Could You Defend Your Belief In Believer's Baptism? Part 1

Credobaptism is the practice of baptizing only those who are able to make a profession of faith.  The word credo comes from the Latin for "creed."  Credobaptism is also called Believer's Baptism.   So, as a Baptist pastor serving a Baptist Church, I wonder if anyone in my congregation could defend Believer's Baptism?

If you were to enter into discussion with someone who disagrees with you, at the outset I would recommend that you see that the essential and fundamental difference between you is not regarding infant versus adult baptism.  The difference is hermeneutics – how we interpret the Bible!   So it is no small matter!

What is the Basic Credobaptist Argument?

A.   Key to understanding the Credobaptist position is to understand that credobaptists affirm and seek to be consistent in this way: we want to interpret the Old Testament (It's types, shadows, prophecies, theology, etc.) by the New Testament.  

      

      In other words, you should hear from a credobaptist, that they see the actual Old Testament meaning in its historical context, but having established that, the interpreter uses the New Testament to understand its fuller, eschatological and Christological meaning.  I have said it before this way: when I interpret the Old Testament in it's context, an orthodox rabbi ought to applaud my understanding.  When I apply the New Testament understanding of the text, he ought to want to hang me!

You should always hear that a credobaptist affirms that the covenant sign is to be given to the children of Abraham. So far we will agree with everyone.   But ... the credobaptist will then ask the next question, "In the fulfillment of God's plan, who are the children of Abraham?"  

You should hear this answer: that Christ is the ultimate Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16); that God has determined an offspring of Christ (Isaiah 53); and this offspring applies to any who have faith in Christ (Galatians 3:29). 

So when a Christian interprets the Old Testament through the New, they are going to say with a resounding "Yes", that the children of Abraham are to receive the covenant sign. And they are going to be aware that in the New Covenant the children of Abraham mean those who have received Christ in faith.

So let's be clear: The credobaptist will affirm resoundingly that the children of Abraham should receive the sign of the covenant.  The credobaptist will then, through the New Testament, define the children of Abraham as all who have faith in Christ.  Therefore, when the New Covenant lens looks at promises of children (households) being saved in the New Testament, it will always see that this applies to those who have faith – not biological children.  Peter made it very clear in Acts 2:21 that all that call upon the Lord will be saved.  That is the governing principle of the text. He then promised the gift of the Holy Spirit based upon the work of the risen Christ on the Cross.  He then said that this promise applies to all their children and even all Gentiles – all who repent and believe will receive the Spirit. 

Summary

So because the Credobaptist interprets the Old via the New, this means that the term, children of Abraham, takes on a new and richer meaning.  Nowhere are we commanded in the New Covenant to give the sign of the covenant to biological offspring -- only those born from above -- born of the Spirit.

In the next blog I will advance this idea ....