Why Baptize 'Covenant Children' & What It Means for Them & Us
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Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Intro: Last Sunday hope I established how -regardless of who gets baptism, when or how - the big deal about baptism is that signs and seals personal and tangible way - the promises of Triune God - to adopt you, justify, and to sanctify you. All are to use their baptism as a way of confirming those promises in our lives! Real unity even with those who don’t believe children of believers are entitled as disciples in covenant relation to God to that sign and seal yet. Tempted to avoid that question - because it divides but in an age where somany young people are leaving the church - is it possbile one of the resons is because - don’t see their need to be part of this covenant relationship with God, part of the reason is we have neglected to show what baptism means for a believer and how we are to raise covenant children?
Shell shock of Reuben’s issues after birth - blood work confirm what type - biological answers… blah blah blah. Then the doctor said something that changed my life and I believe Reuben’s. Best thing I can tell you is taht - there is no limit to what a child with down Syndrome can learn, if he learns to learn. So instead of like my friend's brother John - non verbal - busy dairyfarm, instituation; real concerted effort before Reuben could speak to use signs… concerned effort - read read read … kids pick him up - = All promise of what he would live into … In some ways, picture, sign and seal of baptism like that for adult convert, but also God’s intent that children of believers would growup with the same early intervention. - God’s jump start program graciously includes infants of believers and baptism is a mark of that!
We have established that God uses sign and seals of baptism and Lord’s Supper powerfully. Not saving and can’t be trusted in , as John Trapp put it, but nor can they be neglected… used well - through out our lives - confirm, supplement personally the gospel and its promises to us. The supper is grace of edification, the water of baptism for beginnings of new disciples of Christ. Both only signs and seals of promises activated by faith - but none the less really used by God. With baptism hope you see how applicable not only at time its given’ but in ongoing way.
Same meanign for adults as for covenant children - hold before them personally the union and commuion with F, Son and Holy Spirit in which they are to live. Bu blood of Christ, adoption, justification, sanctification … life for disciples - can’t look into their souls sees if really - but those who profess, and those whom being born in Christian home, - will grow up not as regenerate Christian necessarily - but as disciples of Christ. What does it mean that even infant babies of believers are to receive this mark of gospel promises on their lives? What does it mean to them and to us?
A. The Inclusion or Exclusion of Covenant Children is not Based Upon Specific Example of Scripture
ie. 12x, 3x households,
households,
no infant baptism, but also not once in book of acts or letters of the apostle’s do we have a case where Christain paretns are called upon to have their children baptized years later when have faith… not single time , not even Timothy - whom we know had a mother Eunice who was both a Jewess and a believer
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
This is all happened before Paul came on the scene, before a church was established by Paul there. And there is no record of Paul baptizing Timothy or any other child that grew up in the faith - when he owned the faith and joined him in the missionary work! There is evidence of him making a profession and of the church laying hands on him to set him aside - but there isn obedience in the NT of a child of a believer ever being baptized not in infancy but in their latter teens or adult years, though there were 2nd gen Xns.
Arguments from silence fail, but the burden of proof is on those who say, OT kids included in people of God, recieved sign of covenant but narrowed and not allowed in the NT,nor are they to be considered as being part of God’s people, in covenant with God!
It is no argument that believer's babies do not have faith yet. Neither did Jewish babies - yet initiated into the covenant given the sign and seal of the righteousness that is by faith, regardless if they had it already or even would have it all. God didn’t give the covenant sign and seal of as a proof or testimony of that individuals faith, but rather of what God and what path they were being committed to! The sign and seal that
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,
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.
Paul is saying like circumcision -sign and seal given to show the promises of having our sinful flesh put off, by placing our faith in the death of Christ, we can die to sin; by placing our faith in Resurrection of Christ - we can participate through faith - in this new covenant way that Christ raises us up to new life Paul in v,.11 says baptism has now replaced as the Christian circumcision. Whether he’s referring to water which is the symbol or spirit baptism (that is the reality we are to experience) it is clear that baptism is not as much about the individual’s faith, as what they are to put their faith in - what promises of the covenant are, what the nature of the salvation are, and what the conditions by which they are to take hold of and grow in those realities! So
B. Baptism is Based on Covenant Nature of our Relationship with God.
But whether we believe children of believers should be baptized or not, we must recognize the church never baptizes because we know someone has been born again. Even for adult converts not on basis of their regeneration. When a new convert gives a credible profession of faith - we don’t try to be God but - based on what he or she says, and based on how they live - we trust that profession, but it s no guarantee that the person is born again. Many will get baptized externally say yes, live decent life, but fall away. Sad thing - thatin some parts of evnagleical church - baptism is a one time decision - taht is not about commiting to being a disciple -who recognize borkeneess and in repentance rely on Christ. Altar call good for heaven - no memebership - no walking with. Just as sad as a church that doesn’t require baby’s parents -to commmti to gospel living in home - to raisein wayo f disciple!
