Why do we baptise our children? What is the meaning of baptism? Is it something that is required of us by God or is it merely tradition? These are questions that I once pondered and are now crystal clear. The answers are in God's Word:
The Bible teaches that the "sign of salvation" is to be applied to the children of believing parents. In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign. In the New Testament, baptism is the sign. Its like when a man and woman get married, they give each other a ring as a sign of the covenant they made with one another. The ring is not what makes them husband and wife, but it is an outward sign that they belong to each other. Baptism is the outward sign that I belong to God. Kyle and I were both baptised when we became believers and when believing parents have children, God commands them to baptise their infants. The baptism of our children symbolizes the reality that they are "set apart" in the sight of God. This is where we get confused sometimes...baptism does not save the child, but by baptising Lily we are committing to raise her by the direction of the Lord, trusting that she will confess Christ as her Savior when she is old enough to make that decision. When she makes the decision to give her life to Christ, then she will be baptised again, this time as a sign that she is a true believer and child of God.
Kyle's mom found that beautiful Irish baptismal gown. It was the last one in her size!
