The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Question regarding infant baptism

William,

No, God does NOT elect "infants". Election occurred in eternity, not when someone is an infant. We all come into this world as "infants" but our election or reprobation is again from eternity. Infants are NOT "special" to God. Infants were not looked upon as "endearing" and thus given a special place in God's choice of election; man looks upon infants as "innocent" little darlings. But Paul tells us that they are "children of wrath" even as others. David was born in sin although he was elect.

Yes, faith and sanctification are indisputably the work of God in salvation. But they are NOT promised to covenant infants and children as a special class. Again, covenant children are born "children of wrath", dead in trespasses and sins and it is through the means of grace that any are brought to Christ. Teaching a child that he belongs to God is to instill in that child a false assurance of his/her spiritual condition. Nowhere in Scripture do we find a believing parent telling a child that they are "one in Christ" because they are a covenant child. (cf. Jh 1:12, 13)

Since the Bible is replete with statements and examples of how depraved ALL mankind is, the only presumption one may have about an infant or child is that they are in dire need of hearing the Gospel. And until that child responds with an evangelical repentance and faith toward God in Christ, they cannot be rightly presumed to be "elect", "regenerate", "Christian", "in Christ", etc. A covenant child is "holy" due to the faith of its parents to be sure. But this simply and only means that the child is "set apart" (Grk: hagios); privileged over children born to unbelieving parents because to them are given the "means of grace" through which they may be called to Christ.

You quoted Acts 2:39 - "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, <span style="background-color:yellow">even as many as the Lord our God shall call</span>." Notice that God's promise of remission of sins, aka: salvation belongs STRICTLY to "as many as the Lord shall call." Here the "call" is not that outward call of which all hear in the preaching of the Gospel, but rather it is referring to that inward call, aka: irresistible grace, that comes in conjunction with regeneration and leads infallibly by way of conviction of sin to repentance and faith in Christ. We have no warrant whatsoever to presume upon that promise since it belongs to God to sovereignly call whosoever HE chooses. Like the new birth, we only know after it occurs and never beforehand. To presume that covenant children have any part of salvation prior too their conversion is to contradict Unconditional Election. . . UNLESS of course, you can make a case that covenant children as a group were part of that election. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,