7:19, 13:23, Acts 26:20, James 2:17, 20, 26).

42:37 • (Part 3) spiritual ____________ and _____________ (John 4:13-15, 6:35, 66, Luke 6:21, 25, 1 John 2:15, John 3:19).

Family Worship Guide for When Should Children Be Baptized?

Day 1: Read Acts 2:41, 2 Corinthians 7:10 and discuss: what is paedobaptism? What is credobaptism? What is godly sorrow, and what does it lead to/produce? What is worldly sorrow, and what does it produce? What is the difference between both?

Day 2: Read Matthew 3:8, 7:19, 13:23, Acts 26:20, James 2:17, 20, 26 and discuss: why is genuine repentance accompanied by spiritual fruit? For a hint, think of the practice of putting off and putting on. What is the relationship between saving faith and works? What are works, or fruit, we can look for in our children’s lives to be confident in their faith?

Day 3: Read John 4:13-15, 6:35, 66, Luke 6:21, 25, 1 John 2:15, John 3:19 and discuss: what does it mean to have a spiritual hunger and thirst? What spiritual truths were Jesus is trying to communicate to the woman at the well? What spiritual truths did Jesus want to communicate to the crowd that followed him after feeding the 5000?