Welcome to part 3 in our series on Comparing Infant Baptism. In part 1, we looked at the Roman Catholic view of baptism. In part 2 we dove into the Confessional Lutheran view. Now, in part 3 we will look at the Reformed Presbyterian view on infant baptism.
If you read parts 1 and 2, you will remember that the reason I embarked on this research is that I was surprised to learn that there was a place for infant baptism in Calvinistic theology. My confusion came from the question of, how could historic views (Luther, Catholics) of baptismal regeneration fit into a system that includes the perseverance of the saints. It was logical enough to conclude that if every infant baptized is saved and yet no infants could ever lose their salvation, this wouldn’t seem verifiably true. Baptismal regeneration and perseverance doesn’t seem to be a system we could observe to align. And it would have to align 100 percent of the time.
We can conclude that the Roman and Lutheran views would subscribe to a system where baptism saves, but then a person can grow to reject the faith once given. Since Calvinism does not hold to a system where the elect can lose the gift they were given of no merit of their own, then we need to look at what those that hold to confessions such as the Westminster Confession of Faith believe about baptism, and secondly, then how would it apply to infants.
Chapter XVIII of the WCF states
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life.
As I did my research, the words sign and seal kept coming up over and over. All of the things attributed to Christ in salvation are very similar to the Catholic and Lutheran positions, but those words ‘sign’ and ‘seal’ are present in the affirmations. The book ‘WCF for Study Classes’ by G.I. Willimson explains that, “The Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace instituted by Christ. It does not save us, but it is a sign representing that which does save us” (pg. 268).
Williamson continues that, it signifies admission into the visible church, it signifies the grace of the covenant, it signifies regeneration, it signifies the remission of sins and it signifies the duty of new obedience. RC Sproul reiterates this list of significations in his Book “Essential Truths of the Christian Faith.” Sproul would also state, “The outward sign does not automatically or magically convey the realities that are signified. For example, though baptism signifies regeneration, or rebirth, it does not automatically convey rebirth. The power of baptism is not in the water but in the power of God” (pg.289).
This should be enough to conclude that the Reformed view of baptism does not save or regenerate, but are rather signs and a seal of the promises of what it signifies. Ok, that already answers our question of how infant baptism and perseverance could live in the same system. But is there more to specifically baptizing the children of professing parents? I should mention that not all Reformed traditions baptize children. The Reformed Baptists (LBC 1689) for example only baptize professing believers.
The answer that I am coming to is the view on the Covenant. In this view, circumcision is likened to baptism. As we read in the WCF, one of those signs are for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church. Just as children were circumcised and became part of the family of God, of Israel, set apart, so are the children of those believing parents to welcome them into the family of the church.
So there I have it. In this view, baptism does not save but rather is a sign and seal of the salvation given through Christ alone. And just as children were introduced to the covenant of God in the Old Testament, baptism now engrafts a person into the family of God. If that person is of the elect and will be regenerated and thus persevere really isn’t in the equation under this system. I understand I may only be scratching the surface here, but it was a worthwhile research project that I enjoyed diving into.
May God be glorified in all we do,
– RVK
RVK 1517 