The transcript of my naming ceremony, administered by the late Dr. Greg Bahnsen.
"[Baptism] witnesses and seals unto us the remission of sins and the restoral of all the gifts of salvation through union with Christ. Baptism with water signifies and seals cleansing from sin by the blood and the Spirit of Christ, together with our death unto sin and our resurrection unto newness of life by virtue of the death and resurrection of Christ. Since these gifts of salvation are the gracious provision of the triune God, who was pleased to claim us as His very own, we are baptized into the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And since baptized persons are called upon to assume the obligations of the covenant, baptism summons us to renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh, and to walk humbly before our God in devotion to His commandments. I hope you remember the words of the sermon this morning, that as this child is set apart then, covenantally unto God, Joseph must grow up to assume the obligations of that covenant and live like a consecrated jurat / child (I'm not sure which he says; either works). Although our young children don't yet understand these things, they are nevertheless to be baptized. The promise of the covenant is made to believers AND to their seed, as God declared to Abraham, "I will establish my covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee, throughout your generations, for an everlasting covenant." In the new dispensation, no less than in the old, the seed of the faithful, born within the church, have, by virtue of their birth, an interest in the covenant and a right to the seal of it and the outward privileges of the church. As I said this morning [in the sermon], they are clean and holy in God's sight, set apart from the world. For the covenant of grace is the same in substance under both dispensations, and the grace of God, for the consolation of believers, is even more fully manifested in the new dispensation. Moreover, our Savior admitted little children into His presence, embracing and blessing them, and saying "Of such is the kingdom of God." And so the children of the covenant are by baptism distinguished from the world, and solemnly received into the visible church. And that's what we're about to do here with Joseph. I'm glad that he's happy now and then... [I'd been making awkward newborn noises] ... joyful child.
I have a couple questions I want to address to his parents.
To David and Sunhee, do you acknowledge that although your child is conceived and born in sin, therefore subject to condemnation, he is in Christ holy, and as a member of His church, [he] ought to be baptized?
(My parents said, 'We do.')
Do you promise to instruct your child in the principles of our holy Lord, as revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and summarized in the confession of faith and catechisms of this church, and do you promise to pray with and for Joseph, set an example of piety and godliness before him, and by all means of God's appointment to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
(My parents said, 'We do.')
David (for my father was holding me), what is your child's full name?
(My father said, 'Joseph David Pollard.')
Joseph David Pollard, child of the covenant, I baptize you into the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let's pray.
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You have shed Your blood to cleanse us from sin. And we do thank You for the reminder of that grace and mercy [unto sin] in this sacrament of baptism. We thank You that You did mark us when we were unloved, that You did clean us when we were filthy in Your sight, that You did offer Your life when we were dead in our trespasses and sin. We do pray that You would draw our hearts to You, as we are reminded of this visible sign of Your word on our behalf. And Lord we ask also that You would make our hearts {thankful} as we see that You care for our children, for our loved ones, those who are a part of our own household; that You not only extend Your saving mercy to us as believers, but to our children as well. How we thank You for dear Joseph, we do thank You for his young life. We thank You that You have made him strong and healthy; we do pray that You would help him to grow not only physically strong, but that he might grow to be spiritually strong as well. We pray that he would not forget, that his parents would not allow him to forget, that he is different from the world: he has been set apart to You, that he indeed belongs to You. We pray that he would grow up and lead a consecrated life, a holy life before You, that he might profess faith in his savior, even as his parents have done so today. I pray that You would bless David and Sunhee, that You would give them wisdom as they raise their child. I pray that You would give them perseverance, consistency, that they would raise Joseph in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I pray that You help them set an example of piety and godliness before him. I ask that You give them a rich blessing and happy hearts as seek him to grow, that they would enjoy not only the outward life in this world that he has because of Your love and blessing, but above all, that they would anticipate living with him for all eternity, because of the way in which You give him new life. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for these many common blessings we have in Your blessed name. Amen."
