Why do we baptize children? Well, first of all, because Jesus commanded it. He told the Apostles to go out and make disciples of all nations, and to baptize them.
Children have a right to be a part of God's Covenant. Baptism is a sign and a seal of their admittance into the visible Church. It's a sign that points to the covenant of grace that was made after Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden, and it's a seal marking that covenant as being authentic and real.
The covenant of circumcision that was made with Abraham was a mark of the faith that he had before he was circumcised. It pointed to a righteousness outside of himself – namely, that of Jesus Christ. And now the covenant of circumcision has been replaced by baptism.
Baptism points to the fact that we were dead in sins but have been in engrafted into Christ and born again. It signifies and seals to us the forgiveness and redemption of sins.
Anyone who professes faith in the Lord Jesus should be baptized, as well as the children of members of the visible Church. Jesus refers to these children as being a part of the Kingdom of God. This is certainly a matter of rejoicing, because God's covenant of grace endures forever, to all generations! |
