Pedobaptism VS. Credobaptism
Mark Pacis
1/14/14
Matthew Barrett
History of Baptist thought
Paedobaptism is a particular activity in which infants are being baptized and create a covenant towards God. One must achieve a permanent recognition that the covenant signs carry the same meaning and indicate its consistent existence in order for it to become a biblical doctrine of infant baptism. Even though circumcision was replaced by baptism, circumcision and baptism are essentially similar interpretation. On the other hand, the promised generation of the Old Testament has now been fully brought in to completion in Christ which is a symbol of baptism. The new covenant has been modified, but for the most part, circumcision and baptism are alike. A solemn ceremony for a baptized infant affirms the Christian belief and is fully admitted as a member of the church. People attempt the covenantal signs to gain blessings and membership in the covenantal community. Stephen Willum, author of Baptism and The Relationship Between The Covenants article, stated “paedobaptists argue that in the OT circumcision was the outward ‘sign and seal’ of entrance into the covenant of grace and the covenant community” (127). The sign was something sufficiently important that is worthy of attention and the seal was an agreement with God, which is an obligation that is never to be broken. Because of the lack of disobedience in faith, many Israelites were circumcised outwardly to prove that they are covenant breakers. To be a covenant keeper, one must implement it with faith. In a sense, circumcision is the dismissal of sin by being cleansed from it in our hearts spiritually. In replacement towards circumcision was baptism as a sign and seal covenant towards the people. Willum also mentioned that “baptism is an outward sign of the inward, spiritual need for the grace of God in the heart of the covenant member—‘it points to the necessity of spiritual regeneration’” (130). Thus, baptism is a justification of our
1/14/14
Matthew Barrett
History of Baptist thought
Paedobaptism is a particular activity in which infants are being baptized and create a covenant towards God. One must achieve a permanent recognition that the covenant signs carry the same meaning and indicate its consistent existence in order for it to become a biblical doctrine of infant baptism. Even though circumcision was replaced by baptism, circumcision and baptism are essentially similar interpretation. On the other hand, the promised generation of the Old Testament has now been fully brought in to completion in Christ which is a symbol of baptism. The new covenant has been modified, but for the most part, circumcision and baptism are alike. A solemn ceremony for a baptized infant affirms the Christian belief and is fully admitted as a member of the church. People attempt the covenantal signs to gain blessings and membership in the covenantal community. Stephen Willum, author of Baptism and The Relationship Between The Covenants article, stated “paedobaptists argue that in the OT circumcision was the outward ‘sign and seal’ of entrance into the covenant of grace and the covenant community” (127). The sign was something sufficiently important that is worthy of attention and the seal was an agreement with God, which is an obligation that is never to be broken. Because of the lack of disobedience in faith, many Israelites were circumcised outwardly to prove that they are covenant breakers. To be a covenant keeper, one must implement it with faith. In a sense, circumcision is the dismissal of sin by being cleansed from it in our hearts spiritually. In replacement towards circumcision was baptism as a sign and seal covenant towards the people. Willum also mentioned that “baptism is an outward sign of the inward, spiritual need for the grace of God in the heart of the covenant member—‘it points to the necessity of spiritual regeneration’” (130). Thus, baptism is a justification of our