New Covenant Baptism, Part 4

WHY SO MANY INFANT BAPTISTS?

In laying the foundation for their theological propositions, the great reformers of the 16th century appealed to the doctrine of ‘sola scriptura’-- scripture alone. It was this very appeal that opened the door for the recovery of believer’s baptism. Why, then, did the reformers retain infant baptism? Why do so many today ignore the clear teaching of scripture to practice infant baptism? It is opinion of this author that the reformer’s influenced by pragmatism and a genuine love for their children. Justification and the Lord’s supper required no visible changes in the life, practice and ceremonies of the church. This would not have been the case with infant baptism. It would have been one thing to tell the King and all the members of the state-run churches that they must exercise true faith, but quite another to insist that he and every professing Christian in the country be “re-baptized”. The reformers needed the support of the King and the princes. Insisting on believer’s baptism would have guaranteed a lack of support from the magistrates and would have severely impeded the progress of the reformation.

Like all Christians, however, the Reformers loved their children and wanted to see them enjoy all the benefits of membership in the body of Christ. Like so many today, love for their own children caused them to approach the Scriptures with an understandable bias. This bias continues to lead many away from the orthodox practice of believer’s baptism and tends toward grievous error. However, John Gill was certain that paedobaptism would disappear as the church allowed itself to be governed by the scriptures alone. As we look at the landscape of the Christian world in the 21st century, he may well have been right.

CONCLUSION

“It grieves me”, says Dr. John MacArthur, Jr., “that there are many, many churches,…tens of thousands of them all over the world, that will not properly practice Christian baptism in spite of what the New Testament says…This is a matter of obedience—this is a matter of honor to the Lord and it’s of great importance to me.”

Indeed, baptism, one of only two ordinances instituted by our Lord, should be an issue of “great importance” to all Christians. Baptism is important to Christians only because it is important to Christ. When we equate it to circumcision we are in danger of making it “law” rather than grace. When we make it a requirement for salvation, we equally err. We are constrained to practice new covenant baptism in accordance with the commands clearly proclaimed in Scripture.

In a sermon preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church, John Piper summed up his message entitled “I Baptize You With Water” in this way:

“The way of salvation is repentance and faith in Christ, not ethnic identity or birth to Christian parents. God calls us today, no matter who our parents were, and no matter what ritual we received as infants : God calls us today to repent and believe on Christ alone for salvation and to receive the new sign of the new covenant of the people of God : the sign of repentance and faith, baptism. So I call on every one of you who has not followed Christ in this way, "Repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38). This is the call of God. This is the path of obedience and life.”

May God continue to bring his church into conformity with the ordinance of new covenant baptism as commanded in Holy Scripture for the edification of His church to the praise of His own glory.