39. Covenant Sign

This morning as you witness the baptism of [child], it should be a time of great joy. What parent is not concerned about the spiritual welfare of his children? And God has met that concern with his promises and with a sign that symbolizes that promise — baptism. From the foundation of the world, God included children in every covenant that He has made. The covenant with Adam was broken and it affected all his family and his children after him. But the renewed covenant was also made with Adam, Eve, and their children. God contrasts the seed of the devil with the seed of the woman. The children of Seth are later called sons of God and take the covenant name of Jehovah. God’s covenant with Noah was also made with Noah and his children. God promised Abraham that He would be a God to Abraham and his descendants after him, and he included 600 of his servants who were born and raised in his household. And other Old Testament covenants could be mentioned. God is so concerned for our children that every covenant made a promise to the believer and his children after him.

The same is true of the New Covenant kingdom. Christ explicitly said of babies “for of such is the kingdom of heaven,” and he took the little children in His arms and blessed them. When Zaccheus was saved, Christ said, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he also is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9). There is a perk to becoming a son of Abraham: your household gets included. When Peter preached on the covenant in Acts 2 he said, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus… for the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off” (Acts 2:38-39). In chapter 3 he applies the covenant again and says, “you are sons of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Acts 3:25). Every New Testament baptism where there was a family, there is a household baptism. And there are other encouragements from the Lord that He is willing to be a God to our children.

But as witnesses of this baptism, I urge parents and children alike to think of their own families and pray for faith because throughout history it has been easy to go to two extremes with the covenant signs. The first extreme is to become superstitious and think the sign will accomplish everything without any parental responsibility. But Genesis 18:19 made clear that God would not fulfill any of His promises to Abraham’s children if Abraham did not “command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice.” Only as Abraham sought to keep his own covenant responsibilities did God promise, “that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” It is not automatic. There are always two sides to the covenant — our vows to God and God’s vows to us. So Scripture says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6).

The second extreme is to neglect God’s vows to us and treat it as being wholly our own responsibility. This is a heavy responsibility that no one could keep. God accompanies the sacrament as we by faith claim His promises. And 1 Corinthians 7:14 says that He sets apart our children and works in their lives. He gives outstanding promises which become reality as we claim them by faith. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved; you and your household.

So as [child] receives baptism this morning, let’s rejoice in God’s promises and recommit ourselves to the vows that you will hear [parents] making. As the [family] come forward, let me read one more encouraging promise that God has vowed to us: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring” (Isa. 44:3). The pouring of water on the child is a symbol of his need of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. May God give the Spirit that we are claiming in His perfect timing. Amen.