The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Monergism

William,

It surely sounds like you are defending your denomination rather than the error they embrace? As to your question as to where I got the version of the "Form for the Baptism of Infants", it was scanned in from the back of the Psalter Hymnal which was dated some 40 years old. As I mentioned before, in most all of the Dutch Reformed churches I have attended who used this hymnal which contained the Three Forms of Unity and various forms for baptism, the Lord's Supper, etc., this Form was included and used. I say again, as a student for the ministry in one of the conservative Dutch Reformed churches, this "Form for the Baptism of Infants" was the OFFICIAL form that was and had to be used. Additionally, this same form was used and taught in the PRC seminary as their OFFICIAL form for the administration of the baptism of infants in their congregations. And to make it clear once again which evidently I have not done, the colored portions were colored by me to point out those portions in the Form which teach "presumptive regeneration".

Let's try to focus upon what the FORM itself says and discuss the proper understanding of it. I think it will be far more profitable than wasting time debating whether the form is "officially" accepted as the form used in infant baptism.

What does it mean that the children of believers brought for baptism are "sanctified in Christ"? Can you give Scriptural evidence to support your understanding?

1. What does it mean that "Thou [God] has forgiven us and our children all our sins through the blood of Christ"?

2. What does it mean that these children are received through the Holy Spirit as members of Thine only begotten Son [Christ]"?

3. What does it mean to be "adopted as children"?

4. What does it mean that these children are "sealed and confirmed unto us by holy baptism"?

5. What do the words "always govern these children by Thy Holy Spirit"? Who are governed by the Spirit and nurtured in the Christian faith?

6. Who is it that can "grow and increase in the Lord Jesus Christ... shown to them"?

7. Lastly, in regard to the view that is founded upon what this Form teaches, i.e., "We are to look upon our children as Christians unless they deny the faith." Is it possible for a child to be considered and even deemed a Christian, i.e., to be in Christ and then for that child to fall away or to be considered never regenerate?

I have never mentioned anything about the regeneration of infants dying in infancy. That there may be the rare exception that regeneration is given to an unborn child who lives is true. The Westminster Confession of Faith rightly states that "III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word." (Chapter X, article III) The doctrine of infant regeneration is nowhere taught in Scripture as a universal doctrine which applies to all or even to the majority of infants. Instances of regeneration in the womb are extremely rare, two of which come to mind are Jeremiah and John the Baptist.

So, please take time to answer the above questions so we can come to a right understanding of the Form through the teaching of Scripture. THANKS

In His grace,