One of the things God’s covenant grace does is turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of children to their fathers (Malachi 4:6). It couldn’t be any other way because the promises God makes to us, He makes to us and to our children. This heart turning is not a matter of arm-twisting. Only God’s Word can turn hearts, and that Word is named Jesus Christ. He is the one who turns our hearts to the Father and binds us to Him. And He is the one who turns fathers and children too each other all the way down the line to a thousand generations. He is the one whom this sign of baptism is ultimately about. And He is the one who guarantees that the Word in our mouth and the Spirit in our hearts, will remain in these covenant children, and their children after them.