You see with baptism, the issue is discerning that person, whether baby or new convert, that they are going to live with the promises of God and in the conditions of Christ’s new covenant and we give them this sign and seal of this covenant to help them do that!
Well in the OT that commitment was made for children of believers too. The promise of God in OT was for our children as well -even if not all of them going to be saved … Amazing to think that God wanted Ishamel and Esau circumcised even though already revealed beforehand that they would not believe! Yet why did they get the mark = the basis is the promises to us and our children - to be their God, and dedicated to be his people … sanctify everything he is and has to LORD, including children…
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.
The big deal with Abraham was that God was committing to him and His descendants - and wanted the basis by which that would happen sign and sealed over each in his household! Abraham was to repsond like we are devoting himself and his household - to knowiong and waliing in the terms of that covenant:
And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.
In this passage the sign and the seal itself is even called the covenant of grace,
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
That was the basis for OT covnant initatory sign and seal. God wanted a sign between us and him, between all our children and the living God!
But what about in the NT. Well that covenant set up with Abraham is still in effect isn’t it? The Abrahamic covenant was not just a temporary promise, just later used as an analogy for the New Covenant. As if Christ’s New Covenant that we live in is just a little bit like Abraham’s covenant. No God says in both OT and NT the Abrahamic covenant is an everlasting covenant. Sure some parts of it have come to greater and more universal fulfiollment in Christ. And sure some part of it have less physical and a deepend spritiual meaning - but the covenat is everlasting, the relationship not just for Jews but for Gentiles as well! Christ’ coming is not the end of this covenant, but the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant for us.
It is no exaggeration to say that we Gentiles are the children of Abraham, and that if anyone is going to be saved it is by coming into that everlasting covenant by virtue of Christ!
Well that covenant set up is still in effect isn’t it? Look at
Look at
So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
It is the same condition in the NT as the OT - righteosness by faith. But Galatians says it is also the same blessings that are promised as Christ brings that covenant to fulfillment and now applies it to the nations!
so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
But here now is the critical question in this covenant with Abraham -of righteosuness by faith, with all its promised blessings, with all of the forgiveness, justification, promised Spirit, promise to bless the nations - is that just administered to individual believers, or is that covenant relationship - with all its conditions, and promises -extended to the children of believers as well?
That is why Peter says what for a baptist would be shocking words on the day of Pentecost. In Acts, we hear Peter saying the covenant promises are not just for believing individuals but for their children as well:
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 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.”
Internal /external distinction… but not bassis, not just because ap[rt of external, because real promise sealed on them - real covenant action and benefit -even if not regeneration - for our children…
The children of believers, even just one believing parent in that household, regardless if they come to faith ever or not, are really set apart from unbelieving children - children are holy;
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.
No automatics in kigndom of God, no of course, grace and faith, but there is a heritage of the godly - represetnative of household - parents faith - God working withthat household…
Proimse of the old coveant, as it is for the new ie ,
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Of ocourse coveannt of peace not removed… the covenant is in effect for a NT household! But people can become covenant breaker or covenant keeper - but the covenant arrangement; the terms of the covenant - But listen the basis not in persons faith but in Christ work and mercy, it itthe whole arrangement with its promises is to be extended to each member in our homes!
The conditional aspect of whether an individual in a beleiveing household will truly inwardly enter into the blessing of the covenant by faith, isn’t the question right now. That’s a question about salvation. But in terms of God making and extending the covenant that is the issue in baptism and circumcision. The question of us receiving it of faith - acknowledging our brokenness and active repentance -is whether we live into the realities extended. those still proclaimed and in effect for young as well as old!
This is why Ursinius in his commentary in age when infant baptism hotly debated, said we can’t shy away from this - His words: in denying baptism to children of the church, [Anabaptists], not only deprive them of their rights, but they prevent the grace of God from being seen in its richness, since God wills that offspring of the faithful should be included amongst the members of the church… they detract from the grace of the New Covenant, and narrow down that of the old…they weaken the comfort of the church, and of faithful parents; and here is the kicker: “They set aside the solemn obligation by which God will have the offspring of this people consecrated to him from their very infancy, distinguished, and separated from the world; they weaken in parents and children the sense of gratitude, and the desire which they should to perform their obligation to God!” - Do you see why he thinks denial of infant baptism is no triflling matter - It is to keep us from living out our pledge of our children to God, and of God’s pledge to be the God of our children.
Circumcision was God’s way of marking his people with a Visible pledge to honour his covenant for those who expressed faith in him.
Circumcision was God’s way of marking his people with a Visible pledge to honour his covenant for those who expressed faith in him.
Just like a SEAL is a pledge of its author that he will upohold his promises when descrbied conditions are met . Let’s say I am trained as a spy - given a type of passport - a commssion by King - safe conduct. given it and is valid - but only really applied when get behind enemy lines, pull it out and use it! IE If you have the King’s Pown The seal’s validity does not depend on the time that the conditions of the covenant accompanying it are met. Like the seal of a document, the seal of circumcision could be applied long before the recepients of promised and signified blessings met the conditions of the covenant.
IE If you have the King’s PownThe seal’s validity does not depend on the time that the conditions of the covenant accompanying it are met. Like the seal of a document, the seal of circumcision could be applied long before the recepients of promised and signified blessings met the conditions of the covenant.
The seal’s validity does not depend on the time that the conditions of the covenant accompanying it are met. Like the seal of a document, the seal of circumcision could be applied long before the recepients of promised and signified blessings met the conditions of the covenant.
The seal’s validity does not depend on the time that the condtions of the covenant accompanying it are met. like the seal of a document, the seal of circumcision could be applied long before the recepients of promised and signified blessings met the conditions of the covenant.
the seal was simply the visible pledge of God that when the conditions of his covenant were met, the blessings he had promised would apply WCF 28:6)
the seal was simply the visible pledge of god that when the conditions of his covenant were met, the blessings he had promised would apply WCF 28:6)
So too circumcision was God’s pledge to provide all the blessing of his covenant when the condition of faith was met. So too baptism for adult convert, who is a bbay Christian, and a child of bleiver who though not yet saved is raised as a disciple of christ!
Our faith does not create God’s covenant or cause it to be extended to us - he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world , but our faith does claim (and live out) the covenant blessings that God provides by his grace and pledges with his seal. God gives that pledge to a baby Christian convert, as much as to the baby being baptized, then growing up in the church!
Our faith does not create God’s covenant or cause it to be extended to us - he chose us in Christ before teh foundation of the world , but our faith does claim (and live out) the covenant blessings that God provides by his grace and pledges with his seal.
C. What Do Jesus & Peter Teach About Accepting Children of Believers in His Church
C. What did Jesus and Peter Mean and to What OT where they refering?
Even those who disagree with children of believers getting baptized, and being in covenant relationship with God , they do actually acknowledge special status, that God wants marked, and promised, and promises to use, what we are to plead - why in the last hundred years, they have introduced a practice similar to baptism, but stripped of any action of God - infant dedication
But Jesus actually says a child of believer’s status is more significant than just being dedicated to God, or brought up to eventually enter His kingdom! Look at
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
= no reference there at all to having a childlike spirit to enter, but issue isn’t the quality of a person that fits you for entrance into the kingdom of heaven, but the place the children are to have in jesus redemptive ministry and the place of children in relationto the kingdom of God… not able to have faith yet, they were bringing infants to Jesus…
not able to have faith yet, word for infants… They are to be received because “in my name” means that we are to receive them as belonging to Christ, doesn’t mean necessarily regenerate, but in one sense belong to the kingdom of God. i am not saying this is the proof or example of infant baptism. But it is the principle that little children belong AMONG CHRIST’s people, recieved in the fellowship of the saints, they belong to the church. We aren ot to deny them baptized membership in His church!
yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ”
In jesus instruction is receive such children “IN MY NAME!
For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
They are to be received because “in my name” means that we are to receive them as belonging to Christ, doesn’t mean necessarily regenerate, but in one sense belong to the kingdom of God. i am not saying this is the proof or example of infant baptism. But it is the principle that little children belong AMONG CHRIST’s people, recieved in the fellowship of the saints, they belong to the church. We aren ot to deny them baptized membership in His church!
not able to have faith yet, word for infants… They are to be received because “in my name” means that we are to receive them as belonging to Christ, doesn’t mean necessarily regenerate, but in one sense belong to the kingdom of God, - not proof or example of infant baptism, but principle that little children belong AMONG CHRIST’s people, recieved inthe fellowship of the saints, they belong to the church
Receivingi n Christ’s name means that we are to receive them as belonging to Christ. Doesn’t mean necessarily regenerate, but in one sense belong to the kingdom of God. i am not saying this is the proof or example of infant baptism. But it is the principle that little children belong AMONG CHRIST’s people, recieved in the fellowship of the saints, they belong to the church. We are not to deny them baptized membership in His church!
The disciples were saying such children of believers - don’t belong to in the circle of His kingdom yet. They are still in the kingdom of world, devil, the flesh.
Jesus says though fallen and sinful, nonetheless such belong and are being claimed as in covenant with God, such ones do!
= substance of Christ’ rebuke, disciples saying such don’t bleong tot he kngdomo f God, such ones do!
The way our form puts it: “though sinful by nature, are received by God in Christ as members of his covenant.” Psalter Hymnal p.955
= Christ receives them into the fellowship and love of believers, church should too and mark them as members = people who come into he compass of a covenant situation with God!
That’s how the rest of the NT treats children: , assuming children grow up addressed as saints, and who must recognize their allegiance to Christ as Lord … exhorted to cultivate the same virtues of a believer… Not brought up as spiritually neutral, but in the fear and admonition of the LORD!
Eph 56:1,4 assuming children grow up addressed as saints, and who must recgonze theirallegiance to Christ as Lord … exhorted to cultivate the same virtyues of a believer…
apostles doesn’t explain or expand, assumed, that children are holy taken for granted… children of believers are not in the same category as children of the world. They have a holiness because of the parental relationship = of connection and privilege - it is a connection that evinces the operation of the coveant and represetnative principle.
= even one parent involves the embrace of offspring in a rleatiohsyip that is described ss holy… ,
The covenant promise to us is considered an incentive or reason for repentance and baptism… which promise - one for children of believers as much as belieers too. We have seen it for beliveing Abrhama’s children in GEn 17 as well as for blieving Xns children in on the day of Pentecost. But consider God’s inclusion gfor covenant action of children as they enter the promised land:
Deut
“You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is making with you today, that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
This is the idea that Peter has in mind at that inauguration day of the NT church = nothing indicates on this great day, that children aren ot included in the promises, promiss in Gen17 called the coveantn of grace, called the circumcsion … God embrace children of believers and their whole householed with same
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.”
= Holy Spirit certifiying to us and our children at pentecost that the mehtod of God working his grace not suspended! - seals to us the promise to be our God and the God of our seed after us…
= children were embraced with their parents in the covenant favour of God - part ofthe principle of divine grace in OT and NT - baptism takes the palce of circumcision…
And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
singular verb he not they rejioced… whole household baptized, but only he reported in Gk as believing in God! Cornelius , Lyudia and household , and Household of Stephanus.
Conclusion: Blessing to kids:
Because pattern of covenant dealings with families is the ordinary path of baptized children of believing parents has a dstination of genuine faith… treated as children of God by their parents, no reason to presume that becausenot able yet to show faith they are unbelievers… unbiblical to treat our children as offspring of Satan, unloved, by God, and enemieso f the household of faith, even when they have not yet expressed saving faith. Children in believing homes expected to gorw in spiritual maturity and understsading as teh covenant community embraced and instructed them
Because patternof covenantl dealings with families is the ordinary path of baptized children of believing parents has a dstination of genuine faith… treated as children of God by their parents, no reason to presume that becausenot able yet to show faith they are unbelievers… unbiblical to treat our children as offspring of Satan, unloved, by God, and enemieso f the household of faith, even when they have not yet expressed saving faith.
Children in believing homes expected to gorw in spiritual maturity and understsading as teh covenant community embraced and instructed them
Children in believing homes expected to gorw in spiritual maturity and understsading as teh covenant community embraced and instructed them
So why not just wait to give the covenant sign and seal for when childr believes? We can say when a child is baptized and the parents and the church covenant with God, God enters the scene… God promises to strengthen and enable the testimony and training of parents who seek his aid; he pledges to walk with and fulfill covenant promises to the child who matures in faith, and God uses the devotion of parents and the church to further the spiritual nurture of the child
So why not just wait to give the covenant sign and seal for when childr believes?
We can say when a child is baptized and the parents and the church covenant with God, God enters the scene… God promises to strengthen and enable the testimony and training of parents who seek his aid; he pledges to walk with and fulfill covenant promises to the child who matures in faith, and God uses the devotion of parents and the church to further the spiritual nurture of the child
When a child is baptized, it is not just that God enters the scene of that child’s upbringing, but also that the child has a real entrance into the arena of grace in this world - the church of Jesus Christ!
These covenant promises are too good to delay. Share the blessing of the promises from earliest stages of life! = God’s jump start program! There is no gaurantee that children of blibere will be saved, but think back to what the doctor said to me about Reuben learning to learn. Early intervention. God gracious has such a program for our children and it includes baptism. Use it in faith, and plead the pormises for them in faith, teaching them how to live out the covenant of grace.