INFANT BAPTISM
We thank God that the next Lord’s Day, during our church anniversary celebration, we will be witnessing the baptism of an infant and the reaffirmation of three youths in their faith. It will be a day of rejoicing!
Why should one go through water baptism? Simply because the Holy Scripture commands us to do so in the Great Commission, “19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19-20). Water baptism is the ordained means whereby the believers are to be identified with Jesus Christ, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Water baptism is a sacrament instituted by Christ to be practised by the church.
Westminster Shorter Catechism describes water baptism as such: “Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water – in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost – doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.”
It must be noted that the outward act of water baptism does not in any way contribute to one’s salvation. Rather, this outward act of baptism is a confession of the inward working of the Holy Spirit within one’s heart. The dying thief on the cross professed his faith in Christ. Though he was not baptized, but Christ declared to the repentant thief, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), signifying that he too, was saved from his sins and misery. Thus, water baptism does not produce salvation. It professes salvation. Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace. Water baptism is a means where the believers in Christ are distinguished from the rest of the world.
If water baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace, then why do we baptize infants of believing parents? Most probably, one would never know if these infants are saved in the first place; and neither can these infants make a public confession of their faith, if any. Is infant baptism biblical?
We believe that as much as adult baptism is biblical, so too, is infant baptism. Water baptism is a sign of the covenant that God had made with His chosen people. Our God is a God of covenant who is not only interested with individuals, but also with the whole family of His chosen people. When God called Abraham, He did not only shower His blessings upon Abraham alone, but also upon Isaac, Jacob, etc.
In the New Testament, for example, when a husband/wife from an unbelieving household put his/her faith in the Lord, even his/her unbelieving spouse and the children would be sanctified because of him/her (1Cor 7:14). Our covenantal God promises His special blessings upon those who put their trust in Him; and not only to them alone, but also to their family members too.
In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign which God had ordained for those who wanted to partake in this covenant of God’s special blessing (Gen. 17:9-10). For one who opted not to be circumcised in the Old Testament, it is tantamount to rejecting God’s blessing. God warned for such a person, he would be cut off from His people because he had broken God’s covenant (Gen. 17:14). Thus, circumcision in the Old Testament was an important sign to indicate one’s participation in God’s covenant.
In the New Testament, the sign of the same covenant has been administered through the mode of baptism (Col 2:11-12). Even as circumcision was performed for those who were only eight days old, thus, there is strong justification for infant baptism. It must be noted that infant baptism defers from the adult baptism, whereby the infant is unable to testify of the inward faith, if any, as compared to adults. Infant baptism does not guarantee that the child will ever come to the saving knowledge of the Lord; neither does adult baptism too. However, infant baptism is a sign to claim the covenant which God has promised unto all believers: of God’s mercy and grace and of a godly home. Infant baptism focuses not on the infant, but on the believing parents’ faith and resolve to bring up the child to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, that when the child reaches the age of maturity, he will be able to reaffirm his personal faith in the Lord. We rejoice with believing parents who desires to have their infant baptised. It is our ardent prayer that the Holy Spirit will guide the parents to bring up their child in the ways of the Lord, and that the child may come to trust Jesus Christ one day. HCL.
