The Covenant of Grace and Infant Baptism

The Covenant of Grace and Infant Baptism I. Key Components of the Covenant of Grace 1 A. Meaning and Duration of the Covenant of Grace 1. In the Covenant of Grace (or era of salvific grace), God promises man eternal life through faith in the Messiah. 2. The Covenant of Grace was effected in the Garden of Eden and will continue to be in force until Christ returns. B. Covenant Administrations 1. The covenants described in the Bible (i.e., Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New) represent different administrations of the Covenant of Grace 2. Although there is a generational component, the covenants of promise (i.e., Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic), like the New Covenant, were intended to be religious (spiritual and ecclesiastical), rather than merely national or ethnic. This is evidenced by: a. Provisions for non-jews to be grafted in and ethnic Jews to be cut off from them b. The centrality of faith and worship 3. Continuity between the covenants of promise and the New Covenant: a. They are all explicitly linked together in Scripture b. They were all made with Abraham and his seed and all share the same central promise c. The New Covenant fulfills the covenants of promise in every aspect d. The church is the people of God and is made up of those who were faithful members of the covenants of promise along with those grafted into them e. The same language is used to describe the people of God throughout history f. The church is referred to as Israel in the New Testament g. People can be cut off from the New Covenant visible church C. The People of God: Visible and Invisible 1. The invisible body or invisible church is the church from God s perspective. It consists of everyone who is inwardly/internally in the Covenant of Grace. 2. The visible body or visible church is the church from man s perspective. It consists of everyone who is outwardly/externally in the Covenant of Grace. 1 See The People of God Across the Ages: An Examination of Covenant Theology, Israel, and the Church for detailed explanation and Scripture references. 1

II. Infant Baptism Summarized A. The Abrahamic covenant was inherently spiritual 1. Circumcision signified the righteousness of faith, and Abraham circumcised infants 2. The New Covenant fulfills the Abrahamic and baptism replaces circumcision as the sign of the everlasting covenant B. The New Covenant Church remains a visible covenant community 1. Water baptism is an external sign which marks off the visible, not the invisible church 2. Children are members of the visible covenant community C. Children are to receive the sign of baptism. As with circumcision, the baptism of infants calls them to faith and repentance. III. Two Common Questions A. What about the explicit baptism texts, most of which specifically require belief in the gospel? 1. Every explicit baptism text in the New Testament is in an evangelistic context. In other words, all adults who were baptized upon profession of faith were converts to Christianity. 2. Everyone agrees that these texts apply to adults. Paedobaptists have common ground with credobaptists in asserting that adult converts must be baptized. 3. The children of believers are in a different category. These texts do not apply to them. No explicit baptism text speaks of covenant children who grew up in Christian homes being baptized upon profession of faith (however, Acts records household baptisms). 2 B. What about the nature of the New Covenant? 1. The texts about the New Covenant do not redefine covenantal membership. For example, the children are federally comprehended with their parents in Jeremiah 31, because Jeremiah speaks to issues which apply to adults, not infants (e.g., the reference to breaking the covenant in verse 32 cannot apply to infants). 3 2. The New Testament never explicitly states or even implies that the relationship of believers children to the covenant has changed from the Old to the New Covenant. 3. The covenant sign continues to call covenant children to the reality it signifies (not faith itself, but the promises of God achieved by Christ and received by faith alone) 4. Thus, believers today have no more reason for withholding the sign than they did in the Old Covenant. The covenant sign marks off all adults who acknowledge Christ s Lordship, as well as their children, who, with them, are part of the covenant community. 2 The fact that the household baptism texts do not mention infants does not necessarily exclude them. Likewise, the fact that no text speaks of women taking the Lord s Supper does not exclude them from it. 3 Jeremiah 31:32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. [Note that infants were in the covenant which the adults broke. See verse 21 for more actions and attitudes which do not apply to infants. For New Testament examples, see 1 Corinthians 10:7-10 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10.] 2

