Why Baptizing Your Child Matters
Overview
This book is written for young families. It avoids the baptism debate while graciously presenting the story of God’s faithful provision, protection, and promise of deliverance for his people given through the sign of the covenant. Beginning with Adam and continuing through Abraham—where the covenant is ratified and developed in the forming of the nation of Israel—it traces through the Scripture 1) God’s common grace for all people, 2) his covenant grace for believers and their children received through the sign of the covenant, and 3) his saving grace applied through faith. The reader is shown how the same levels of grace are given in a deeper and fuller way upon the finished work of Jesus Christ. The themes of provision, protection, and deliverance are applied to our present day. The book concludes by taking the reader through five questions commonly asked of parents and congregations during the baptism ceremony.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Discusses the way God cares for his people through the subject of baptism
- Addresses the big questions surrounding child baptism
- Provides ample scriptural background to support the thesis of the volume
- Examines the five questions present in a baptism ceremony
- To Be Known
- Why Abraham Matters
- The Making of a Nation
- The Coming of Christ
- Same Seal, New Sign
- The Baptism Service
Top Highlights
“The first is that as parents, we must be committed to living out the gospel in front of our children” (Page 40)
“Baptism was now the sign of citizenship into that community” (Page 29)
“His official sovereign seal upon it. It was not so much about the person who was circumcised, but the covenant faithfulness of God. It was a gracious sign pointing to the work of His coming Son, who would shed His blood and be cut off for the salvation of His people. It pointed to the hope of the gospel, where those who believe in the finished work of the Son are declared (or accounted as) righteous and given eternal life. At the same time it was a sober reminder that those who rejected or broke the covenant would be punished by death and ‘cut off’ from God’s people.” (Pages 11–12)
“circumcision was both a sign and seal of grace pointing to a far greater reality than one may assume” (Page 11)
“The smaller umbrella that falls under the common grace umbrella is inaugurated at baptism” (Page 32)
What a wonderful book! This isn’t just a book about baptizing children, it’s a book about God’s graciousness and care for his people. Read it and give it to every family you know. They will rise up and call you blessed! And you’ll rise up and call me blessed for commending it to you.
—Steve Brown, professor emeritus, Reformed Theological Seminary, FL
Using a rich biblical theology of the gospel of grace, Bob practically explains how parents should view having their child brought under God’s umbrella of grace. Bob’s years of pastoral ministry and leadership make this a winning resource. Why Baptizing Your Child Matters is helpful, thoughtful, and sound. I recommend you get this book!
—Tom Wood, president, CMM, Inc.
Robert H. Orner is the dean of students and a guest lecturer of practical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has served churches in the United States for over a quarter century.
Reviews
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Scott Robar
5/7/2014
While I agree with infant baptism, I disagree with the way this booklet has been advertised."It avoids the baptism debate while graciously presenting the story of God’s faithful provision, protection, and promise of deliverance for his people given through the sign of the covenant." That's just too simplistic - didn't the vast majority of Israelites die in the wilderness in unbelief while their circumcision was not really circumcision of the heart? Most of Europe baptized their babies; but their churches are now museums. Let's have some humility and credibility with the way that we present paedo-baptism. Neither infant circumcision nor infant baptism were/are a saving grace by any stretch of the imagination - grace alone, faith alone, God's Word alone, Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Not all Israel is Israel - in other words, not all who are outwardly marked as being of Israel are of Israel fully; so also, not all who are outwardly marked as being Christians are Christians fully. However, it is important to be marked. Whether an OT Esau or a NT apostate who was "with us but not of us" - the marking is important, but it is not a grace that saves. That helps to make sense of the apostasy passages in the NT.
Joe Paul
5/6/2014
Michael, there are many things that Christians accept as common practice that are not explicitly in the bible. For instance, that God is a Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; this is not explicitly stated in the bible and yet this has been a teaching of Christianity since the time of the Apostles. When scripture tells us in Acts 16:33 (RSVCE) "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family." we can safely assume that Paul does exactly what he states, that he baptizes the entire household since all are worthy of entrance into the Church. If Baptism saves us (as scripture says) then why would we withhold God's saving grace from an infant?
Michael John Nisbett
5/6/2014
I have one problem with this. It is not Biblical to baptise children. You cannot find it in the word of God.