"[Baptism] witnesses and seals unto us the remission of sins and the restoral of all the gifts of salvation through union with Christ. Baptism with water signifies and seals cleansing from sin by the blood and the Spirit of Christ, together with our death unto sin and our resurrection unto newness of life by virtue of the death and resurrection of Christ. Since these gifts of salvation are the gracious provision of the triune God, who was pleased to claim us as His very own, we are baptized into the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And since baptized persons are called upon to assume the obligations of the covenant, baptism summons us to renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh, and to walk humbly before our God in devotion to His commandments. I hope you remember the words of the sermon this morning, that as this child is set apart then, covenantally unto God, Joseph must grow up to assume the obligations of that covenant and live like a consecrated jurat / child (I'm not sure which he says; either works). Although our young children don't yet understand these things, they are nevertheless to be baptized. The promise of the covenant is made to believers AND to their seed, as God declared to Abraham, "I will establish my covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee, throughout your generations, for an everlasting covenant." In the new dispensation, no less than in the old, the seed of the faithful, born within the church, have, by virtue of their birth, an interest in the covenant and a right to the seal of it and the outward privileges of the church. As I said this morning [in the sermon], they are clean and holy in God's sight, set apart from the world. For the covenant of grace is the same in substance under both dispensations, and the grace of God, for the consolation of believers, is even more fully manifested in the new dispensation. Moreover, our Savior admitted little children into His presence, embracing and blessing them, and saying "Of such is the kingdom of God." And so the children of the covenant are by baptism distinguished from the world, and solemnly received into the visible church. And that's what we're about to do here with Joseph. I'm glad that he's happy now and then... [I'd been making awkward newborn noises] ... joyful child.
I have a couple questions I want to address to his parents.
To David and Sunhee, do you acknowledge that although your child is conceived and born in sin, therefore subject to condemnation, he is in Christ holy, and as a member of His church, [he] ought to be baptized?
(My parents said, 'We do.')
Do you promise to instruct your child in the principles of our holy Lord, as revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and summarized in the confession of faith and catechisms of this church, and do you promise to pray with and for Joseph, set an example of piety and godliness before him, and by all means of God's appointment to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
(My parents said, 'We do.')
David (for my father was holding me), what is your child's full name?
(My father said, 'Joseph David Pollard.')
Joseph David Pollard, child of the covenant, I baptize you into the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let's pray.
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You have shed Your blood to cleanse us from sin. And we do thank You for the reminder of that grace and mercy [unto sin] in this sacrament of baptism. We thank You that You did mark us when we were unloved, that You did clean us when we were filthy in Your sight, that You did offer Your life when we were dead in our trespasses and sin. We do pray that You would draw our hearts to You, as we are reminded of this visible sign of Your word on our behalf. And Lord we ask also that You would make our hearts {thankful} as we see that You care for our children, for our loved ones, those who are a part of our own household; that You not only extend Your saving mercy to us as believers, but to our children as well. How we thank You for dear Joseph, we do thank You for his young life. We thank You that You have made him strong and healthy; we do pray that You would help him to grow not only physically strong, but that he might grow to be spiritually strong as well. We pray that he would not forget, that his parents would not allow him to forget, that he is different from the world: he has been set apart to You, that he indeed belongs to You. We pray that he would grow up and lead a consecrated life, a holy life before You, that he might profess faith in his savior, even as his parents have done so today. I pray that You would bless David and Sunhee, that You would give them wisdom as they raise their child. I pray that You would give them perseverance, consistency, that they would raise Joseph in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I pray that You help them set an example of piety and godliness before him. I ask that You give them a rich blessing and happy hearts as seek him to grow, that they would enjoy not only the outward life in this world that he has because of Your love and blessing, but above all, that they would anticipate living with him for all eternity, because of the way in which You give him new life. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for these many common blessings we have in Your blessed name. Amen."
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