Summary Statement of Infant Baptism

It is perhaps helpful to provide a summary statement of what covenant theology believes concerning what infant baptism is.  In a nutshell, so to speak, it is as follows:

1. The Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12, 15 etc.) continues to exist in New Testament times.

2. The New Testament teaches in passages such as Colossians 2:11-12 that baptism now replaces circumcision as the sign of the Abrahamic covenant.

3. As children of covenant members were circumcised in the Old Testament, so now, infants of believers should be baptized, indicating that they (the infants) are members of the Abrahamic covenant.  

As the Christian church desires to practice baptism in a biblical, God-honoring way the challenge stands for Baptists to show that one or more of the above statements are incorrect.  If it can be shown that the Abrahamic covenant ended at the cross, then covenant theology would not have a leg to stand on.  Or, if it could be clearly shown that the New Testament does not teach that baptism replaced circumcision, then covenant theology would similarly be shown to be in error.

A couple quick comments of clarification follow.  Covenant theology does not hold that baptized infants of believers are saved because of that baptism.  Covenant theology also distinguishes between the Abrahamic covenant and the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31.  Reference the additional pages of this website for more information.  

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