Who should be baptised? Part 2

We believe that the biblical evidence outlined in part 1 leads to some absolutely straightforward conclusions. We believe that everyone who professes faith and demonstrates repentance should be baptised. And we believe that those people who were “baptised” in infancy and have since become disciples of the Lord Jesus should be biblically baptised, upon profession of faith. Put simply, we believe that only Christians should be baptised, and that all Christians should be baptised.

Some common objections

Most Christians agree that the biblical evidence is clear enough, but many nevertheless argue that baptism should also be given to the infants of believers – children too young to be considered disciples. Their arguments do not often depend upon specific New Testament examples of baptism being given to infants – for there aren’t any! – but instead they depend upon wider theological arguments. Here are some of the most common objections:

“Children have always been included in the covenant.” This argument is partly true, for children were included in many, though not all, of the covenants made in the Old Testament. The promises to Abraham, for example, were given to him and “his seed” (Gen 12:7). But the Bible never tells us that the promises made to Abraham – which do still apply, though in a fuller realisation, in the new covenant – are given to “believers and their seed,” as those who defend the baptism of infants often claim. If someone is defending this practice on this basis, just ask them where the Bible makes that statement. They won’t be able to find it. What is essential is that we are Abraham’s seed, not the seed of any other believer – and we can only become a member of Abraham’s family when we become a disciple of Jesus Christ (Gal 3:29).

“Show me where children were first excluded from the church!” This argument is similar to the previous one, in that it assumes that the covenant membership of children should be continued into the New Testament period. There are good reasons for believing it does not, but this argument can be quickly countered by another: “Show me where the first child was baptised!”

“The new covenant is better than the old one, so the privileges given to believers’ children could not decrease!” This argument is also partly true. But even those who believe that baptism should be given to the infants of believers do not think that a little part of the Promised Land is still reserved for them. So whether we realise it or not, people on both sides of this debate all agree that the new covenant is better, but it functions in a completely different way.

Difficult passages

Actually, there aren’t very many passages which can be made to challenge these conclusions. Here is the most widely used:

Acts 2:39 is part of one of the most important passages for understanding the relationship between the old and new covenants. Peter is preaching to a large crowd in Jerusalem. He tells them that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they crucified, has been exalted to heaven and has poured out his Spirit upon his people (Acts 2:32-33). The crowd were “cut to the heart,” and Peter tells them what they must do: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:28-29). Well, our friends say, there it is – proof that Peter was commanding the people in Jerusalem to become believers themselves, and then to baptise their children. But they are wrong. The “promise” that Peter is talking about is quite specific – it is the promise that the gift of the Spirit will be given to those who believe his message (v. 38). This is the promise that God gives to the children of believers. Our children need to become disciples of Jesus Christ – and as they do so, God will pour out upon them the gift of his Spirit.

And that’s why the new covenant is better for our children than the old. Children in the old covenant had no automatic right to the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. But our children do – no matter how young they may be – if they become Jesus’ disciples. Only – and all – his disciples should be baptised.