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FOUNDATIONS*99**relationship,* leaving* home,* stopping* their* education* and* getting* a* job* or*being*baptised,*they*should*always*be*encouraged*in*recognising*that*this*is*a*good*thing*that*they*should*desire*for*the*future,*but*that*the*present*will*be*a*time*of*preparation*for*that,*not*a*time*to*prematurely*grasp*at*it.*Much*of* discipleship* of* the* young* is* to* be* the* learning* of* patience* and* humility,*both*of*which*will*be*aided*through*delaying*baptism*until*adulthood.*One*should*also*have*a*conversation*with*the*child*to*ensure*that*they*realise*that*baptism*is*necessary*neither*for*faith,*nor*for*assurance*of*faith.*It*will*not*be*a*wasted*conversation*that*begins*with*a*request*for*baptism*and*ends*with*an*encouragement*for*a*young*person*to*read*through*1*John*and* to* know* that* the* atoning* work* of* Christ* is* of* far* greater* value* than*baptism,*and*that*genuine*salvation*is*evidenced*in*continuing*faith,*love*and*obedience*before*it*is*evidenced*in*baptism.**Responsibilities%to%the%parents%%We* have* a* responsibility* towards* parents* to* disciple* them* into* under:standing*their*responsibility*as*parents.*It*is*good*to*instruct*parents*that*it*is* not* their* role* as* parents* to* lead* their* children* to* “pray* the* sinners’*prayer”;* there* are* plenty* of* children* who* have* prayed* the* sinner’s* prayer*with*well:meaning*parents,*and*place*their*assurance*of*salvation*firmly*in*the* fact* that* they* can* “name* the* day”* when* they* prayed* it,* but* whose*assurance* proves* tragically* false* in* due* time. 19 *While* continually* clarifying*the*gospel*and*the*call*to*respond*to*that*gospel*in*repentance*and*faith,*it*is*important*for*parents*to*resist*attempting*to*“define*the*moment”,*nor*even*to* seek* to* discern* whether* their* child* is* regenerate,* rather* to* consistently*teach*and*model*what*the*regenerate*life*looks*like,*knowing*that*time*will*tell*whether*their*child*is*regenerate.*All*professions*and*evidences*of*faith*should*be*met*with*encouragement*and*prayer,*without*parents*feeling*that*it* is* their* responsibility* to* tell* their* children* that* they* are* most* certainly*credible.**Responsibilities%to%the%church%%Though*I*would*argue*that*admission*to*baptism*should*be*on*the*basis*of*a*case:by:case* decision* by* the* elders* of* the* church* rather* than* a* set* age,*nevertheless*a*culture*will*be*built*up* within*the*church*as*to*the*age*and*stage*that*is*considered*appropriate*for*baptism.*We*cannot*get*away*from*the* fact* that* a* precedent* is* being* set* by* each* young* candidate* for* baptism*********************************************************************19*For*further*studies*of*use*of*the*sinner’s*prayer*see*Kurt*Gebhards,*“False*Assurance:*A*biblical* look* at* the* Sinners’* Prayer”* in* John* MacArthur,* Evangelism:% How% to% share% the% Gospel%Faithfully*(Nashville:*Thomas*Nelson,*2011)*133:147.*!