Sermon (5/27/07)

Colossians 2:11-15       “Infant Baptism Magnifies Grace & Mortifies Sin”        

Let me make some preliminary remarks about the meaning of sacraments and a disclaimer.  First, the classic definition of a sacrament, and Protestants have two, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, classic definition is this: “a sacrament is a sign and seal of God’s invisible grace.”  For example, the water in baptism and the bread and wine which we see once a month points to God’s invisible grace of forgiveness, Christ’s suffering and death in his body and His costly blood poured out for us.  Now obviously for an infant receiving this, unlike Catholics who believe that baptism infuses special grace, Protestants have no unscriptural view like this.  Protestants believe that until the infant is old enough to consciously experience faith and appropriate these outwards signs and make them real inwardly and in life tangibly, baptism cannot save.  Likewise, for adults who confesses to have faith and gets baptized, but if the faith was counterfeit, then baptism cannot save. 

 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities [1] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. [2]Footnotes[1] 2:15 Probably demonic rulers and authorities [2] 2:15 Or in it (that is, the cross)     

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Let me make some preliminary remarks about the meaning of sacraments and a disclaimer.  First, the classic definition of a sacrament, and Protestants have two, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, classic definition is this: “a sacrament is a sign and seal of God’s invisible grace.”  For example, the water in baptism and the bread and wine which we see once a month points to God’s invisible grace of forgiveness, Christ’s suffering and death in his body and His costly blood poured out for us.  Now obviously for an infant receiving this, unlike Catholics who believe that baptism infuses special grace, Protestants have no unscriptural view like this.  Protestants believe that until the infant is old enough to consciously experience faith and appropriate these outwards signs and make them real inwardly and in life tangibly, baptism cannot save.  Likewise, for adults who confesses to have faith and gets baptized, but if the faith was counterfeit, then baptism cannot save. 

I always need to make this disclaimer because I’ve had some key leaders in the past who were more Baptists, that is, they only believed in adult or believer’s baptism.  However, being in a Presbyterian congregation that practices this, they fully supported this practice.  And this is the key to Christian unity across not only denominational lines but also within a particular local church, for this issue of whether to baptize infants or not is not an essential doctrine. 

From now on, I want to highlight two things today.  First, I want to provide the biblical basis for the practice of infant baptism and second, highlight the significance of infant baptism for Ambassadors family and not only for Ryan and Olivia’s biological parents. 

First, the biblical basis.  In our Reformed tradition, the Word of God must always precede the God-given signs of the sacrament of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, so I will spend some time to highlight the biblical basis for the practice of infant baptism.

Just as the teaching on the Trinity is not neatly spelled out in the Bible, the biblical warrant for infant baptism is also not neatly nor explicitly spelled out.  But key theologians in the 16^th century saw in our particular text, among many, a sound reason for this practice. 

Great 16^th century thinkers like John Calvin inferred from the Old Testament and the New Testament enough analogies and truths that encouraged infant baptism as a legitimate response to God’s saving grace in the believer’s household.   

 For example when they read Colossians 2:11-12:  11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

They saw how Paul himself made an analogous comparison of Christ’s divinely instituted sign of water baptism to the Old Testament God-given sign of circumcision.

And when the reformers compared the two signs by studying Genesis 17, where God first instituted or commanded Abraham to mark not only himself with the sign of circumcision, but also all the infant boys from 8 days old and up, they thought ahah!  Infants, who were not yet believers like Abraham was, were also to receive this sign that they belonged to God. In other words, even though the infants did not demonstrate understanding that Abraham had about what this sign meant, they were still to receive circumcision, which by the way, boys only received as representatives of females as well (Genesis 17:11).  And remember how this outward sign was a reminder of God’s covenant or promise, to bless Abraham and make him to be a father of many nations.  And the sign also served as a reminder that God would be Abraham’s God and his descendents – both Jews and non-Jews of faith. 

 The 16^th century Reformers saw in this comparison by Paul an understanding that baptism was the New Testament covenant sign that Christ has instituted in order to bring a fuller meaning and significance to the old sign of circumcision.  Therefore, Paul is able to say in Colossians 3:11 that there is now in Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision of the flesh matters anymore because we now have one circumcision, that is, baptism, performed by Christ as verse 11 in today’s passage indicates:  “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,  (In this context, the phrase, “by the circumcision of Christ” is referring to Christ’s violent death on the cross, in that he was cut off from life so that you and I may have life.  In other words, believers in the New Testament period also receive circumcision – not surgically by human doctors, but through the effect of Christ’s violent death on the cross for our sins.  When we put our trust in Christ as our Savior and Lord, through baptism, the benefits of Christ’s violent death on the cross for our sins is applied into our hearts.) 

To reiterate, even though children of believers in the NT didn’t understand the meaning of baptism just as the children of believers in the OT didn’t understanding the meaning of circumcision, children nevertheless received the signs. 

 Early church history that is closer to the apostles than we are also indicates that many believers practiced infant baptism.  Early in the third century, Hippolytus, an Elder in Rome, described the order of a daybreak baptism service.  Their bulletin indicated that it began with children, then men and women.  If the children are capable of responding for themselves, they are to answer the baptismal questions.  If they are incapable, their parents or someone from their family is to respond for them.  (Edmund P. Clowney, The Church: Contours of Christian Theology, [IVP], p. 284)   The Reformers reasoned, “If the children of the people of God in the OT received the sign of God’s promise, how much more should the children of believing Christians in the NT receive the sign of baptism.” 

There are other passages in the Bible that justify the practice of infant baptism, which in my humble opinion, gives a better theological, historical and pastoral support to this ancient practice, but for now, I hope you were able to see from our passage and from history, the biblical basis for infant baptism as the new sign that replaces the old sign of circumcision which reminds us that this new sign points to the act of Christ by which he puts to death our self-centered ways of living. 

Furthermore, God raises us with Christ to live for God and our neighbor.  Verse 12 points to the power available to say no to sin and selfish ways of our former life before placing our faith or trust in Christ.  Paul says:

 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

The Colossians Christians were trying to cope and deal with evil and sin by adding onto God’s sufficient power demonstrated in resurrecting Christ, with cross substitutes like sophisticated philosophies and ascetic practices, but Paul says: your Christian baptism should be a reminder of the reality that through faith in Christ, you were united with Christ not only in his death to sin, so that sin no longer is your master.  For example, let’s say that you were once addicted to greed and materialism, but now you’re dead in Christ, which baptism symbolizes.  If you go to a dead person and say, you have to work harder and earn more money to keep up with the Jones and play the lottery.  But if you’re dead, then these temptations have no power to influence you anymore. In some real way, spiritually speaking, baptism signifies this new-found freedom in Christ. 

And because we’re also raised with Christ, according to verse 12, resurrection power is available to empower you to say no to greed and self.  In other words, this resurrection power of God is a reality to tap into and link ourselves to instead of trying to tap into weaker powers like false philosophies or ideologies that have no power to overcome sin.

 For example, it’s like Christians loving and trusting in fortune cookie sayings or the wise quotes on Starbucks cups more than the Bible!  Or it’s like Asian Christians really believing that children born this year, in the year of the Golden Pig, are more special than other children born in other years and you’re secretly banking on that fortune instead of trusting in God’s grace alone.    And Paul is saying to you and the Colossian Christians – you guys are bewitched and deceived!  Remember your baptism, your union with Christ in his death and in his resurrection so that you can reign with him now in freedom from superstition and false gods that are no gods at all.  In Christ, you’re already complete!   

And all this and more both infant baptism and adult baptism with water and more importantly, into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit signifies.  And the only difference is that for an infant, we won’t see concrete evidences of this born again or devoted life of discipleship fruits till they’re a teenager or even later.  But by baptizing infants, the believing parents and we as Ambassadors today are trusting God to make the outward signs of water experientially real one day!  And because many Presbyterians believe that Scripture clearly teaches that God predestines many to be saved before we can do any good works of righteousness, extending this sign, to a helpless and clueless infant best magnifies God’s grace – his unconditional riches and mercy!  Again, to clarify, it does not secure nor guarantee their salvation, but it expresses our view and trust in God’s grace, that God must act and save and it is with this hope that parents and us together as a church do our utmost to engage in Christian education that transforms, which leads to my final point.

 Secondly and my last point: Infant baptism is also significance for Ambassadors family and not only for Ryan and Olivia’s biological parents.   

Just as the sign of circumcision in the Old Testament was an act that included all the infants and children of believing households and the people of God, you are called upon to understand this practice.  God’s people were commanded to raise the children to be instructed and nurtured in God’s ways.  So you, as God’s people, today, will also be called upon by God to do the same for all the infants, toddlers and children in our midst by praying for them and faithfully setting an example of what it means to be a humble and devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

 It’s also a reminder to all of you as adults to reaffirm your baptismal vows to follow the Lord by taking up your cross daily, denying yourself, and gladly and joyfully following Christ because he has washed, cleansed, and forgiven all of your sins, that once put you in a spiritual death state, apart from a relationship with God.   

May this Baptismal service remind you of all the benefits that this sign and seal signify and also to renew you afresh by the power of the Holy Spirit!  We are not being presumptuous today by baptizing Olivia and Ryan; we’re expressing humble, yet confident hope that in due season they too will confess with their own lips and believe in their own hearts that Jesus is Lord.  Then and only then, will they be able to discern the body of Christ and also participate fully in the Lord’s Supper.