What is the Difference between Baptist and Covenantal views on Baptism?
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What are the Two Positions on Baptism?
Prior to being called into ministry I was quite convinced for about a year of the Baptist/Credo only position. Then for the last 16 years, I've been steadily growing as one convinced of covenant baptism. I have 4 kids who have all been baptized as soon as they were able. Over the last decade of pastoral and missionary work, I’ve been blessed to work alongside many brothers and sisters of various persuasions on the topic. Baptism is an important topic, but it is one I consider to be a secondary issue. This means that I can worship and attend churches that hold a different view on Baptism than I believe to be True. We as Christians, are called to be United in Christ and Baptism is not an issue to divide.
Covenantal Baptism
Covenantal, Family or Household baptism is the administration of the sacrament of baptism to those who are new believers or are newly born within the household of professing believers. In the Covenantal view, there is a continuation of the covenant promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob following the Apostle Peter's words and example in Acts 2. The sacrament of baptism in the Covenantal practice displays God's tremendous grace poured out on sinners who are without hope apart from God's regenerating, salvific, personal work in the lives of those baptized.
Believers Baptism
Believer's baptism is the administration of the sacrament of baptism to those who are newly converted and making a profession of their faith in Christ Jesus. Believer's baptism is for those who have never before previously received baptism and are confessing their only hope in this life and the next as the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
Household Baptisms
While there are plenty of great arguments to be made from Colossians, Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, 1 Peter, and the gospels, to me the deciding factor that changed my understanding of baptism was the book of Acts. While some will jump to the passages about "household" baptisms (which I think are indeed compelling), I jump to the passages about Simon (Acts 8), the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8), Apollos (Acts 18), and Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19).
The baptism of John was a different baptism categorically than the baptism practiced in Acts. Most Baptists when I bring this up give me something between a death glare and a look as though I've grown a second head.
The baptism of preparation preached by John is of different nature than the baptism of the disciple’s post-great commission. That demands the question, what differences are there in these baptisms? What do they do, and what do they display?
Once we begin to ask these questions, we will need some categorical buckets to examine the New Testament practice of baptism, and how it connects to the commands of God (including the great commission) and the community of God's people (the covenant community).
To me, when I've wrestled with and considered these passages, I continually come back to the conclusion that baptism is commanded and is a picture of God's grace (not a picture of our response to that grace although there is a component of response involved). God's grace is not received or earned from any merit of ours. Baptism is then, when administered among children, even infants, or even household servants, a further picture of God's grace coming as a gift, apart from any ability, or contribution on our part. Baptism isn't then just a response of obligation, it is a very visible means of grace by which the Gospel of God's gift of grace is displayed.
I hope that gives you something of an answer. There are many sentences here that do not directly lead to one another. I recognize that and hope you and others do as well. Lots of good "counterpoints" by my brothers and sisters who are Baptists. Please don't take this as by any means an attempt at a definitive answer, just some of the passages that have personally been sources of conviction and encouragement to me as I've studied scripture.
In this sacrament, we see God's tremendous grace poured out for sinners regardless of the sinner's ability to merit or accomplish anything. Whether baptism is received by a child of a Christian household, or by a new professing believer, in all cases when rightly administered, baptism is wholly about the promises of God given by grace and applied through faith in Jesus Christ.
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