We’ll be thinking about baptism and our covenant children tomorrow as we administer the sacrament of covenantal initiation to Sophia Faith Johnson. The message will be based upon the two texts — one from the old covenant and one from the new covenant — that promise covenant mercy to us and to our children:
“And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Gen. 17:7)
“For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:39)
Our Confession of Faith summarizes the biblical teaching regarding baptism as follows (ch. 28):
Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church; but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world. (sect. 1)
Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized. (sect 4)
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