The Positive Case for Infant Baptism, Part Two
To follow up from the previous post, we want, secondly, to substantiate the claim that the sign in the new covenant is baptism. For this we appeal to:
1. Acts 2:28, where Peter says, "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . . For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
Note: The Jews believed in God, but now they also had to believe in Jesus (John 14:1).Those who believed were baptised as sign of the covenant and as a seal of the righteousness they had by faith (cf. Rom.4:11).
2. Matthew 28:19, where Jesus say, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Note: Here we receive the commission for the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham regarding the blessing of all the nations. But the sign of covenant inclusion is not circumcision, but baptism.
3. Colossians 2:11-12, where Paul says, "In Him you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands . . . buried with Him in baptism, in which you were raised with Him through faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead."
Note: Paul identifies baptism as a new covenant correspondent to circumcision. Therefore: Children of believing parents are included in covenant with God and ought to receive the sign which today is baptism.
1. Acts 2:28, where Peter says, "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . . For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
Note: The Jews believed in God, but now they also had to believe in Jesus (John 14:1).Those who believed were baptised as sign of the covenant and as a seal of the righteousness they had by faith (cf. Rom.4:11).
2. Matthew 28:19, where Jesus say, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Note: Here we receive the commission for the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham regarding the blessing of all the nations. But the sign of covenant inclusion is not circumcision, but baptism.
3. Colossians 2:11-12, where Paul says, "In Him you were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands . . . buried with Him in baptism, in which you were raised with Him through faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead."
Note: Paul identifies baptism as a new covenant correspondent to circumcision. Therefore: Children of believing parents are included in covenant with God and ought to receive the sign which today is baptism.
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