Children of the Covenant

I've been working lately on a concise and pastoral statement on the nature of baptism in the framework of covenant theology. That right there may turn off some readers, but I trust this will be helpful. I decided to put this on the blog just to see if people find it clarifying. (for the one or two out there who read this!) This will be in two parts.

Children of the Covenant
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10: 13-15

Children are a wonderful blessing, not only to families, but to churches as well. It is a great joy to see in our church a nursery that is full. An empty nursery in a church is a sure sign that the church has no longer the same attitude toward children that Jesus had, when he welcomed little children and said, of such is the kingdom of God. The Bible clearly teaches that children are a precious gift from God.

PR 17:6 Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.

Secondly, it is the God appointed responsibility of parents to teach their children God’s commands and to lead them to the knowledge of His grace revealed in the glorious gospel. This faith is always expressed and nurtured in the context of a believing community – the covenant people of God, called the Church.

DT 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

PS 78:6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.

The Bible views children with infinite value and not as something to shut away until they can be more responsible or contribute to society. God gives us many promises that our faith and God’s blessings run through families to effect future generations. Righteousness gives a wonderful legacy to our children and grandchildren. Something we would want to pass along. But, we know that none are righteous and that it is Christ’s perfect righteousness found in faith alone that we desire to be passed to our children.

PS 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children--

So, does this mean we should wait until our children have faith before we welcome them into God’s family? One Puritan stalwart answers this in saying, “But Christ never meant to say that the kingdom of heaven was only for the immaculate and stainless. If converted men receive it, in spite of many a haunting appetite and recurring lust, then the frailties of our babes shall not forbid us to believe the blessed assurance that the kingdom is also theirs” (Chadwick).

Do Not Hinder Children from Coming to Christ

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Vs. 14

The question about this passage is whether it gives us any indication that the Bible sanctions the baptism of infants. Objections concerning this passage not having anything to do with baptism, point to the fact that Jesus did not baptize these children, nor was there any reference to water. This was a simple blessing and Christ was placing his hands on the children.

Again, the proof of the biblical validity of baptism both for believers and their children belong to the whole testimony of scripture. Certainly here Jesus is not baptizing children or anyone else. In fact Jesus never baptized anyone in the Bible. Secondly, the use of baptism as a sign of belonging to Christ was used after his resurrection and ascension (Matt. 28:18-20).

What this passage clearly shows is the same attitude toward children that God reveals in the Old Testament. God knows our children even before birth and claims them. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” Ps. 139:13

Children of believers were always included in the covenantal blessings of God (Acts 2:39). The children of Israel were not considered pagans until they reached some mysterious age of accountability. What an unbiblical thought that somehow children are not accountable for their sin. They come out of the womb as rebellious sinners, telling lies, the Psalmist tells us (Psalm 58:3). By nature they are all “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3), not a sweet Precious Moment kind of picture we imagine, even though they bear the indelible mark of God’s image.

To believe that baptism as a New Testament sign of God’s forgiveness and new life only belongs to those who exercise a professed belief, is to introduce something new and out of character with the whole Bible.

John Calvin was right when he said that the only difference between circumcision of the Old Testament Church and the baptism of the Church under Jesus Christ is only in the externals.

It is true that we have no command in the New Testament to baptize children of believing parents. But, the burden of proof does not lie on those who believe Scripture teaches us to do so. The burden of proving otherwise falls on those who say, “Now God acts differently and the sign of God’s covenantal family belongs only to adults or to those who can sufficiently make the appropriate response of faith”.

John Calvin asked these questions to those who would deny baptism to little children:
“If it is right that children should be brought to Christ, why should they not be admitted to baptism, the symbol of our communion and fellowship with Christ? If the kingdom of heaven is theirs, why should they be denied the sign by which access, as it were, is opened to the Church, that being admitted into it they may be enrolled among the heirs of the heavenly kingdom?” (Commentary on Mark)

We must ask, “What does baptism represent?” And we must ask what makes baptism effective?