Why I Am PCA

[@happygirl65]

My only regret about joining our local PCA church is that we didn’t do it decades ago.

[@missinglink_eth]

I am not reformed but I love so much of what makes up PCA.

[@heidifluteatl]

Expository teaching drew me to the PCA

[@mmtoss6530]

The tradition pill led me to the PCA.

[@MattDRobertson]

Reformed Baptist here (and haven’t watched video yet). Can I just say that I love how you PCA guys saw that your logo is Jango’s helmet and just full on rolled with it 😂

[@D.E.Metcalf]

This is the way!

[@catfinity8799]

Bruh. I was confused, but now I can't unsee it.

[@ElwinRansom1]

@@D.E.Metcalf This is the Way.

[@karendash3274]

I happened across your channel about a year ago…I was adopted into His family in a unique way and at a very early age and since that time I have been feeling like a fish out of water on my trek to finding a church home…that is until I found your channel and realized… I’m a Reformed Presbyterian! I finally feel at my now advanced age at home..now I am actively seeking a Reformed church here in my own city of St Catharines, Ontario I can’t thank you enough for sharing your wisdom and sense of humour. It is quite evident that you have been abundantly blessed with your gift of communicating. I pray that you continue to enjoy health, happiness and joy in all that you do!😊❤️🙏

[@Brother-Martin]

Still waiting on the video Edwards postmillennialism Eschatology and how that would look like in the future

[@Faithful247]

Love the PCA. Great Christian family. Walked in for the first time as a new Christian and an elder invited me to their home for lunch, and the pastor mentored me for years afterward.

[@jeffholm3503]

I've had a long journey to a PCA church. I'm all in. I would be OK in most truly reformed churches but they are hard to find in my rural area.

[@mmtoss6530]

I just started attending a PCA Church a few months ago. It’s pretty great.

[@toddboucher3302]

Well, I just became because of your teaching I think but I really just became a member of our local PCA church. I was in a good southern Baptist Church with a good pastor we were reformed, but then he moved on and like be a pastor or pastors or something and I was too concerned about who we were going to get and I said and I went over there and I’ve never been happier and it’s just there’s no fluff there’sit’s just the whole thing from beginning to end saturated it just got work and I love it. Thanks between you and RC. Scroll took me a while and you did it immediately.

[@jasonc4430]

I left the Catholic church recently and have been attending various churches across the denomination spectrum. So far the friendliest has been a PCA church. I also liked how they did expository preaching. I did go to a nondenom evangelical social club once and found it troubling.

[@GrantSwanepoel]

I got to know PCA missionaries when they came and led our Bible College in Cape Town some years ago. They all have a special place in my heart. We continue to work with some of them here.

[@Jason-L-Ledford]

While I am a Credo Baptist, I do believe that Gastonia NC where I live needs some PCA Church plants because all we have here in Gastonia NC are PC-USA Churches with the biggest First Presbyterian across the street from my Church which is called Parkwood Baptist Church.

[@2Nickcdj]

Have you checked out first ARP Gastonia? You have two ARP churches less than ten mins from Parkwood.

[@jefflowry4896]

Great video as usual. Thsnk you for them!

[@paulwoodhouse3386]

I currently attend a PCUSA church (mostly for reconquista), but was attending a PCA church just before. Would probably still go there if it weren't so far away. Very solid denomination.

[@mmtoss6530]

I thought about being in the Reconquista, but there are no solid PCUSA Churches near me, so I just stay with the PCA for the better probably, but I’ll be praying for you and for the movement, I’m a pretty big supporter of it, although I’m not in it myself.

[@paulwoodhouse3386]

@@mmtoss6530 Thanks! It helps that I live in small town Iowa, so it's easier to find more moderate churches. It's almost impossible in the city.

[@mmtoss6530]

@@paulwoodhouse3386 I live in a small town too in Texas and the pastor at my local PCUSA Church is woke 😭

[@walkerjohnson9355]

Keep up the good fight, you are doing good work

[@Ratlegion]

Never heard of this movement before today. EXCITING! I will be praying for continual progress. God be with you and your reclamation project.

[@meolson9197]

I’m a member of a PCA church. I would add something important to your list. Because of the Presbyterian polity, in the PCA church members and teaching elders have an appeal process through the church courts to settle disputes. Not many churches or other denominations protect the flock like so well.

[@jamesaburks]

Love PCA. I am part of D.R.P.C. like PCA. It's very honor for me to represent DRPC and an elder for my church, Deaf Reformed Church. Great missions for our LORD! 🙏🤟

[@jamesaburks]

As for comment readers, DRPC- Deaf Reformed Presbyterian Churches. :)

[@craig3540]

Great video.. excellent explanation as to why you are PCA. Just explain to me what the PCA is and what its doctrine and foundation are. This is all the more reason why I am finding myself leaning more and more in the PCA direction. Thank you, Dr. Everhard.

[@donaldmorrison9940]

What I like about the PCA is that the Reformed, conservative wing fights tooth and nail against liberalising tendancies. That's what makes it different from other mainstream Presbyterian denominations and its a big encouragement.

[@billtice5057]

I’m a PCA member and while we are not perfect by any means it’s the best at avoiding messy church split foolishness of any denomination I know of. Love the Book of church order

[@JordanVillarreal]

Hey, Pastor Matt. I had an idea/ question for a video. I am attending seminary and I am doing a lot of writing and open ended question answering. The content and material being discussed is really good. I feel as though this work is helping me retain the info but after that is just being wasted. How can I best save, organize, and categorize material and notes I am creating from my curriculums to use and refer back to in the future? Simply rewriting it all in my Bible would take up too much space and time. Printing it out as is would be too unorganized to be able to refer back to. Thanks for all you do.

[@jjnelso1981]

You have the best shirts

[@MatthewEverhard]

Thank you so much!

[@walterwillis6731]

Good job, Matthew!

[@DutchMcGinnis]

Great video Pastor. I am a member of the PCA but of course, as stated, there are weaknesses. If the PCA, PRC and Free Church of Scotland Continuing merged, for me, that would be amazing and perfect.

[@donaldsproson2494]

Thanks Matt. I attend an independent evangelical church in the UK but would love to experience the UK equivalent of a PCA, but none close to me.

[@tomh3721]

Had this same problem living back home. I’m now in Australia and have a really solid denomination 15 mins away. I really hope back home the Presbyterian churches can start establishing themselves more fully

[@flowerlass]

We have moved to different parts of the US because of my husband's job, so we have been members of several PCA churches. We have found that there is greater variety among PCA churches than what seems to be your experience. We liked the churches overall, especially the traditional worship and how seriously they educated adults, children, and teens about the Bible, theology, how to live an authentic Christian life, etc. The only other thing we were uncomfortable with was that the churches tended to be upper-middle class, not very diverse, and weren't open to people who were different than they were. We felt hesitant to invite people to church because we knew we might be the only ones to speak with them.

[@Psalm13924]

I'm PCA ( came from OPC) what I see as our biggest weakness is our nuanced views lately at the GA on social issues and for me personally I wish we had the stronger stance on RP as the OPC and RPCNA. We have a hymnal with rich hymns and Psalms and its disappointing we sing many of the Contemporary Christian songs ( even those from Sovereign Grace and Intergrity worship) Most contemporary worship music has ties to Charismatic and big Eva

[@johnst.martin8444]

Nice shirt!

[@timsanduleac1646]

Where does one get that awesome T-shirt?

[@brandonl.underwood6264]

This is the way.

[@DK-ss1vu]

Personally I love the PCA. I grew so much theologically in my 20s from attending their churches.

[@timothykeith1367]

In some parts of the U.S. I can't find either PCA or OPC, congregations. I'm not familiar with Lutheran denominations

[@austinrothjr]

