Why do we Baptise Infants?

The Baptism of Maxim Kachiside

INTRODUCTION

Want to give an explanation as to why we are doing this. I’m not aiming to convince those who don’t share the same view of baptism as we do, but I do at least want to present the Biblical and historical reasons why infant baptism is practiced in the reformed tradition.

My own journey - I have changed my perspective on baptism - not merely because we have joined AMiE but because of my own studies.

- The Argument from Church History

I thought infant baptism was merely a hangover from the Roman Catholic Church. But actually the Reformers, the first generation of Protestants, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and Cranmer were all strong defenders of Infant Baptism, as were the Puritans after them.

Going back to the very earliest days of the Christian Church we also find the practice of baptising the infants of believing parents.

“The custom of Mother Church in baptizing infants is certainly not to be scorned, nor is it to be regarded in any way as superfluous, nor is it to be believed that its tradition is anything except apostolic” (The Literal Interpretation of Genesis 10:23:39 [A.D. 408]). - Augustine

- The Argument from Scripture

“Show me the verse?!” We readily acknowledge that there is no verse in scripture that literally says “Baptise your Babies”. That being said, just because there isn’t an obvious proof text for infant baptism it doesn’t mean to say it isn’t Biblical.

Think of the Trinity - the actual word ‘Trinity’ doesn’t actually appear in scripture, but none here would dispute that it is a Biblical teaching.

It comes down to whether we see Continuity or Discontinuity in how God deals with His people through scripture.

The church fathers, the reformers and Puritans argued for there being a basic continuity with how God deals with His people in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

So what did they see in the Biblical presentation of baptism that caused them to practice the baptism of infants as well as adults?

1. INITIATION INTO GOD’S CHURCH

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 74. Are infants also to be baptized?

Answer: Yes. For since they, as well as their parents, belong to the covenant and people of God, and both redemption from sin and the Holy Spirit, who works faith, are through the blood of Christ promised to them no less than to their parents; they are also by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, to be ingrafted into the Christian church, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers, as was done in the Old Testament by circumcision, in place of which in the New Testament baptism is appointed.

Genesis 17:7 ESV

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

Genesis 17:14 ESV

14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

For every covenant there is an accompanying sign.

There has always been a covenant people of God. There was a church of God in the OT (Qahal), and there is a church of God in the NT. Each male member of God’s church in the OT had a sign to show that they and their household were members of the covenant people of God - circumcision. Not only the men received this sign, but also their male infants, before they had believed in God for themselves.

Infants were included in the covenant household of God in the OT - and received the sign of the covenant.

So when Peter effectively repeated Gensis 17 at Pentecost - the Jews would have been reminded of the continuance of God’s plan of salvation for His people.

Acts 2:39 ESV

39 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.”

Just as infants were given the sign of the covenant in the OT - circumcision, so too we should expect that in the NT church (which has a greater and more glorious covenant) infants, both boys and girls, ought to receive the sign of the covenant which is Baptism as their INITIATION into the church.

Colossians 2:11–13 ESV

11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

2. IDENTIFICATION WITH GOD’S MESSIAH

The sign of circumcision pointed forwards to Christ. A bloody sign which pointed towards the putting off of the flesh and God’s ultimate victory over the power of the flesh in the sacrifice of his son. It was their to remind God’s people that their salvation was in Him, and to identify them as His own.

The sign of baptism points backward toward Christ - an unbloody sign which symbolises the putting off of the flesh through Christ’s death and resurrection. No blood is needed, since Christ’s blood shed at the cross is what cleanses, not the water in the baptismal font. The sign of baptism reminds us that our salvation is not our own work, but it is Christ’s. Baptism is an outward sign of our identification with Christ.

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.

Circumcision named people as belonging to God in the OT, Baptism does the same now, it names us and identifies us as God’s people.

3. SEPARATION TO GOD’S PURPOSES

Baptism is what distinguishes the children of believers from the children of unbelievers. They are separated from the world and given unto God.

1 Corinthians 7:14 ESV

14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

There is a difference between the children of believers and the children of unbelievers - the children of believers are not unclean - they are holy. This doesn’t mean they are perfect, but it means they are to be treated as if they belong to the Lord, and so we ought to give them the sign of separation unto the Lord - baptism.

Mark 10:14 ESV

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Jesus wants our children to come to him, that he might bless them. And so we are not to hinder them - or treat them as children that belong to the world, we are to separate them to God’s purposes in baptism.

We see children being given commands in the New Testament, which assumes that they are viewed as part of the church. We also see household baptisms taking place in the NT; Lydia and her household, The Jailer and all his family, Crispus and his household, Stephanus and his household. God deals with households, with family units.

It’s quite likely that there were infants in some of those households who were also baptised.

Baptism is separation to God’s church and to God’s purposes.

We treat our children as believers - we hope and pray that they grow up and never be able to remember a time when they were not a Follower of Jesus.

4. APPLICATION OF GOD’S PROMISES

We often think of baptism as being an outward sign of our faith in God. And there’s a truth to that - but actually baptism tells us more about God’s promises to all those who believe.

In the olden days - when a Lord wanted to send an official communication, he would seal his letter by pressing his sovereign ring into some red wax on the letter. This seal was the proof that the contents of the letter were official and belonged to him.

Baptism is like God’s seal - he embosses us with his promises; saying if you will believe in me I will give you all of this; a new heart, a new Spirit within you and life eternal.

Of course the baptism itself doesn’t make someone saved, but it is a powerful mark of the promises which God has made to his people. It’s like my wedding ring - the ring isn’t my actual marriage, but it is a powerful, physical reminder of the vows I have made to my wife and so is inextricably linked to my marriage. And so baptism is a sign and a seal of God’s promises to us, that if we will continue to believe him, and follow him, that He will bless us.