1. A Look at the Signs
- Circumcision as a sign:
- All Jewish males were circumcised as a sign of entering into a covenant with God (Gen 17:10-12).
- Is there a connection between the sign of circumcision & the sign of baptism? (Colossians 2:11-12)
- [Note: baptism is not the point of this passage]
- Paul is describing the Christian’s experience of forgiveness in Christ (regeneration & union with Him).
- If we are going to speak to baptism from here, then let’s note that the person who undergoes this baptism (v12) is the one circumcised (converted) in the heart (v11)
- Baptism as a sign:
- What does the Bible say about the act of baptism?
- Baptism occurs after repentance & faith (The book of Acts – e.g. 2:38, 16:31ff)
- Baptism is an identification with Jesus Christ through faith (Col 2:12)
- Baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21)
- Baptism is a picture of cleansing (1 Peter 3:21)
- Baptism is a recognition that Judgement has passed me by (1 Peter 3:21)
- What does the Bible say about the act of baptism?
2. A Look at the Covenants
- We live in the period of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34 / Ez 36:26-27)
- It is a covenant that is established upon the cross of Christ, enacted by the Spirit of Christ, and received through the gift of faith.
- You entered the old covenant by the will of man; automatically, physically, externally, through natural birth; hence the sign to all in it.
- You enter the new covenant by the will of God; internally, spiritually, through supernatural rebirth; hence the sign to all in it. (c.f. John 1:13)
It is wrong to baptize unbelievers (infants too) because:
- we’re talking about two different covenants; we do not apply the rules of the outdated, inferior covenant….to the better, newer covenant.
- Scripture nowhere commands that we baptize the unconverted
- Scripture affirms the presence of faith in every baptism it records.
- the passing similarities between circumcision & baptism are not absolute equivalents.
Many paedobaptists believe in the grace of God in salvation.
- But they insist we must apply the sign of the promise of forgiveness to the children of those who have received it (appealing to Acts 2:39).
- But ‘baptism’ as per the New Testament is not merely a sign of the promise of forgiveness. It’s the sign of the experience of forgiveness (1 Pt 3:21, Col 2:11-12 etc).
3. A Look at the Early Church
- There is not a single instance of a baby boy or girl being baptized in all the pages of Scripture.
- Are the “household baptisms” a convincing argument in favour of baptizing babies?
- No, because the whole argument presupposes babies or unbelieving children were present. The bible records none. And it’s not reasonable to assume there were – many households do not have babies or small children.
- No again, because the context strongly supports the “households” as being comprised entirely of believers:
- Lydia – Compare Acts 16:15 with Acts 16:40
- The Jailor – Compare Acts 16:32 with Acts 16:31-34.
- Stephanus – Compare 1 Corinthians 1:16 with 1 Corinthians 16:15.
- (See also “household belief” in Jn 4:53 & Acts 18:8)
Consider the book of Galatians.
- A book interacting at length on the subject of circumcision as it relates to the New Testament…
- A book that ties the Old and New Testaments together, speaking to old and new covenants…
- A book about the faith of Abraham…
- A book about the offspring of Abraham, heirs of the promise….
- But not once in it’s pages does it make the case for baptism corresponding to circumcision in the manner that paedobaptists would suggest.
- In fact, the only place it even mention baptism, it says this: “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many of your as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal 3:26-27)