Luther's Smaller Catechism on Holy Baptism:

Q: What does such baptizing with water signify?

A: It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Q: Where is this written?

A: St. Paul says Romans, chapter 6 : We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2nd Helvetic Confession III.ii: God Is Three

Notwithstanding we believe and teach that the same immense, one and indivisible God is in person inseparably and without confusion distinguished as Father, Son and Holy Spirit so, as the Father has begotten the Son from eternity, the Son is begotten by an ineffable generation, and the holy Spirit truly proceeds from them both, and the same from eternity and is to be worshipped with both.

A blessed Dobbs Day to all! May God continue to defend the little ones He loves and cement this victory in all 50 states.

https://youtu.be/LkDHuSBBFFU?si=MDOQH4ELSexQ3pDg

The Basis of Paedo-Baptism & Communion

For those who were baptized when mere infants, God regenerates in childhood or adolescence, occasionally even in old age. Thus the utility of baptism is open to the whole period of life, because the promise contained in it is perpetually in force. And it may sometimes happen that the use of the holy Supper, which, from thoughtlessness or slowness of heart does little good at the time, afterward bears its fruit.

-- John Calvin, Consensus Tigurinus, 1549

2nd Helvetic Confession IV.ii: Images of Christ

Although Christ assumed human nature, yet he did not on that account assume it in order to provide a model for carvers and painters. He denied that he had come "to abolish the law and the prophets" (Matt. 5:17). But images are forbidden by the law and the prophets" (Deut. 4:15; Isa. 44:9). He denied that his bodily presence would be profitable for the Church, and promised that he would be near us by his Spirit forever (John 16:7).

2nd Helvetic Confession V.ii: The Due Honor to Be Rendered to the Saints

And in this respect we approve of the opinion of St. Augustine in De Vera Religione: "Let not our religion be the cult of men who have died. For if they have lived holy lives, they are not to be thought of as seeking such honors; on the contrary, they want us to worship him by whose illumination they rejoice that we are fellow-servants of his merits. They aretherefore to be honored by the way of imitation, but not to be adored in a religious manner," etc.

I've had it up to here with KJVO or TR onlyists making a mountain out of a molehill.

Grow up all of you.

Five Axioms of Paedobaptism:

1. Sacraments are God's statements and acts towards His people rather than vice versa.

2. Children from birth are included as full members in all of God's covenants with man.

3. Baptism objectively places one in the Covenant of Grace; yet without faithfulness thereto, only the curses will be recieved.

4. Therefore, we may say with the WCF that baptism coupled with faithfulness truly confers (by the Holy Spirit), union with Christ, regeneration, and remission of sins.

5. While this efficacy is not tied to the moment of administration, nor is God bound to those means, we must take God at His promise that the word together with the sacraments are the ordinary means of salvation and not be wiser than God and meet Him on our terms.

The solution to the church's liberalism is not a reconquista but repentance.

The consistent losses of conservatives is God punishing us for our faithlessness. We examine speck in our brethren's eyes and neglect the log in our own.

We fail to rebuke the sins common to ourselves, such as gossip, divorce and remarriage, failure to raise children in the Lord, the immodesty of dress in our women, and the lustful eyes of our men. We fail to knock down our own idols of sloth, entertainment, pride, and ease.

Only once we cease our airs of superiority and repent will God again smile on us.

2nd Helvetic Confession VI.i: All Things Are Governed by the Providence of God

We believe that all things in heaven and on earth, and in all creatures, are preserved and governed by the providence of this wise, eternal and almighty God. For David testifies and says: "The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down upon the heavens and the
earth?" (Ps. 113:4 ff.).

Playlist: Traditional Hymns w/ Organ

This is a playlist I have begun creating by selecting the very best recordings which have a triad of 1) musical excellence, 2) theological accuracy, and 3) a reverent tone.

Feel free to share and make suggestions.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6RjC7tpYSHxJErwazXzrsSrphVxdoPLb&si=6BjN7J2_PgPQkEc2

"The Thief on the Cross" Is a Bad Argument

Frequently trotted out in an attempt to rebut baptismal efficacy (particularly the stronger Lutheran and Roman flavors), this vingette proves to be a very weak rejoinder.

The entire situation takes place  before Christ instituted the sacrament of Christian Baptism in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16), so his lack of baptism proves nothing more than Jeremiah's lack of baptism.

Anachronism aside, Protestants have always held that sacramental efficacy is not derived ex opere operato but by God's Word and Covenant united with the water. Yet Jesus gave the very same word He gives to us in baptism to the thief on the cross: "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

Thirdly, in didactic contexts, both Peter (1 Pet. 3:21) and Paul (Titus 3:5) clearly teach baptism saves. The narrative is not necessarily normative.

Finally, just because we confess with St. Peter that baptism now saves us, we do not deny that we are saved by faith (Eph. 2:8). Nor do we deny being saved by repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). Rather than pitting Scripture against itself, we ought to follow the same St. Peter in linking them: "Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38).

Great talk, especially for women who struggle to understand male detachment from feminized churches.

https://youtu.be/ixnhkltjeTA?si=Nsp4LhHwNVoYTuSU

A blessed "Presbyterian Revolt" day to you all. May we reflect on the Fifth Commandment and thank God for the kindness He still mercifully shows this country for our forefathers' faithfulness.

We pray for those in authority, that they may come to a knowledge of the truth and obey the law-word of God.

May we begin to live in such a way as to beget similar blessings to our own offspring and descendants.

It is rare to find a preacher who will condemn the sins of the age and the wider culture.

It is even more rare to find a preacher who will condemn the sins of the church.

Yet "judgement begins with the household of God," and Jesus directed His rebukes not to the Gentiles but to faithless Israelites.