Infant Baptism - The Beginning Argument

Dr. J. Douma in his pamphlet entitled Infant Baptism and Conversion states that the real argument in the refusal to accept infant baptism in reformed Baptist churches lies primarily in how the promises between the old and new dispensations apply. If the argument on how circumcision and baptism relate lie merely between the point that one refers to the "carnal" or "earthly" things (circumcision) and the other only refers to the spiritual (baptism) - and there really is no connection between the two dispensations, then it is easy to see why this defense does not work with Baptists. Reformed Presbyterians hold to covenant theology as applying to the infants and children of believing parents. Reformed Baptists, on the other hand, consider promises in the old dispensation having an earthly application. These are distinct from the promises found in the new dispensation which have spiritual application. So what we have is two promises that have no real connection. The Presbyterians want to make a connection between the two dispensations firm. In other words the "earthly" elements in the old dispensation are inseparable from the spiritual elements; and the Apostle Paul makes this connection in Romans and other places. Notice that I am not saying that the old finds its dissolution in the new. For even Christ declared that not one pen stroke would disappear from the law until all things be fulfilled. I say that the old is fulfilled in the new - yes this is true. But there is a difference between being dissolved and being fulfilled. Being dissolved means that what once had authority no longer continues to have the same force. As it applies to this issue we are discussing, circumcision no longer continues to have the same force as it once did, but the spiritual application is very much the same. It is true and reliable. Circumcision was displaced by baptism but the spiritual promises continue on. That is the argument. So my intention is to show, in the end of this posting series, that the promises as given to Abraham also apply to the believers in the new. There are not two promises - one applying to Abraham's seed and another applying to believers, the spiritual seed of Abraham. But that both the "earthy" seed (Abraham's physical descendants) are equated with Abraham's spiritual descendants (those who have the faith of Abraham) and both of these refer to Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-5): "...For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ." If this is the case, then why not baptize infants?

Much more to follow...

-Joe