IV. Discipleship and Baptism A. Disciples are made via baptism and teaching (Matthew 28:19-20; John 4:1) 4 1. God commands parents to diligently teach their children as disciples in the Lord from the very beginning of their lives (Ephesians 6:1-4; Deuteronomy 6:7; Proverbs 22:6). 5 2. Timothy is a good example of a covenant child who was discipled from birth (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15) 6 3. Children were likely included in household baptisms (e.g., Acts 16:34) 7 B. Water baptism is applied to the visible, not the invisible church 1. All in the congregation (NT visible church) were called disciples (Acts 6:2; 11:26) 8 2. Simon Magus believed but was not truly saved (Acts 8:13, 21-23), 9 and other disciples turned away from Christ (John 6:66) 10 C. Those baptized as disciples are either true, false, or future converts 1. Noah and his household (eight in all) were baptized for salvation in the ark (Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20-21), 11 yet only Noah was truly saved (Genesis 7:1) 12 2. Israelites (including unbelievers and infants who were part of the community) were baptized in the cloud and in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:2) 13 4 Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." John 4:1 Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 5 Deuteronomy 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. 6 Acts 16:1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 Timothy 1:5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. 2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [Timothy was taught the holy Scriptures from childhood (NASB), literally from infancy (Greek: brephos). The same Greek word is normally used for either unborn babies (e.g., Luke 1:41) or infants (e.g., Luke 2:12; 18:15; Acts 7:19; 1 Peter 2:2).] 7 Acts 16:34 ESV 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. 8 Acts 6:2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 9 Acts 8:13, 21-23 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours 23 "For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." 10 John 6:66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 11 Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 1 Peter 3:20-21 in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 12 Genesis 7:1 Then the LORD said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time. 13 1 Corinthians 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3

V. The Status of Children in the New Covenant A. The real question at hand is not whether or not the children of believers should be baptized but whether they are to be considered as part of the visible church in the New Covenant era or whether they were cut off from the community during the transition from the Old to New Covenant. B. Throughout every covenant administration, the children of believers have been included in the covenant community. Thus, to believe that they are now excluded requires an explicit statement. There exists no such statement. Instead, the New Testament contains clear statements to the contrary. 1. Children of believers have always been members of the covenant (Psalm 103:17) 14 2. Children are the standard for child-like faith (Matthew 18:1-6) 15 3. To such belong the kingdom and blessing of Christ (Mark 10:13-16) 16 4. God has prepared praise for Himself from the mouth of infants (Matthew 21:15-16) 17 5. Believers are called to receive children in the name of Christ (Luke 9:47-48) 18 6. Children are addressed as members of the covenant (Ephesians 6:1-3) 19, along with their parents (Ephesians 5:22-33, 6:4) 20 7. Children are referred to in the NT as holy (1 Corinthians 7:14) 21 14 Psalm 103:17 But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children 15 Matthew 18:1-6 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven 5 "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me 16 Mark 10:13-16 And they were bringing children to Him 14 Jesus said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. [Children are members of Christ s kingdom outwardly (i.e., visible church) but not necessarily inwardly (i.e., invisible church). Verse 15 depicts them as believing (cf. John 1:12). Their faith is age appropriate and manifests itself in faithfulness/obedience (cf. Titus 1:6). Even before they have a full-orbed grasp of the gospel, they truly believe and trust to the degree they understand. They, like adults in the visible church, are to be evangelized and repeatedly taught and encouraged in the gospel. Nevertheless, their faith ought not to be minimized or downplayed; it is often stronger than that of adult believers who can eloquently articulate the gospel.] 17 Matthew 21:15-16 children were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," 16 Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?" 18 Luke 9:47-48 But Jesus took a child and stood him by His side, 48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me 19 Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. 20 Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 21 1 Corinthians 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. [Given the visible/invisible construct, we are able to understand that the holiness referred to is federal/covenantal holiness rather than personal/spiritual holiness. In other words, they are covenantally set apart (i.e., consecrated) to God as they were in the OT: 2 Chronicles 31:18 The genealogical enrollment included all their little children, their wives, their sons and their daughters, for the whole assembly, for they consecrated themselves faithfully in holiness (cf. Judges 13:7).] 4

VI. The Sign of the Covenant Applied to Infants A. Membership in the Abrahamic and New Covenants 1. In the Abrahamic Covenant, the infant children of believers were placed under the obligations of the Covenant (Genesis 17:9) 22 and received the sign of the Covenant (Genesis 17:10-12a) 23 a. These children, who were outwardly associated with and under the obligations of the Covenant (i.e., part of the visible church) became true Covenant members (i.e., part of the invisible church) through faith (Romans 4:11-12; 9:6; 2:28-29) 24 b. Thus, covenant children were to receive the sign of the Covenant (a seal of the righteousness received by faith) before they actually possessed faith (Genesis 17:12a). So, for all children born of believing parents, the sign/seal of true covenant membership through faith preceded the reality of what it represented. 25 2. As an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:7) 26, the Abrahamic Covenant has not be nullified or set aside but brought to fullness through Christ in the New Covenant. a. The promise of the Abrahamic Covenant (i.e., I will be their God ) is fulfilled in the New Covenant to the Church (Genesis 17:8; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 8:10) 27 b. Those in the NT Church are Abraham s descendants (Galatians 3:29) c. As they have always been through redemptive history, the children of believers remain included in God s covenant community in the NT era (see section V above) 22 Genesis 17:9 God said further to Abraham, "Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 23 Genesis 17:10-12a "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 "And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 "And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations 24 Romans 4:11-12 and [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. 25 The children were to receive the sign, even if they would never receive that which it signified. For example, Abraham circumcised Ishmael after he was told that he would not be a part of the covenant (Genesis 17:15-27). 26 Genesis 17:7 I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you 27 Genesis 17:8 I will give to you and to your descendants after you and I will be their God. 2 Corinthians 6:16 For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Hebrews 8:10 FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 5

