Crossing the Waters: From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism Part I
Part 1 - Why This Matters
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” —Acts 2:38–39
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” —Romans 6:3–4
This blog series is partly a follow-up to a reel I recently posted on my personal social media, which included a clip from three years ago in which I introduced myself to Dr. Mohler at a Q&A session in a Baptist church. In that moment, I said I was Presbyterian. Then it cuts to me leading worship at the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention, now identifying as a Baptist.
That transition invites questions, and this series is my way of providing clarity.
My spiritual background is far from straightforward: baptized as an infant at Sarang Church in Seoul, nurtured in a Pentecostal church after moving to the U.S., baptized as a believer at a non-denominational church in Boston, then growing up in a sequence of Presbyterian churches in Charlotte (PCUSA → OPC → PCA), where I took infant baptism primarily for granted, shaped by covenant theology.
For years, I had embraced infant baptism as part of that covenantal framework, grounded in the faithful teaching I received from RUF in college and Presbyterian doctrine.
But when I started dating a Baptist with marriage and parenting in view, the question of baptism became urgent in a new way. It wasn’t just theological theory anymore. It touched the heart of how we would raise children, live out faith, and teach what Scripture says about the sign and seal of God’s covenant promises.
I knew then I needed to re-examine baptism and the covenant hermeneutic carefully. I genuinely desired to follow Christ’s Word with integrity and humility.
The more I studied Scripture, the more I found myself asking questions, not only about when someone should be baptized, but about what baptism means. Is it a sign of a covenant people that includes believers and their children? Or is it a sign of personal union with Christ, applied to those who have been born again by the Spirit?
Over time, these questions began to weigh heavily on me. I’m not a theologian by profession, but I take doctrine seriously because I take discipleship seriously. Baptism is not just a denominational distinctive—it’s a matter of obedience, ecclesiology, and covenant theology. And for me, it became essential to re-examine what God’s Word truly says about it.
Why Write About Baptism?
Baptism can feel like one of those topics we’re supposed to agree to disagree on quietly. And while we absolutely must strive for unity and charity—especially in secondary matters—we also must not treat baptism as unimportant or peripheral. It is, after all, one of the two ordinances Christ gave His church.
Baptism is a public declaration of union with Christ. It is a sign of entrance into the visible church and an affirmation of gospel identity. As Romans 6 reminds us, we are baptized into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. And as Acts 2 shows us, baptism is the visible response to the gospel, intimately tied to repentance and the new covenant promise.
So this matters.
It matters because our theology should align with our practice, and vice versa.
It matters because how we view baptism shapes how we shepherd, parent, disciple, and worship.
And it matters because baptism, when rightly understood, points us to the beauty of the gospel and the covenantal faithfulness of God.
In this series, I’ll walk through how this shift unfolded—not suddenly, but slowly, prayerfully, and with a deep sense of gratitude for every chapter God has written in my life. I’ll reflect on the traditions that shaped me, the Scriptures that challenged me, the theology that formed me, and the decision that ultimately brought me into closer alignment with what I believe baptism signifies.
Here’s what’s coming:
A look back at how God’s providence guided me through diverse theological traditions
Analysis of scripture: Jeremiah 31, Romans 6, Hebrews 8, Acts 2, and more
A fresh look at covenant theology—especially the differences between classical Reformed and progressive covenantal views
A survey of church history, especially the often-overlooked legacy of credobaptism
A personal reflection on how I came to rest in this conviction with joy and peace
