Answering Objections to Infant Baptism - Part 3 - Can Infants Repent and Believe?

In this new series, Pastors Zac and Brandon answer objections to Infant Baptism. This episode explores the question: Can infants repent and believe? The Reformed have argued that children of believing parent(s) have the "habit," "seed," or "inclination" to faith. Listen to how many Reformed theologians described the children of believers:

1. 1. Herman Bavinck: Based upon God’s promise and His ordinary working, a “judgement of charity” is extended to children of believers. 
   2. Henry Bullinger: “Children [of believing parents] are God’s; therefore they have the Spirit of God.”
   3. Zacharias Ursinas: "Faith is, indeed, necessary to the use of baptism with this distinction. Actual faith is required for adults, and an inclination to faith in infants…. Infants born of believing parents have faith as to inclination…. Infants do believe after their manner, or according to the condition of their age; they have an inclination to faith. Faith is in infants potentially and by inclination, although not actually as in adults.”
   4. Herman Witsius: “We moreover subsume: even the children of believers have received the Holy Spirit: for otherwise they could never be holy.”   
   5. Cornelius Van Til: “I must regard all children of believers as children of God till the contrary appear to be true.”

But is this view substantiated in Scripture? Have a listen! 

For more information, see:

Jeremiah 31: Infant Baptism in the New Covenant (article) by Richard Pratt 

The Church, Baptism, and Faith in the Reformed Tradition (audio) by Mark Jones

Covenant Theology in Hebrews (video) by Jeremy Boothby

Baptism, Covenant, Election (video) by Richard B. Gaffin Jr. 

Why Do We Baptize Our Children? (video) by Richard Pratt 

Infant Baptism (video) by Lingon Duncan 

Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children (book) by Daniel Hyde  

Christian Baptism (book) by John Murray 

Covenantal Baptism (book) by Jason Helopoulos

A Baptist Pastor Embraces Infant Baptism (audio) by J. Brandon Burks 

Ten Reasons to Baptize Your Covenant Children (audio) by Zac Wyse