B. The Sign of the Abrahamic and New Covenants 1. The NT indicates that the original sign of the everlasting covenant (i.e., circumcision) has been superseded by a new sign, baptism. 2. Baptism and circumcision share a common identity, purpose, and recipients a. The descendants of Abraham (i.e., the circumcised) in the New Covenant are defined as those who have been baptized into Christ and belong to Him (Galatians 3:27, 29) 28 b. Baptism functions as the circumcision of the New Covenant (cf. Colossians 2:11-12) 29 c. Those baptized into the church are part of the true circumcision (Philippians 3:3) 30 3. Circumcision was a spiritual sign which signified spiritual blessings and pointed to faith and repentance. Baptism fulfills and perpetuates the significance of circumcision by picturing the same blessings. Blessing Signified Circumcision Baptism Covenant relationship with God and inclusion among His people Cleansing and heart renewal (i.e., regeneration) Genesis 17:7, 11 Acts 2:38-42; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 31 Jeremiah 4:4, 14; Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Romans 2:28-29 32 Titus 3:5-6 33 The removal of sin Colossians 2:11 Acts 2:38; 22:16 34 Justification by faith Romans 4:11-12 Galatians 3:27, 29 28 Galatians 3:27, 29 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise. 29 Colossians 2:11-12 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 30 Philippians 3:3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 31 Acts 2:38-42 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 32 Deuteronomy 10:16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. Deuteronomy 30:6 Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. 33 Titus 3:5-6 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior 34 Acts 22:16 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.' 6

VII. Summary and Conclusion A. The Covenant of Grace, which extends from the Garden of Eden to the return of Christ, was administered in different ways throughout redemptive history. 1. Every administration had continuity with respect to the central promise of God, faith, worship, terminology, and membership 2. Every administration (including the New Covenant) contained a visible and invisible covenant community (i.e., church, people of God) B. Explicit New Testament baptism texts which specifically require faith in the gospel are set in the context of missions and evangelism. 1. Therefore, these verses apply only to new converts from outside of Christianity, not to the children of believers. 2. Applying them to those raised in Christian homes would be mixing apples with oranges. C. The texts about the New Covenant do not redefine covenantal membership. The explicit language particularly describes the adults in the covenant and does not directly address their children but indirectly includes them inasmuch as they are federally comprehended in their parents. D. Disciples are made via baptism and teaching. 1. Water baptism is applied to the visible, not the invisible church 2. Water baptism is properly given to all disciples, including professing believers (i.e., true and false converts) and their children (i.e., future converts). E. The real question at hand is not whether or not the children of believers should be baptized but whether they are to be considered as part of the visible church in the New Covenant era. The New Testament contains multiple clear statements that children are part of the New Covenant community (i.e., the kingdom of God). F. Infants were undeniably members of the Abrahamic Covenant and, as such, they received the sign of circumcision before they receive that which the sign represented. 1. Now that the Abrahamic Covenant has been fulfilled in the New Covenant, the sign of the everlasting covenant has changed (to baptism) but the identity, purpose, and recipients remain the same. Several passages present a clear transition from circumcision to baptism (Galatians 3:27, 29; Colossians 2:11-12; Philippians 3:3). 2. Circumcision was a spiritual sign which signified spiritual blessings and pointed to faith and repentance. Baptism fulfills and perpetuates the significance of circumcision by picturing the same blessings (including covenant relationship with God and inclusion among His people, cleansing and heart renewal, the removal of sin, and justification by faith). G. Conclusion: Given (1) the force of the above arguments, (2) the continuing validity of OT concepts not abrogated in the NT, and (3) the absence of a NT example of a believer s child being baptized upon profession of faith, there is no reason to believe that the children of believers were forever cast out of the covenant community at Pentecost and prohibited from receiving the covenantal sign. 7