Note: This is Article IV in the series: I. Immersion in the Baptism Form, II. Incorporation Into Christ, III. Immersion, Children and the Lexicons.  A discussion follows between Rev. Johann Muller, Catechumen Charles Fessler, and Charles’ Baptist friend, Melvin Rausch.

Rev. Muller: The topic of our discussion and theme of our lesson today is, Infant Baptism and the Gospel.  Melvin has another little tract to show us, which ought to make us smile.  Tell us about it, Melvin.

Melvin: The Berachah church I used to attend maintained that there is not one word in Scripture commanding Infant Baptism.  They issued this little tract, bookmark size, and on one side in bold capital letters it reads, WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM?  (see other side).  The reverse side is blank.  So the answer is: Nothing!

Charles: Say, that is “cute!” But what must we say of that oddity, Reverend?

Rev. Muller: We must reply to that by asking, ‘But where do the Scriptures refer to and warn against the awful evil of Infant Baptism?’ Not one writer against Infant Baptism is brought forward in Scripture!  But despite that fact, what sort of attack is made on the doctrine of Infant Baptism, Melvin?

Melvin: The pastors where I formerly attended church said they did not intend to publicly defame the following, but that they did agree with those who did, as namely, Kinghorn: It is “the very precursor of Antichrist, the inlet of almost every abomination.” Dr. Alexander Carson: It is “the fortress of the man of sin—the very spirit of Antichrist.” Dr. Ide: The old upas tree which with its death-distilling branches—Popery, prelacy, and skepticism—has for fourteen centuries shaded and blasted the world.” Dr. Howell: “…an evil which despoils the church…a sin against God…and more disastrous to the cause of truth and salvation than any of the progeny of superstition.” Dr. Fuller: “an antichristian practice, introducing and perpetrating the most glaring inconsistency and mischievous confusion, tarnishing the glory of the atonement, and doing vast injury to our children.”

Rev. M: Are then believers in the doctrine of Infant Baptism a wicked, obscure minority, Melvin?

M: No, sir.  Some eminent, godly believers in Infant Baptism were: Huss, Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Beza, Melancthon, Zwingli, Knox, Zacharius Ursinus, Casper Olevianus, Guido de Bres, the Synod of Dordt, and the following denominations—the Presbyterian churches, Reformed churches, Church of England, Protestant Episcopal Church, Reformed Episcopal, the Lutheran Churches, and the Methodist Churches.

Rev. M: Now, Charles, what will be our approach to this, today’s topic?

C: First, negatively, that Infant Baptism is no sin.

Rev. M: Correct: now open your Psalters to page 55 (old edition, DH) in the back where we have “The Form for the Administration of Baptism.” Melvin, can you show from our Baptism Form that Infant Baptism is no sin?

M: I can: first, in the opening sentence reference is made to the doctrine of holy baptism; and under the paragraph, Secondly, “holy baptism” and “this holy sacrament” are mentioned, while on page 56 it is called “this holy ordinance,” and on page 57, again twice, “holy baptism.”

Rev. M: But in these paragraphs of our baptism form there is no literal mention of infant baptism.  How do you account for that?

M: Well, in Scripture there is no case of an adult having been born into a Christian home and baptized as an adult.

Rev. M: According to the Form, what is the meaning of baptism, Charles?

C: Holy baptism signifies purification (paragraph one) and “the washing away of our sins” (twice in paragraph two).  No sin here, but rather that “we are freed from all our sins” in His blood.

Rev. M: In holy baptism the Father witnesses and seals to us that He does make an eternal covenant of grace with us and adopts us for His children and heirs.  God makes an eternal covenant with us.  What does that mean, Melvin?

M: It means He makes a covenant with the parents and their children.  God never did make a covenant with parents without including their infant children.  There is not one example of this in all the Bible.  The Abrahamic covenant always included the youngest children.  This is so with every covenant of Scripture.

Rev. M: Under the Thirdly what is our part in the covenant, Charles?

C: Our part in God’s covenant is to trust in the one God, love Him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our mind, and with all our strength, to forsake the world, to crucify the old nature, and to walk in a new and holy life.  There is no sin in this, but, on the contrary it is sin not to do our part in the covenant.

Rev. M: In the word “To infants of believers” what doctrine is implied here?  (Both Charles and Melvin raise their hands.)  Melvin?

M: The doctrine of imputation, first of Adam’s sin and condemnation without the knowledge of our young children, then of Christ’s righteousness, which, without their knowledge is put to their account.

Rev. M: What can you add to that, Charles?

C: That to object to the condemnation of all men in Adam is to object also to the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to all in Him.  The objection really bars the salvation of anyone, and the baptism of anyone.  For baptism says no more than what the Gospel says.  The Gospel says, “For as in Adam all (All in one universal company) die, even so in Christ shall all (all in one particular company) be made alive” (I Cor. 15:22).

Rev. M: Now that’s the positive side of the subject!  Negatively, infant baptism is no sin; but positively infant baptism symbolically declares what the Gospel declares.

C: Yes, and furthermore, Pastor, on the positive side, God’s covenant with Abraham was with him and with his elect seed, Gen. 17:7, including infants of eight days old, and the Apostle Peter testifies that this everlasting covenant still continues according to God’s promise. Acts 2:39.

Rev. M: Melvin, what is the positive doctrine in connection with Christ’s blessing little children, Mark 10?

M: It is emphasized in the passage parallel to this, Luke 18:15ff. ‘And they brought unto Him also infants…Jesus…said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.’ ‘Of such’ means ‘theirs’ is the kingdom, and according to Lk. 18:17 they receive the kingdom!  Then they should be permitted to receive the badge of the kingdom, baptism.

Rev. M: Excellent!  Now tell us, Melvin, on what further ground are infants to be baptized?

M: On the ground that baptism has come in the place of circumcision.  There is only one covenant with different dispensations of the covenant.  In the old dispensation the sacrament was circumcision.  Now in the new dispensation the sacrament is baptism.  “Therefore infants are to be baptized as heirs of the kingdom of God and of His covenant.”

Rev. M: Charles, briefly explain Col. 2:11-13 upon which this truth is based.

Here all turn in their Bibles to the passage, and Charles speaks: ‘In whom (in Him, Christ) also ye were (literally) circumcised…” by the circumcision of Christ!  This is not the ritual circumcision, but the real circumcision, the Cross.  “Having been buried together with Him in the baptism” (not the ritual baptism, but the real baptism, i.e. the Cross), wherein ye were risen together with Him through the faith of the operation of God raising Him from the dead.  And you, being dead in your sins (in your heathen unregeneracy) hath He made alive together with Him…” Here is our objective incorporation into the fellowship of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.  This doctrine of “Incorporation Into Christ” is objectively true of all God’s elect, of the infant children of the church, first of all without their knowledge.  But we do pray, “look upon these children and (in their conscious perception) incorporate them by Thy Holy Spirit into Thy Son Jesus Christ that they (in their educated perceptive understanding of the doctrine) may be buried with Him into His death, and be raised with Him in newness of life…”

Rev. M: Let’s all say ‘Amen’ to that!  (All heartily say, ‘Amen!’)  Good!  The doctrine of incorporation into Christ is the Gospel, and there is no incorporation into Christ without infants; and holy baptism says nothing different from the holy Gospel!  Amen?  Zusammen – Amen!