State:
Baptism is a ceremonial rite, or sacrament, to entering the covenant community of the Church, which is extended to one upon joining the community. Therefore, it would be right and proper for a child, who is born to parents within the covenant community, to be baptized as an infant.
Support:
First, the Holy Scriptures affirm that children were admitted into the Abrahamic covenant community – being signified by the God-appointed ordinance of circumcision. In Genesis 17, God establishes circumcision as the ceremonial rite which attests to his covenant with Abraham saying, “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised” (v. 10, NRSV). In the proceeding …show more content…
As such, in Galatians 3:1-17 Paul connects the dots of this continuity. Referencing Genesis 15:6, he declares faith as the true sign of the covenant membership, and then quoting Genesis 12:3 he shows that from the start of his covenant with Abraham, God intended to bless to all nations and people (v. 6-9). Therefore, there has been no fundamental change in the sign of the covenant membership.
Additionally, as it relates to the New covenant community, Colossians 2:11-12 reminds us that in Christ we have been given a “spiritual circumcision” when we are “buried with him [Christ] in baptism.” Ergo, true circumcision, Paul boldly declares, is not about what one does physically to man’s foreskin, rather it is about being buried with Christ in baptism, and raised with him through God’s power. In this we see that reality that baptism (“spiritual circumcision”) has taken the place of physical circumcision as the sign of entry into the covenant …show more content…
First, all that is affirmed by these two particular passages is that adult believers should believe and repent. Second, there are no passages in the New Testament which directly or indirectly restrict the baptism of infants. Third, the ability to rationalize as the criteria for belief and repentance would significantly restrict even adult baptisms – for example, those with Intellectual disabilities or mental retardation. The Scriptures attest that this surely is not always the case, for John the Baptist received grace and was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb (Lk 1:15) – before he could seemly believe or repent. Surely, at least in this case, an infant who has been filled with the Holy Spirit, should also be baptized (cf. Acts 10:47). Fourth, the Scriptures affirms that faith of parents sanctifies their children (I Cor. 7:14), as such it would seem to fit that believers raise their children as believers, rather than in hopes that one day they might become a believer. Considering the biblical points together, it would be deeply problematic to say that Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38 means that the Church should exclude infant children from baptism because they are unable to confess their faith and repent of their sins prior to their
Baptism is a ceremonial rite, or sacrament, to entering the covenant community of the Church, which is extended to one upon joining the community. Therefore, it would be right and proper for a child, who is born to parents within the covenant community, to be baptized as an infant.
Support:
First, the Holy Scriptures affirm that children were admitted into the Abrahamic covenant community – being signified by the God-appointed ordinance of circumcision. In Genesis 17, God establishes circumcision as the ceremonial rite which attests to his covenant with Abraham saying, “This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised” (v. 10, NRSV). In the proceeding …show more content…
As such, in Galatians 3:1-17 Paul connects the dots of this continuity. Referencing Genesis 15:6, he declares faith as the true sign of the covenant membership, and then quoting Genesis 12:3 he shows that from the start of his covenant with Abraham, God intended to bless to all nations and people (v. 6-9). Therefore, there has been no fundamental change in the sign of the covenant membership.
Additionally, as it relates to the New covenant community, Colossians 2:11-12 reminds us that in Christ we have been given a “spiritual circumcision” when we are “buried with him [Christ] in baptism.” Ergo, true circumcision, Paul boldly declares, is not about what one does physically to man’s foreskin, rather it is about being buried with Christ in baptism, and raised with him through God’s power. In this we see that reality that baptism (“spiritual circumcision”) has taken the place of physical circumcision as the sign of entry into the covenant …show more content…
First, all that is affirmed by these two particular passages is that adult believers should believe and repent. Second, there are no passages in the New Testament which directly or indirectly restrict the baptism of infants. Third, the ability to rationalize as the criteria for belief and repentance would significantly restrict even adult baptisms – for example, those with Intellectual disabilities or mental retardation. The Scriptures attest that this surely is not always the case, for John the Baptist received grace and was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb (Lk 1:15) – before he could seemly believe or repent. Surely, at least in this case, an infant who has been filled with the Holy Spirit, should also be baptized (cf. Acts 10:47). Fourth, the Scriptures affirms that faith of parents sanctifies their children (I Cor. 7:14), as such it would seem to fit that believers raise their children as believers, rather than in hopes that one day they might become a believer. Considering the biblical points together, it would be deeply problematic to say that Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38 means that the Church should exclude infant children from baptism because they are unable to confess their faith and repent of their sins prior to their