Baptizing Them

We are a reformed church – and a reforming church.  When this congregation began we were self-consciously a reformed Baptist church.  That is, we only performed baptisms on those who had made a credible profession of faith.  But from the beginning as well, we have stressed to parents to raise their children believing the promises of God for their children – that is for their salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit – according to the preaching of Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2.

Because of this teaching, many of us began to re-examine our doctrine of baptism and came to the conviction that the Scriptures teach that children of believing parents should receive this rite of baptism and as soon as they are able to partake at the Lord’s Table, they should come to the Table as well.  We began to see that they were covenant children, part of God’s family, and that they should be identified as such, instructed as such, and fed as such.

Well, what to do?  Some of us came to this conviction, but some of us did not.  Some came and joined our congregation with this conviction – and many have come and joined us believing that Baptism was for those who had made a profession of faith first.  One thing that we determined to do in all of this – is NOT to split the church over this issue.  And so, we have developed a way of ministering to families based on their conviction on baptism while continuing to emphasize the promises of God for parents with regard to their children.  This is what we call our baptismal cooperation agreement.

Sounds crazy?  Yep – many think so.  But we don’t.  We believe it is a glorious manifestation of the church in the state of being matured, not having figured out everything, not being overly scrupulous with convictions, and working hard to grow together up into the unity of faith.

So – this morning we have a wonderful example for you all to enjoy and rejoice with us – but I want to explain it to you and its context now – because it could raise some questions for you otherwise in just a few minutes.  Larry and Julia Badillo have been attending our church for some months and are going to become members soon.  They have four wonderful children, Emma, Mateo, Jude, and Siena.  The Badillos were Baptists and none of their children have yet been baptized.  But as they came to understand the promises of God for their children, they became convinced that all of their children should be baptized.

Some other families have done this at other times in the life of our church – and when they have, we have still asked the children old enough to make a profession of faith too – and so with the oldest three Badillo children we will do the same.  But in most cases, we have then sprinkled all of the children as the mode of baptism – based on the pictures of baptism we have and the outpouring or sprinkling of the Holy Spirit upon the nations and upon individuals.  This pictures the washing and anointing of the Spirit.

However, with the Badillos, out of respect for their past convictions as well as in honor of Julia’s parents who are here to celebrate with us, we are going to immerse Emma, Mateo, and Jude for their baptisms  - this pictures the planting and the death and resurrection pictures of baptism mentioned in Romans 6 for instance.

In Ephesians 4 we are instructed that there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism.  We agree, and as far as these baptisms, the different administrations and the different modes, we declare that we are still declaring that there is one baptism and one alone.  This baptism is the declaration by God through His church that He has purchased these ones with the blood of His Son and they are His.  This is the mark of their identity, their new identity, in Jesus Christ.  As you witness these baptisms, you are charged to remember your own baptism, to be grabbed by that baptism again and to hear God speak to you in that baptism – “you are mine and I am yours – you come and follow me.”