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FCF understands Scripture to teach that only those who have made a decision to trust in Christ and become His follower qualify for Baptism. Scripture teaching on Baptism may be summarized as follows:
- Baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Christ, fulfilled by individuals who have become followers of Christ.
- Baptism symbolizes the spiritual cleansing through divine forgiveness, and the newness of life experienced by believers by virtue of their identification with Christ in His death and resurrection.
- Baptism provides an opportunity for believers to make a formal declaration of faith before the church.
- As a biblical rite of initiation into the body of Christ, Baptism of believers may be considered a prerequisite for joining the membership of the church.
Although the old covenant practice of infant circumcision is sometimes given as a rationale for infant Baptism, the biblical definition of the functions of circumcision and Baptism shows that those two institutions fulfilled different purposes in their respective covenants. The equation is never made in the Bible between the circumcision of male infants in the old covenant and the Baptism of born-again believers–much less infants–in the new covenant. However, FCF encourages Christian parents to present their children for the ceremony of dedication, whereby God’s blessing is formally invoked upon children, and the parents publicly commit themselves to raise their children according to the teachings of Scripture.
Because the symbolism of Baptism requires a more adult level of cognitive and developmental readiness, FCF requires that children be mature enough to understand the meaning of this ceremony. Proverbs 20:25 issues a significant caution against the danger of making a vow before adequate knowledge, forethought, and reflection have been given.
A Word Concerning Infant Baptism
If the purpose of Baptism is to publicly identify a believer in Jesus Christ, you may well be asking yourself, “What was the significance of my Baptism as a baby?” In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them. But He didn’t baptize them, and He didn’t tell anyone else to baptize them. Baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation.If you were baptized as a child, it was the intent of your parents that you would one day be a follower of Christ. Your Baptism as an adult can be viewed as the fulfillment of your parents’ wishes. It in no way repudiates the Baptism you received as a child.
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