“Not some kind of slippery, vanilla, evangellyfish form of evangelicalism where you could walk into any church…and you have no idea what that church believes about anything.” Unfortunately, I recently moved from northern VA to NC. I grew up in the PCA and was a member of a PCA church in northern VA and expected to find a good PCA church near my new home. I also travel with work and have attended maybe 4 other PCA churches in the last year. Unfortunately, I found them to be exactly how you described the PCA to not be. Evangellyfish would be exactly the right description. One pastor said that Israel was “deported” by Babylon, which is the opposite of what happened. The sermons were topical and theologically sloppy. The liturgy was an afterthought, though they talked about how important it was. The female worship director gave mini sermons while playing the normal emotive evangelical piano background music. During Christmas Eve service the three older women that lit the advent candle delivered a two page or so message. Later the pastor said that it was a great message written by the associate pastor. I asked one of the pastors if they practice any Psalmody, to which he said, “No. I mean, we don’t have anything against it but we don’t really do it.” Federal Vision was also called “heresy” during a sermon in the same way antinomianism is. While there may be heretics among Federal Vision adherents there are also brothers in good standing that are pastors in the PCA. The committee said as much. Meanwhile, their women are doing a study by Jen Wilkins who is essentially an insurgent and believes that women should be in elder’s meetings because men just aren’t equipped to take care of women without a woman’s perspective in the room. Her church also has women as “ministers” which she supports while saying of course women can’t be pastors. My former PCA church was also convinced that meeting in person was a matter of obedience during COVID and that to require masks would be extra-biblical. I lived through the vaccine mandates in the military and would find it very hard to go to a church where I doubted if they would defend me should another similar situation happen. I asked the local PCA pastor about that and was told that they viewed masks and closing the church as a way to “love your neighbor” and “a gospel issue” and could commit to not doing the same again. The PCA is far wider theologically and liturgically than I think you acknowledge here. I don’t think it is sustainable since I cannot be comfortable in most PCA churches at this point and I imagine that on the other side is a more evangellyfish family who would be uncomfortable in my former congregation. At least at the OPC I know what I’m going to get.

[@unit2394]

Yes, this is true. I have seen a lot of contemporary worship in the PCA. I have also encountered a broad spectrum in terms of theology on many issues. If I meet someone who is PCA, I can reasonably expect them to hold to TULIP and some other parts of Westminster, but as to what they believe about many other issues, I couldn’t tell you. As to how they are worshipping, it could be all over the place in a lot of ways. I have some friends who go to a PCA church that celebrates the Lord’s Supper weekly using wine. I know of other PCA churches that are almost more mega church like. I guess that’s the case in many denominations though. Overall the I think the PCA is better than a lot of other American denominations, but if you want a more traditional Reformed church, maybe look at the OPC or even RPCNA (though I honestly find the RPCNA to be rather bland liturgically). If you are in an area where there are ARP churches, they generally have more traditional worship than much of the PCA. In terms of things like sacramentology and liturgy, I would say the CREC is probably the best even though I am not sold on paedocommunion and there is a lot of diversity there on many issues also.

[@simeonyves5940]

@@unit2394 The RPCNA was who the late, great, much missed, still much loved, forevermore with the LORD Jesus Christ, Pastor R.C. Sproul served with wasn't it? If so, that is a very strong recommendation indeed!

[@austinrothjr]

@@unit2394 One of the things myself and my family have become convicted of is weekly communion. My 8 year old exclaimed when we visited the local PCA church, “Dad! They forgot to set up communion!” Kind of an amazing thing to notice right away considering she hasn’t been admitted to the table. My older kids immediately thumb through every new church’s bulletin to find a Psalm. Having previously attended a non-denominational church and serving briefly as an elder at one I think most PCA congregants would be more comfortable at any variety of non-denominational churches over a Reformed church that practices the traditional Reformed liturgy.

[@unit2394]

@@simeonyves5940 I do not think Sproul was ever in the RPCNA.

[@unit2394]

@@austinrothjr I became very convinced of weekly Communion starting maybe five or so years ago. It was one of the things that always irked me about Presbyterian churches. So few come to the Lord’s Table weekly. I ended up becoming LCMS due to a variety of reasons however. The general practice here is weekly Communion. At my current parish they do usually do not have Communion on fifth Sundays however, simply having a shorter Matins Service instead of the normal Divine Service. So not perfect, but definitely an improvement from the monthly or quarterly participation in our Lord’s Body and Blood.

[@catfinity8799]

That church with the one pastor trying to fire the other would be mine. The moment I leave for college, I'm finding a traditional Anglican or Reformed church.

[@marty3482]

Where can you buy to Book of church order for the PCA?

[@deutschamerikaner]

As a PCA guy, I will happily admit the RPCNA have a better logo that doesn’t look like star wars 😂

[@jeffwatt4684]

Hey bro does that mean that if I get my green card I can transfer my membership from CanRC to PCA without being vetted 😊 If so, Pittsburgh here I come ! Benefits of NAPARC almost as good as Costco !

