For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:27

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily, and in Him you have been filled, who is the head over all rule and authority; in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Colossians 2:9-12

I had been baptised as an infant, so for most of my life, I hadn’t been able to comprehend as applicable to myself, these verses from Galatians and Colossians; Paul wrote to the Galatians saying that those who had been baptised, had clothed themselves with Christ, understandably, this wasn’t my experience when I was baptised as an infant; Then the passage in Colossians tells of having the body of the flesh removed in the circumcision of Christ, and of the result of repentance to salvation being visibly confessed through baptism, in which through faith, the believer acknowledges that God raised Christ from the dead, and so in likeness to Christ’s physical resurrection, the believer has been spiritually raised and separated from the spiritually dead. I certainly couldn’t comprehend or apply this as a child who hadn’t yet repented from the works and ways of the flesh, given that at this time in my existance, I didn’t even know who I was, or what sin is.

But since being baptised as a believing adult, I’m now able to appropriate both these verses; I can now say according to scripture; By the work of God in me, by Holy Spirit and Christ, I’ve clothed myself with Christ, and I’ve been buried with Him in baptism, in which I was also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead!

Infant baptism was taught and practiced in the congregation I attended up to when I left there at the age of 54. Having been uncertain about what the will of God was in regard to whether infant or believer baptism are Biblically instructed or not, I wasn’t expecting to be baptised on the morning of my 60th birthday, especially given that I had spoken in support of infant baptism to some Christian friends only a week earlier. But on that day, after having the verse of Matthew 3:15 come to mind early that morning, although I hadn’t been reading in Matthew, and there was nothing in my reading over the recent days that had related to it. So I opened the bible, located the verse and read:

Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John to be baptized by him.

But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.

Matthew 3:13-15

On reading this, I felt immediately compelled to be baptised. The questions relating to infant and believer baptism were immediately answered, and it was no longer a question of “should I get baptised”, but instead, I now comprehended that I needed to be baptised as an act of God empowered righteousness in obedience. So I called one of my sons and asked if he would baptise me that morning; then, with his agreement, we went to the river at the end of his property and in the presence of his family, my wife and a Christian friend, my son baptised me. Since that morning, I have had complete peace in my understanding of the doctrine of believers baptism; So if you’ve been baptised as an infant but not yet as an adult, I hope this short doc. provides some constructive content for your consideration.

A few rhetorical questions and observations to consider:

  • Should unbelievers be baptised?
  • Are there any scriptures which specifically identify (not by perceived inference) infants/ unbelievers being baptised?
  • If a baby is baptised, what is the outcome of this baptism?
    • From my experience the outcome was: Quite a few years of unresolved questions on the matter.
  • Is infant baptism something that anyone has a Biblically instructed right and responsibility to make an infant submit to?
  • Is it an act of disobedience, or dishonour to God, if you’re baptised as a believer after having been baptised as an infant?
  • In the context of this topic, what is a Christian parent’s fundamental spiritual responsibility to their child? I believe this question is partly answered through recognising God’s sovereign provision for elect children:
    • We’re told in 1 Corinthians 7:14, that the children of a believing parent are Holy: “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. For otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.”. There’s no need or scriptural instruction that I’ve seen which prescribes an ordinance to be applied to hold/ claim/ consecrate children to God; they are already Holy.
    • Regardless of man’s traditions, and inclusive of man’s responsibility, only God has the authority, and power to bring about eternal salvation to a child: “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13). God has given responsibility to parents to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov 22:6). Through faith, obedience and righteousness, parents can rest in God’s promise: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: ” (Phil 1:6).
    • God’s plan of salvation for each individual, was determined before the foundation of the earth was laid, so His angels are engaged in service to the good of each child’s earthly life through to their heavenly inheritance.
      • Matthew 18:10 Take heed that you don’t despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
      • Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool?
        Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
  • Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
    God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?
    Don’t you know, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death?
    Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.“. An infant can’t walk in newness of life, until they reach the condition of maturity to believe and repent to eternal salvation. Baptising a child or an adult won’t cause them to have newness of life, but through faith and repentance, a Christian can comprehend and appropriate the instruction of the doctrine in these verses.

Others have written and spoken extensively on this topic, but rather than do that, I’ve included a link to a debate you may be invested in listening to. The arguments I’ve heard for the practice of infant baptism, are based on perceived inference of scripture, such as are expressed in the debate. I watched this debate before my adult baptism, and although I wasn’t convinced by either, I was more inclined to agree with the believers baptism perspective at that time.

John MacArthur on believers baptism verses R.C.Sproul on paedo baptism: https://youtu.be/2VzUOiNtgio?si=zldVTOwRzxGNi4lk