What About Baptism for Children?

What about baptism for children? When should children be baptized? With baptisms coming up on Easter I preached on evidences of salvation. I wanted to help equip families to determine whether their children should be baptized. Also, these are good evidences to look for in anyone’s life, child or adult alike. I have looked for these evidences in my life when examining my salvation, and I hope you will do the same. This is part two of a three-part series. Here are parts one and three: Credobaptism vs Paedobaptism: Which Is Right? Spiritual Circumcision of the Heart (Colossians 2:11-12 and Romans 2:28-2) https://youtu.be/TezVZLrCFf0 What about baptism for children? When should children be baptized? I want to equip families to determine if their children should be baptized. Table of Contents for What About Baptism for Children?Sermon Lessons for What About Baptism for Children?Family Worship Guide for What About Baptism for Children?Sermon Notes for What About Baptism for Children?Lesson one: evidences of salvation to look for in your children (part four) spiritual understanding.Lesson one: evidences of salvation to look for in your children (part five) perseverance through trials.Lesson one: evidences of salvation to look for in your children (part six) not habitually disobedient.Lesson one: evidences of salvation to look for in your children (part seven) obedience.Lesson two: focus on the Gospel when evidences are lacking. Sermon Lessons for What About Baptism for Children? Note: parts one through three are from Part I: When Should Children Be Baptized? Three Evidences of Salvation. Lesson 1: evidences of salvation to look for in your children: (Part 1) godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). (Part 2) spiritual fruit (Matthew 3:8, 7:19, 13:23, Acts 26:20, James 2:17, 20, 26). (Part 3) spiritual hunger and thirst (John 4:13-15, 6:35, 66, Luke 6:21, 25, 1 John 2:15, John 3:19). (Part 4) spiritual __________________________ (Matthew 11:25, 13:11, 16:17, 1 Corinthians 2:7-14). (Part 5) perseverance _____________ ____________ (James 1:3, 1 Peter 1:7, Matthew 13:21). (Part 6) not habitually ______________________ (1 John 1:6, 8, 3:6-9). (Part 7) __________________ (1 John 2:3-5, 3:7). Lesson 2: focus on ______ ____________ when evidence is lacking. Family Worship Guide for What About Baptism for Children? Day 1: Read Matthew 11:25, 13:11, 16:17, 1 Corinthians 2:7-14, James 1:3, 1 Peter 1:7, Matthew 13:21 and discuss: why do some people understand spiritual truths, but others do not? What can we do to strive to better understand spiritual truths? How can we try to determine if our children understand spiritual truths? We don’t like to see our children suffer, but what is one of the benefits of seeing them go through trials? Day 2: Read 1 John 1:6, 8, 3:6-9, 1 John 2:3-5, 3:7 and discuss: how can it be true that we don’t stop sinning on this side of heaven, but at the same time Scripture says habitually disobedient people are not Christians? Similarly, we don’t perfectly obey on this side of heaven, but at the same time Scripture says that Christians are obedient, so how can this be? In other words, discuss the balance for both of these situations. Day 3: Read John 4:13-15, 6:35, 66, Luke 6:21, 25, 1 John 2:15, John 3:19 and discuss: what is the temptation for parents when we don’t see evidences of salvation in our children’s lives? What is the wrong approach? What is the right approach? In other words, what is the best way for us to see these evidences in our children’s lives? Sermon Notes for What About Baptism for Children? The title of this morning’s sermon is, “When Should Children Be Baptized? – Part II.” With baptisms coming up on Easter I started preaching a few sermons to help equip the families determine whether their children should be baptized. That’s exactly what we are doing as a family. 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 these should be helpful. Also, these are good evidences to look for in anyone’s life, child or adult alike. I have looked for these evidences in my life, and I hope you will do the same. Go ahead and open your Bibles to Matthew 11. The next part of lesson one, which is new for this morning… Lesson one: evidences of salvation to look for in your children (part four) spiritual understanding. Scripture is clear that if we are believers God has opened the eyes and ears of our hearts to understand spiritual truths. Let me show you some verses that make this point, and then we can talk about the application for our children. In verses 20 to 24 notice Jesus is talking about the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida. These people rejected the gospel, which is to say they rejected the spiritual truth preached to them. Look what Jesus says in verse 25… Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you HAVE HIDDEN THESE THINGS from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; These cities had spiritual truths hidden from them, but the same spiritual truths are revealed to little children. Jesus isn’t talking about little children physically. He’s talking about little children spiritually, which is to say new believers. The point is believers, even baby ones, understand spiritual truths. Look two chapters to the right at Matthew 13. The context is Jesus preached the parable of the sower. In verse 10 the disciples asked him why he spoke in parables, and then look at his answer in verse 11… Matthew 13:11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. So there are 2 groups: Believers, who have been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven Unbelievers, and understanding and spiritual insight have not been given to them Turn to the right to 1 Corinthians 2. Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians. We could have sermons on each of these evidences, and in the past I have preached on them and taught on them in Sunday school. But I’m trying to get this done before Easter, so you’re getting an elevated view that doesn’t cover all the verses for each evidence. With that in mind, 1 Corinthians 2, is probably the clearest teaching on this particular evidence in all of Scripture. The context is Paul is talking about preaching Christ. Look at verse 7… 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we impart a SECRET AND HIDDEN WISDOM of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.  This is just like Jesus said. Who is this secret and hidden wisdom secret and hidden from? Unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  This makes sense: obviously if they believed the gospel they would not have crucified Christ. Now Paul changes direction and talks about believers… 1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” 10 these things God HAS REVEALED TO US through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.  Notice Paul’s use of the word us. He’s including himself because he’s talking about believers who have had spiritual truths revealed to them. 1 Corinthians 2:11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  Notice the word we, like the word us, because Paul is including himself with other believers. The Holy Spirit helps us understand spiritual truths. 1 Corinthians 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths TO THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUAL. Those who are spiritual is a way to refer to believers, and spiritual truths have been imparted to us. In contrast look what he says about unbelievers… 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Just like those who are spiritual refers to believers, the natural person refers to unbelievers…who find spiritual truths foolish, because they’re not able to understand them: John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 1 John 2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. There are quite a few other verses I could give you, but you get the point. Believers understand spiritual truths and unbelievers don’t. Let’s consider what application this has for our children… You’ve probably heard me say many times that we must be Christian families who worship more than just on Sundays. What that means is as families, Monday through Saturday, we should be praying, reading the Word together, maybe singing. This allows us to see if our children understand spiritual truths. If we don’t talk about spiritual truths with our children, will not be able to see if they understand them.