[@blchamblisscscp8476]

I agree about the hegemony in the PCA as to the doctrinal standards that are to be upheld. Some other denominations don't have that. Some close friends attend a SBC church, and from what I can tell from them and the pastor, they are almost like Reformed Baptists within the SBC (but not that bound or adherent to the London Baptist Confession of 1789). But then there's Saddleback Church and Elevation Church that look, sound, preach, believe, and accept concepts completely foreign to my friends' chruch, even though they are/were both SBC. You don't know what you'll get.

[@pmachapman]

The PCA's Book of Order is interesting (even if I take some strong exceptions to it), and has served as the template for other churches' books of order (such as the Grace Presbyterian Church of New Zealand). The position papers too, are a hidden gem and something I often consult for their perspectives and (usually) high level of scholarship.

[@jwg5371]

I'm a reformed, was a Baptist (still am in heart), now a Berean by necessity (only denomination locally that has good expository preaching).

[@zaitzeff]

I am mildly studying the topic of if Christians should keep the Sabbath or a Sabbath and I figured I would check on church growth and other factors among the PCA. In terms of weaknesses, well, obviously, the PCA is cessationist and that is a bad flaw, but you probably do not regard me as a reliable authority! Also, right now I am in the Santa Cruz and greater Bay area. There are reportedly no PCA in Santa Cruz and I am not sure what is the distance to the nearest pca. If we search the web for Santa Cruz pca church, the main find on google is a church with women pastors and rainbow attire . . . So maybe that is hint, together with the words progressive on their website, that that response to the google search is not pca. Oh, one of the main churches growing in the greater Bay area is called Vive . . . probably not PCA, but alive in God it seems!

[@classicchristianliterature]

PCA for 1.5 years

[@theworldisharvested]

I've been in the PCA for two years. It's the best church I've ever been a part of. I believe the weakness is the lack of a constitutionally binding book of worship.

[@michealferrell1677]

Have you considered the Confessional Baptist Association ( CBA) ? What is your opinion on 1689 federalism?

[@philniceforo7781]

What would be the main reason for the PCA over the OPC?

[@patrickhenry1030]

Just exactly what is the stance on freemasonry in the PCA?

[@zachbattles9762]

I have a deep love for the PCA (& currently am a member of a PCA church) for many of the reasons you cite here. My only quibbles with the denominations are infant baptism (which I believe is a reasonable misunderstanding of the timing of the sacrament, but not a sin to practice.) and some of the finer mechanics of Calvinism (I don't believe that God making a "standing order" regarding salvation violates His election or Sovereignty. Overall, I think it overanalyzes what is a divine mystery), but such things are minor to me in light of the great love for the Word & for the people that I've seen in my local PCA church. Thank you for your video!

[@blackukulele]

I am just wondering, does the Trinity Hymnal have all the biblical psalms in full? I had a look online, but if they are all there, they seem to be shuffled into the mix of hymns. Thanks.

[@Over-for-now]

When I hear a preacher going on about a religious organization. In Corinthians God says HE will not share His glory with another . So as believers we need to stay with honoring and glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ for His absolute sovereignty

[@bar8665]

Does PCA have women pastors? I thought no, but then seen pics of a woman with the garb on in a PCA nearby.

[@tomberry66]

The PCA does not have any women ordained as pastors. You might have seen a woman in a different Presbyterian denomination. There is also the possibility that an individual church has "gone rogue".

[@danbrown586]

My church isn't part of the PCA, but all our ministers are--which might give you a pretty good guess what my church is. Our senior minister describes the church as "more PCA than the PCA, and as OPC as the OPC." The PCA at its best is very good, but Revoice is a big black eye that I'm not sure they've quite recovered from yet.

[@donaldmorrison9940]

It's a tough one, isn't it? Revoice grew inside the PCA which is a black mark, but the PCA dealt with it. I think we should give credit where it's due.

[@michaelwolfe8888]

I love your channel, Matthew, and I listen routinely. Your work has greatly blessed me. However, while I imagine that yours is a very fine local fellowship, I could not (again) be a part of the PCA. I was a member of a PCA church for over 20 years. Along the way I found the church to be more corporate than biblical, and the local presbytery to be cowardly sycophants relative to the largest church in the presbytery. Other problems have included: 1. the failure of the PCA to stand strong against Revoice; 2. the failure of the PCA to speak against Tim Keller's progressive social justice warrior stance and his support of BioLogos; and, more recently, 3. Kevin DeYoung's pathetic whining about the "Moscow mood." We're it only you I knew as an example of the PCA (and maybe Harry Reeder) then I would think highly of it. And yes, the PCA has an admirably rigorous older scholarly, theological history. Sadly though, I have experienced and know much more about worldly PCA doings (more than I am saying) than to be able to hold it in high regard. Nonetheless, grace to you dear brother.

