Water Baptism

“Baptism is not optional if you want to take the Bible seriously” Terry Virgo

February 16, 2011

So far in this series of videos we have seen Terry speak about three values that have shaped his ministry: Building churches that are loving, righteous, caught up in world mission, and evangelistic. The primary place of preaching and the authority of the Bible. The full benefits of grace We move today to the fourth [...]

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Preaching and teaching tips for an Easter sermon

March 29, 2010

Mark Driscoll shares the following 6 Preaching & Teaching Tips for Easter | TheResurgence. He urges Christians to bring their friends to church this weekend.  In the full article he makes a point which should be obvious: this Sunday you MUST speak about the resurrection.  Strangely, I have even heard reports in the past of Easter [...]

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Adrian’s Story Part Three – Water Baptism

May 13, 2009

So far I have shared two parts of my story, and today I will continue where I stopped last time. As a young child, one of my favorite verses was the following: Acts 10:47—“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” My parents found themselves [...]

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Spurgeon On Infant Baptism – An Abomination!

October 28, 2008

I think I will let these words from Spurgeon stand without further comment from me. I’m probably already in enough hot water just for repeating them. Why, there are those who pretend to save souls by curious tricks, intricate manoeuvres, and dexterous posture-making! A basin of water, half-a-dozen drops, certain syllables—heigh, presto—the infant is made [...]

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4th Most Read Post – Sam Storms, John Piper, and John Bunyan Versus Wayne Grudem, Al Mohler, and Mark Dever

February 13, 2008

No. 4 on the list of most-read posts on this blog appeared on August 21, 2007, and was one in a series of posts that catalogued a major debate about baptism and church membership which took place online between such theological heavyweights as John Piper, Sam Storms, Wayne Grudem, Lig Duncan, and Mark Dever. The [...]

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Why Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and Church Membership Differences Exist

August 23, 2007

Lig Duncan has promised us he will write more on the reasons why this debate is not an easy one to resolve. His statement got me thinking, and while I’m still resisting the temptation to state who I agree with, it has rattled around in my brain long enough for me to want to have [...]

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Lig Duncan On the Great Baptism, Church Membership, and Lord’s Supper Debate

August 21, 2007

Lig Duncan has responded resoundingly to both sides of the debate about whether he should be allowed to join a Baptist church. He argues that these differences are important and demonstrate a passion for truth that is critical. Here is just some of what he says: “. . . let me say that this significant [...]

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"Lig Duncan Baptized as a Believer," Reveals Justin Taylor

August 21, 2007

In news that will shake the blogosphere, Justin Taylor has not only shown that he is with Sam Storms on these issues, he has exclusively revealed that Lig Duncan was not baptized as an infant! Anyone questioning his commitment to the Presbyterian cause would no doubt be told “It wasn’t my fault my parents didn’t [...]

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Sam Storms Feels Mark Dever is Confusing on the Lord’s Supper

August 21, 2007

In the comments section of Sam Storms’ contribution to the baptism debate is a comment that is too good to leave there. Here is what the commentator said: Adrian, I think Sam might be misunderstanding Mark’s position. He keeps referring to the idea that Mark would deny a [paedobaptist] (visiting his church, maybe even speaking [...]

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Wayne Grudem Says Sam Storms is Right About the Lord’s Supper

August 21, 2007

In light of Sam Storms’ contribution to the great baptism debate yesterday, Wayne Grudem has sent me an e-mail which includes an extract from his Systematic Theology which, unlike his perspective on baptism and church membership, has not changed recently. The rest of this article was written by Wayne Grudem and is published with permission: [...]

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Sam Storms, John Piper, and John Bunyan vs. Wayne Grudem, Al Mohler, and Mark Dever

August 20, 2007

UPDATEIn January 2008, the following post was identified as the 4th all-time most popular post with readers of this blog. The 5th most-read post was “Steve Chalke and the Lost Message of Jesus.” The 4th most widely-read post was one in a series of posts that catalogued a major debate about baptism and church membership, [...]

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Baptist and PCA Agreements About Baptism

August 19, 2007

Justin Taylor has shared a number of statements on which Mark Dever agreed with David Coffin from the PCA about baptism. The following extracts stood out to me (hence the odd numbering), but they are all worth reading. Do any of you, my readers, disagree with any of these? You will note that, for once, [...]

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Lig Duncan Speaks Up for Paedobaptists

August 17, 2007

Lig has written about his main reasons for believing in paedobaptism. What he hasn’t said is whether he thinks he should be allowed to become a member in a baptist church if he wanted to, or whether a baptist would be free to join his church. Here are Lig’s arguements for christening babies:- 1. God, [...]

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The Pipers Respond to Dever in the Baptism Debate

August 17, 2007

Desiring God has published the following response to Dever’s contribution to the Baptism debate John Piper says- On almost every disagreement that Christians have about what should be believed and what should be done, someone is living in “unrepentant sin”—that is, they are not doing what they ought to do and they are not confessing [...]

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John Bunyan and the Grudem & Dever vs Piper Baptism Debate

August 16, 2007

John Bunyan has been brought in to butress Piper’s posisiton which had suffered from the declaration of Dever for the other side. This remains a very good natured discussion, and demonstrates clearly the ability to be united around the gospel but disagree on secondary issues. Aaron Menikoff of the 9Marks Blog begins his post as [...]

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Mark Dever Joins the Grudem vs Piper Baptism Debate

August 16, 2007

I am really enjoying the latest debate on baptism and church membership. My “lite blogging” plan for August has so far prevented me from entering the fray and declaring my own thoughts on it. Mark Dever has now posted briefly about his views. It is great to see some of our theological heroes respectfully disagreeing [...]

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Wayne Grudem Replies to John Piper On Baptism

August 9, 2007

In this “battle” of two of our theological giants, Grudem has struck back, but admits his wife is on Piper’s side on this one! I do not see denial of church membership as “virtually the same as excommunication,” nor do any of the Baptist churches known to me. Non-members who are clearly believers in Jesus [...]

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John Piper Disagrees With Wayne Grudem Over Baptism Graciously

August 9, 2007

As a model of how two friends can honestly, robustly, and yet graciously disagree over an issue of importance, see the following post I have re-titled “Wayne, Wayne, Wayne…”. Justin Taylor has also linked to this, and there is interesting discussion in his comments section. I somehow suspect we may not have seen the last [...]

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Wayne Grudem Changes His Mind on Baptism

August 9, 2007

Last year I intereviewed Wayne Grudem, the leading systematic theologian of our day — at least in terms of readership of his Systematic Theology. He spoke about changing his mind about baptism from a position that it is fine for a church to have a compromise position about it. You can read what he had [...]

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Mark Dever and Ancient Baptistries

May 24, 2007

Mark Dever has been visiting ancient baptistries during his ministry trip to Italy. This picture is of the baptistry in which Ambrose baptised Augustine. Everybody’s favorite Presbyterians, Lig Duncan and David Wayne, will be interested to know some facts about this baptistry. Firstly, it’s BIG — surely only necessary if you are planning to baptise [...]

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