In the past, God promised and provided salvation for those who placed their faith in the coming Messiah. His name was Jesus Christ.
In the present, God still promises and provided salvation for those who place their faith in the Messiah who came. His name was Jesus Christ.
In the past, God instructed his believing saints to profess and prove their faith by engaging in his religious ceremonies. There were sacrifices, offerings, fasts, and feast in abundance. In addition, male believers were to be circumcised. Also, male and female believers were to be ceremonially washed, wetted, or baptized with water. (Hebrews 9:21, Baptismos) This symbolized their filthy nature that had been washed by God.
In the present, God still instructs his believing saints to profess and prove their faith by engaging in his religious ceremonies. Today, male and female believers are to be ceremonially washed, wetted, or baptized with water. This symbolizes their filthy nature that has been washed by God.
In the past, God then instructed his believing saints to have their not-yet-believing household male members to be circumcised. Later, God instructed them to have their not-yet-believing household male and female members washed, wetted, or baptized. Never did these rites save believing saints or not-yet-believing household members. It showed the obedient faith of believing saints and the only possible hope for those not-yet-believing. From the point of their circumcision and baptism, believing parents began the process of making disciples and waiting for God to answer their prayers and regenerate their precious children.
In the present, God still instructs his believing saints to practice household baptism. Five examples are presented in the New Testament. (Acts 10:48; 16:15; 16:31; 18:8; 1 Corinthians 1:16) It shows the obedient faith of believing saints and the only possible hope for those not-yet-believing. Then, from the point of our loved-ones’ baptisms, believing parents began the process of making disciples and waiting for God to answer their prayers and regenerate their precious children.
Therefore …
Because God wanted believers and their households to be washed, wetted, or baptized in the OT era …
Because God wanted believers and their households to be washed, wetted, or baptized in the NT era …
Because God has not given us any command to withhold his initiatory signs to believers and their households — as he did with circumcision …
We make vows.
- Parents, do you acknowledge your child’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?
- Parents, do you claim God’s covenant promises in (his/her/their) behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for (his/her/their) salvation, as you do for your own?
- Parents, do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before (him/her/them) a godly example, that you will pray with and for (him/her/them), that you will teach (him/her/them) the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring (him/her/them) up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
- Congregation, do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting the parents in the Christian nurture of this child?
We then joyfully wash, wet, and baptize our children.
Following this, we pray, work, and wait for the Holy Spirit to spiritually do that which we have done ceremonially.
Unfathomable Grace 