[@zacharyglasgow5351]

PCA following reformed doctrine, except on the sacraments The original confession of the reformed, the Scott’s confessions says this on the sacraments Chapter 21 - Of the Sacraments As the Fathers under the Law, besides the verity of the sacrifices, had two chief Sacraments, to wit, Circumcision and the Passover, the despisers and contemners whereof were not reputed for God’s people; so do we acknowledge and confess that we now, in the time of the Evangel, have two Sacraments only, instituted by the Lord Jesus, and commanded to be used of all those that will be reputed members of his body, to wit, Baptism and the Supper, or Table of the Lord Jesus, called The Communion of his body and blood. And these sacraments (as well of the Old as of the New Testament) were instituted of God, not only to make a visible difference betwix his people, and those that were without his league; but also to exercise the faith of his children; and by participation of the same sacraments, to seal in their hearts the assurance of his promise, and of that most blessed conjunction, union, and society, which the Elect have with their head, Christ Jesus. And thus we utterly damn the vanity of those that affirm sacraments to be nothing else but naked and bare signs. No, we assuredly believe that by Baptism we are ingrafted in Christ Jesus to be made partakers of his justice, by the which our sins are covered and remitted; and also, that in the Supper, rightly used, Christ Jesus is so joined with us, that he becomes the very nourishment and food of our souls. Not that we imagine any transubstantiation of bread into Christ’s natural body, and of wine in his natural blood (as the Papists have perniciously taught and damnably believed); but this union and communion which we have with the body and blood of Christ Jesus in the right use of the sacraments, is wrought by operation of the Holy Ghost, who by true faith carries us above all things that are visible, carnal, and earthly, and makes us to feed upon the body and blood of Christ Jesus, which was once broken and shed for us, which now is in the heaven, and appeareth in the presence of his Father for us. And yet, notwithstanding the far distance of place, which is betwix his body now glorified in the heaven, and us now mortal in this earth, yet we most assuredly believe, that the bread which we break is the communion of Christ’s body, and the cup which we bless is the communion of his blood. So that we confess, and undoubtedly believe, that the faithful, in the right use of the Lord’s Table, so do eat the body, and drink the blood of the Lord Jesus, that He remaineth in them and they in Him: yea, that they are so made flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, that as the Eternal Godhead hath given to the flesh of Christ Jesus (which of its own condition and nature was mortal and corruptible) life and immortality, so doth Christ Jesus his flesh and blood eaten and drunken by us, give to us the same prerogatives. Which, albeit we confess are neither given unto us at that only time, neither yet by the proper power and virtue of the Sacraments only; yet we affirm that the faithful in the right use of the Lord’s Table have such conjunction with Christ Jesus, as the natural man cannot comprehend: yea, and further we affirm, that albeit the faithful oppressed by negligence, and manly infirmity, do not profit so much as they would at the very instant action of the Supper, yet shall it after bring forth fruit, as lively seed sown in good ground; for the Holy Spirit, which can never be divided from the right institution of the Lord Jesus, will not frustrate the faithful of the fruit of that mystical action. But all this, we say, comes by true faith, which apprehendeth Christ Jesus, who only makes his Sacraments effectual unto us; and, therefore, whosoever slandereth us, as that we affirmed or believed Sacraments to be only naked and bare signs, do injury unto us, and speak against a manifest truth. But this liberally and frankly we must confess, that we make a distinction betwix Christ Jesus, in his natural substance, and betwix the elements in the Sacramental signs; so that we will neither worship the signs in place of that which is signified by them; neither yet do we despise and interpret them as unprofitable and vain; but do use them with all reverence, examining ourselves diligently before that so we do, because we are assured by the mouth of the Apostle, “That such as eat of that bread, and drink of that cup, unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord Jesus.”

[@myselfpoker88]

what I don't like about the PCA is it's calvinist

[@stevebikes995]

I have to admit, your comment made me chuckle; and I am a long time member of the PCA and a Calvinist.

