Fred Malone > Quotes

“Rather, confessional doctrine should be necessarily contained in Holy Scripture.”
― Fred Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism

“It is now my clear understanding that baptism is the outward sign of entrance into the New Covenant by the inward circumcision of the heart, the circumcision of Christ. This inward circumcision is exhibited outwardly by one’s personal repentance and confession of Christ as Lord and is signified to others by the baptism of disciples alone. This is credobaptism. As the Old Testament children entered the Abrahamic Covenant through circumcision of the flesh, sealed individually by the righteousness of faith, so our New Covenant children enter the New Covenant by the individual circumcision of the heart, sealed by the Holy Spirit, revealed in their confession of faith, and signified by the sign of the baptism—the baptism of disciples alone.”
― Fred Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism

“Even if one could infer infant baptism as a plausible consequence of certain Scriptural teachings, as pearls strung on a string, it would still contradict all that the Scripture positively institutes, instructs and provides as examples concerning the subjects of baptism which is expressly set down in Scripture. Good and necessary inference is not a valid hermeneutic when defining the subjects of a sacrament supposedly “instituted by Christ” (WCF 21:5).”
― Fred Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism

“Dr. Martensen says that, “baptism, as a human ceremony, is an act of confession, by which a person is admitted into Christ’s church”; that “the sacraments, as acts of the church, are chiefly to be viewed as acts of profession (notae professionis), visible, sensible acts, by participating in which, each person indeed confesses his Lord and the church.” Mr. Watson says: “That Christ is”
― Fred Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism

“And one error will lead to another. I believe that this is why our Presbyterian brethren are struggling over Theonomy, paedocommunion and normative worship practices. The acceptance of paedobaptism inevitably opens the door to these other errors. This also explains why many Baptists, ignorant of New Testament priority and the regulative principle of worship, have adopted normative worship practices and have lost many to paedobaptist churches. Both paedobaptists and Baptists who violate the principle that “the Old is in the New revealed” are quickly led down other paths.”
― Fred Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism

“Dr. Martensen says that, “baptism, as a human ceremony, is an act of confession, by which a person is admitted into Christ’s church”; that “the sacraments, as acts of the church, are chiefly to be viewed as acts of profession (notae professionis), visible, sensible acts, by participating in which, each person indeed confesses his Lord and the church.”
― Fred Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism

“The broader “normative principle” requires what is commanded in Scripture and additionally permits whatever is not prohibited. This is why the Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists and others who hold to this principle draw upon the Old Testament priesthood and the use of vestments, utensils, altars and so forth in their worship by erroneous inference. Roman Catholics have done this in an extended way. Today, even conservative Baptists, Presbyterians and others follow the normative principle under the name of “creative worship practices,” adding drama, dance, movies, puppets and such. Often, justification for such non-instituted practices comes from erroneous inferences from the Old Testament.”
― Fred Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism