Infant Baptism

[Gabriel]

There are a few different denoms that are considered Reformed. Even some non-denoms are Reformed. Knight! One of the differences that usually come up is infant baptism and believers baptism.

We, in the PCA, believe in infant baptism as a sign and seal of the covenant made by God toward His chosen and as a sign of our understanding of our duty as part of the family of God to help in the raising up of our children. We do not believe it washes sin away, nor do we find it necessary as a completion of or a part in salvation. Additionally, we believe that once is enough. If a person has been baptised as a child, there is no need to re-baptize once a confession of faith is made. Assuming, of course, that the baptism was performed in a Christian church.

Thoughts, comments?

 

[Knight]

Hi Gabe.....

Our church does not practice infant baptism. (Bear in mind that this church used to be Baptist.) We believe that baptism is the first command to those who have placed faith in Christ.

We do hold baby dedications (We dedicated our daughter, along with 14 other babies, back in March. ) These, from what I've come to understand are very similar to infant baptisms in the PCA though without the water.

For those who do not hold to baptismal regeneration (ie: baptism contributes to or is required for salvation) this is mostly a matter of opinion.

PS: The nice thing about being Reformed Non-denominational is that I get to post in two different forums.

 

[Bulldog]

I agree with the OPC/ PCA view of infant baptism. It is a sign of the covenant (like circumcision) and a sign of faith for adult believers.

Here is a good link from the OPC:

http://opc.org/new_horizons/NH00/0007c.html

 

[Grace_Alone4gives]

Having been weary of infant baptism and it's purpose or point in the past, I decided to embark on a study of why certain denominations baptise infants. There are many reasons I came across, and I found that it is done for different reasons in a variety of denominations ie: Catholics differ from Wesleyan's who differ from Lutherans and so on. The one view that touched me the most and convinced me the most was Covenantal Theology, which baptises babies (unless your baptist) as a sign and seal of the N.Covenant, paralleling circumsicion etc....
Needless to say - because of my study, my 2 children were baptised when babies, and my 3rd baby (born 3 weeks ago) will be baptised next month. WHat a wonderful blessing!

 

[Gabriel]

Whoops, double post!

 

[Gabriel]

Congratulations on the new baby HTD!! Consider this the first official CF baby shower!! We just found out a week ago that we are pregnant! Due date, December 27!

 

[Grace_Alone4gives]

 

[LynneClomina]

Having been weary of infant baptism and it's purpose or point in the past, I decided to embark on a study of why certain denominations baptise infants. There are many reasons I came across, and I found that it is done for different reasons in a variety of denominations ie: Catholics differ from Wesleyan's who differ from Lutherans and so on. The one view that touched me the most and convinced me the most was Covenantal Theology, which baptises babies (unless your baptist) as a sign and seal of the N.Covenant, paralleling circumsicion etc....
Needless to say - because of my study, my 2 children were baptised when babies, and my 3rd baby (born 3 weeks ago) will be baptised next month. WHat a wonderful blessing!

i dont totally understand.... does this baptism "save" the babies???

 

[Gabriel]

i dont totally understand.... does this baptism "save" the babies???

No. It is a sign of God's covenant with His people. Just as circumcision was. Here is an excellent link about Infant Baptism and a knowledge filled website. http://www.thirdmill.org/worship_qa_answer.asp/file/qna27.qna

 

[Bulldog]

It's important to seperate the Reformed view of infant baptism and the Catholic view of baptism. Catholics baptise infants because they believe baptism regenerates them, Reformed baptise infants because it is a sign of the coveneant.

 

[LynneClomina]

interesting article. but i would think that the sign of the new covenent would be circumsicion of the heart, rather than baptism......

 

[Bulldog]

Do you take that from where Paul says that a true Jew is one circumcised on the inside?

 

[LynneClomina]

yeah, that a true jew is one who has had the circumsicion of the heart. ie. all believers are those who are under the covanent of abraham....

 

[Bulldog]

But was circumcision not physically administered to infants?

Here's a post I made in another thread where I ried to show the conncection between circumcision and baptism:

]Genesis 17:9-11
And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

It was also administered to infants (except for females, by it's very nature):

Genesis 17:11-14
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which [is] not of thy seed.

However, I do agree with you that, baptis is useless without faith, but so was circumsision, although it was also administered to infants:

Romans 4:9-12
[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised.

Paul shows us that baptism is parrallel to circumcision:

Colossians 2:1112 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 

[LynneClomina]

i'd take colossians 2:11-12 to mean the baptism into "faith" kinda - where when you believe you are immersed into Christ as opposed to water...

maybe too much for me sluggish brain today.....

 

[Bulldog]

This is a good link you might want to look at.


http://opc.org/new_horizons/NH00/0007c.html

 

[ArchaDl]

Catholics baptise infants because they believe baptism regenerates them, Reformed baptise infants because it is a sign of the coveneant.

What do you mean by regenerate?
My church (African Dutch Reformed) usually uses infant baptism with two main spritual reasons. One : The sign of the covenant. and Two : That everybody is born in sin and that baptism is used on babies to wash away that sin and give them a clean start.

Further its also seen as a command to the parents that they educate their children and let their children be educated further so they can be saved.

 

[Grace_Alone4gives]

What do you mean by regenerate?
My church (African Dutch Reformed) usually uses infant baptism with two main spritual reasons. One : The sign of the covenant. and Two : That everybody is born in sin and that baptism is used on babies to wash away that sin and give them a clean start.

Further its also seen as a command to the parents that they educate their children and let their children be educated further so they can be saved.

My church, also Reformed and Dutch, do not baptise to remove anything, but as a covenant sign and seal only. I dont think baptism removes sin...In the OT circumsicion never removed sin...they gave sacrifices for that. In the same way, baptism is a sign - like circumcision - and repentance and faith in Chrst removes the sin...like the sacrifices. - Christ being the ultimate sacrifice.

 

[Bulldog]

What do you mean by regenerate?

Regeneration is the act where the Holy SPirit gives a lowly sinner, wh would never come to Christ on his won, new desires. Regeneration is precedent to faith.

 

[ChiRho]

i'd take colossians 2:11-12 to mean the baptism into "faith" kinda - where when you believe you are immersed into Christ as opposed to water...

How do you arrive at that conclusion? Is this a case where Scripture is bent to fit doctrine?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho