Podcast Summary: "What Is Baptism?"

Podcast: Doctrine Matters with Kevin DeYoung
Host: Kevin DeYoung
Episode Date: November 11, 2025

Main Theme

This episode offers an accessible yet theologically robust exploration of baptism from a Reformed, paedobaptist (infant baptism) perspective. Kevin DeYoung walks listeners through the biblical meaning of baptism, explains its theological underpinnings, contrasts paedo- and credobaptist views, and addresses frequent questions about its mode and recipients. The episode is designed to clarify contentious points while encouraging unity around essential truths.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shared Foundations: What Does Baptism Mean?

• Baptism as a Sign and Seal:
  • Both paedobaptists (infant baptism) and credobaptists (believer's baptism) agree on core symbolism: water signifies "washing away [and] forgiveness of sins" (01:41).
  • Baptism points to union with Christ—"incorporation, identification"—and is a “sign and seal of the forgiveness of sins” (02:17).
  • “Baptism saves us… not by removing physical dirt, but by an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (citing Titus, 02:30).
• Warning Element:
  • Water's twofold nature: “Water that saves the righteous is also water that overwhelms the wicked… Noah and his family were brought safely through a water ordeal, so they're saved through water, and the world perished in water” (03:03).

2. Baptism and Old Testament Continuity

• Circumcision Typology:
  • “Circumcision points to the cutting away of the foreskin of the heart, to regeneration, to new life…” (03:30).
  • Baptism parallels circumcision as a covenantal sign, now applied to “adult followers of Jesus and their children” (05:26).
• Continuity of Covenant:
  • “Paul says very clearly [circumcision] pointed to righteousness that comes by faith… Justification, union with Christ, forgiveness, salvation. That's what it pointed to. There's large agreement on these points.” (04:53)
• Scriptural Parallels:
  • References: Genesis, Romans 4, Colossians 2, 1 Corinthians 10.

3. Recipients of Baptism: Why Include Children?

• Biblical Rationale:

  • “As the Gospel spreads... we often see baptism linked to faith in Christ... So baptism is for believers. Absolutely. And for their children. That's the controversial part.” (05:04)
  • Old Covenant model: “God marked the covenant people with the sign of circumcision… symbol of the cutting away of the fleshiness of the heart… administered to adult followers... and their children.” (05:16)

• Jesus and Children:

  • Mark 10:14: “If Christ lays his hands on children, blesses them partakers of the covenant, he welcomes them as citizens in the kingdom, why would we not apply that sign... to children?” (06:36)

    “Surely he does not mean to such as these, but obviously not any of these. No, he means these children. Nursing infants is the Greek word. To these little ones, they have to be little.”
    (Kevin DeYoung, 07:05)

• Covenant Language Continued:

  • “Peter uses covenant language: ‘for you and for your children’… The Abrahamic covenant had not been annulled… The New Covenant replaces the Old covenant… Paul makes this point. The Abrahamic covenant has not been abrogated.” (07:28)

• Addressing Children as Believers:

  • “Ephesians 6: Children, obey your parents in the Lord… Paul is addressing them as those who have the Lord Jesus.” (08:08)
  • “Every time I baptize a child, I say, and it is our prayer, that they will make all of these promises their own, and they will follow the Lord Jesus all the days of their life.” (08:29)

4. The Lord’s Supper vs. Baptism: Active vs. Passive Signs

• Nature of the Sacraments:
  • “God gives these two signs. One is active, to be repeated. One is passive and signifies initial incorporation.” (10:26)
  • Analogy: Baptism is “a naming ceremony, where someone else gives to you your family name. One is passive, one is active.” (11:23)

5. The Mode of Baptism: Sprinkling or Immersion?

• Word Study & Biblical Precedence:
  • “My Baptist friends… would say… the very word baptizo in Greek means to immerse... You haven't been baptized if you haven't been immersed. Well, we could be convinced that baptito means immerse, and immerse infants. They do that in the Greek Orthodox Church… But I would argue... there are shades and varieties and overlapping themes with these baptism words.” (12:38)
• Old Testament Practice:
  • “Sprinkling in most reformed churches, that's how it's done. Sprinkling has much more Old Testament precedence than immersion. You were sprinkled with the blood as a covenant people.” (13:13)
• New Testament Cases:
  • Pentecost: 3,000 believers were baptized “and yet there is no large body of water near the Old City. Baptism… was almost certainly by some means besides immersion.” (14:04)
  • Acts 8 – Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch: “Even here, the case for immersion... is not strong... both went down into the water, and then they both came out... It's better to think they both walked down into water. And then Philip baptized by sprinkling, by pouring.” (14:54)
  • Romans 6 imagery: “The imagery… is about union with Christ more than about literally going up and down.” (15:47)
• Summary Quote:

  “In short, baptism does not have to be by immersion. Washing with water is the important part.”
  (Kevin DeYoung, 17:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Unity in Essentials:

  "This is obviously going to be one area where many good Bible believing Christians disagree… But let's start more broadly. What does baptism mean? I agree here we can start where there's agreement…"
  (Kevin DeYoung, 00:40)

• On Christ’s Welcome of Children:

  “If Christ lays his hands on children, blesses them partakers of the covenant, he welcomes them as citizens in the kingdom, why would we not apply that sign... to children?”
  (Kevin DeYoung, 06:36)

• On Practical Concerns:

  “Can I really teach my kids to sing ‘Jesus loves me’? What if they're... What do I know? Jesus really loves them. Well, yes, they are part of this covenant community.”
  (Kevin DeYoung, 08:52)

• On Paedobaptism and Faith:

  “Every time I baptize a child, I say, and it is our prayer, that they will make all of these promises their own, and they will follow the Lord Jesus all the days of their life. Do not presume regeneration. Neither do we presume that the Lord is doing nothing in their hearts.”
  (Kevin DeYoung, 08:29)

• On the Mode of Baptism:

  “Baptism, I would argue… It's about identification… The Word speaks of a spiritual reality more than a specific physical rite.”
  (Kevin DeYoung, 16:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:40] — Introduction to baptism and acknowledgment of Christian disagreement
• [01:41] — Meaning and symbolism of baptism
• [03:03] — Warning element: water as judgment and salvation
• [05:16] — Old Testament background and paedobaptist argument
• [06:36] — Jesus, the kingdom, and including children
• [08:08] — Addressing children in Ephesians and covenant inclusion
• [10:26] — Lord’s Supper vs. baptism: active vs. passive sacramental signs
• [12:38] — The Greek word "baptizo" and the question of mode
• [14:04] — Practical examples from Acts
• [17:00] — Conclusion on the mode: “washing with water” as essential

Conclusion

Kevin DeYoung provides a thoughtful, biblical, and historically aware case for infant baptism while affirming common ground with Baptists and others. The episode offers practical insights, addresses scriptural arguments for and against paedobaptism, and demonstrates gracious engagement with differing Christians—all aimed at deepening listeners' understanding and love for God's covenant and His Church.