Lord’s Day 27
Q74. Should babies be baptized too?
Yes. Babies as well as grown-ups belong to God's covenant and are his people. They are promised forgiveness of sin through Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit who creates faith. So by baptism, the sign of the covenant, babies should be welcomed into the Christian church and set apart from children who do not belong to the church. In the Old Testament, this was done by circumcision, which was replaced by baptism in the New Testament.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Genesis 17:7
“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.”
Matthew 19:14
“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Psalm 22:10
“I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou my God from my mother's belly.”
Isaiah 44:1–3
“Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”
Acts 2:38–39
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Acts 16:31
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Acts 10:47
“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?”
Genesis 17:9–14
“And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”
Colossians 2:11–13
“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does the catechism say babies should be baptized?
- 2
How does infant baptism connect to God's covenant with Abraham in the Old Testament?
- 3
What does it tell you about God that he includes whole families in his promises?
Illustration
When a country grants citizenship to parents who have a new baby, that baby is a citizen too. The baby did not apply or pass a test. The baby belongs because the family belongs. In God's covenant, children of believers are included in his promises and receive the sign of that covenant.
Application
If you were baptized as a baby, ask your parents what that day was like and what promises were made. If you were not, ask them to explain how your family thinks about baptism. Either way, thank God that he gathers families into his promises.