[@myselfpoker88]

God bless you@@stevebikes995

[@ytang3]

Went to the PCA seminary. Former PCA ruling elder. Used to love the PCA. Gotta disagree from the get go. 1) Walk into a PCA church: have no idea what they believe about worship, gays, BLM, women, or a host of other important issues; There is a big variety from PCA church to PCA church about how doctrinal they are. 2) the BCO matters. alot less than the SJC. Pastors can be radically divergent in their views, but if they're not disciplined by the presbytery/GA, you end up with bewildering diversity (in the worst sense); 3) MTW is fine, but MNA doesn't know how to function outside of the South; 4) every presbyterian denomination has a presbytery. But in. thePCA, some presbyteries are just chances to exclude people who aren't "no third use of the law" and such. PCA presbyteries are mini denominations, which I suppose leads to fellowship; 5) Several years ago, the PCA switched from growing to shrinking. PCA church planting is not what it was. 6) I went to CTS. Of the guys I graduated with, fully half admit to never reading a book again, after graduation. There is no system of continuing education and accountability. Among PCA professors, most are more concerned with arguing down the Bauer Hypothesis among unbelieving biblical academician than they are with exploring the word of God for the people of God. That's enough negativity. I'm glad to moved on from the PCA, but there are lots of good things about it. I wish success and continuance to the faithful part of the PCA and a godly death and resurrection to the Side B heretics and the TRs.

[@Ratlegion]

I'll tell you what you did wrong... You have an A in it instead if an O, and the letters are all out of order! 😂

[@austinrothjr]

Having been a long time PCA member I’m about to find myself a member in the OPC after a recent move. There is simply too much theological and liturgical variety in the PCA. All sorts of people claim to adhere to the confession and it shouldn’t go unnoticed that Greg Johnson was a pastor in good standing up until his church left the PCA. The solidarity found in the OPC is commendable.

[@Ldgreggbell]

This is the comment I was looking for.

[@Over-for-now]

I don't care about any religious organization. Let God be true and Every man a liar. He is willing to teach any believer THE TRUTH. We don't need calvin to know the truth. Men can fail but God is true

[@mnfisherman8162]

I really love your channel, but doubt I could be part of a PCA church. I believe in believer's baptism and my eschatology is premillennial. Those two things would probably keep me from membership. That said, if the only Bible believing church in my area was a PCA church I would gladly go.

[@jltc5478]

PCA churches will accept you as a member even as a premil credo Baptist. You may even serve as a deacon, but not as elder.

[@innovationhq8230]

I would have to disargree with many things said in this video. When you go to a PCA church you don't know that you are going to find. Will you find male ballet dancers in the worship service like at the church Tim Keller was the pastor of? Or will you find a church like Spanish River singing garbage like Reckless Love? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIeudpV4fqiabpI If you go into a PCA church like Spanish River nothing would make you think it's refomed based on the Charismatic style worship service. You can find all kinds of crazy worship practices in the PCA totally contrary to RPW and Westminster Standards but I doubt you can find a PCA church with historic Prebsyterian worship/ Acapella Exclusive Psalmody. Or finding a PCA church that observes the Lord's supper in the way that the Westminster Directory for public worship teaches. I don't know of any PCA churches that practice exclusive Psalmody or observe the Lord's super with a common cup sitting around a table. I know of a church that was EP in the PCA but they left and joined the RPCNA. Presbyterianism should have uniformity of worship that way if you go to any church within that denomination you would find the same worship. That is something very good about the Free Church of Scotland Continuing and Prebsyterian Reformed Church. in the PCA people hold all kinds of exceptions to the standards so you don't know what you are going to get in many areas. Will you visit a chuch and the elders have a soft unconfessional view of the 4th commandment? A strange view of the early chapters of Genesis? an unconfessional view of the 2nd commandment?

[@viper071]

I do concede, you punch above your weight for authors, If you only didn't believe babies can go to hell. Or, if you didn't baptize babies, and have no time when people make a public profession of faith.

[@danbrown586]

...but the PCA does have a time when people make a public profession of faith. It's when they join as adults, or when covenant children are admitted to the Lord's Table.

[@unit2394]

We are all born sinners (Psalm 51:5). Sin damns. But God in His infinite power can work saving faith even within the little babe.