We Baptists are often criticized by our Reformed friends for our belief that baptism is a profession of the faith of the one being baptized. Such a definition, the argument goes, makes baptism too much an individualistic thing, all about me-'n-Jesus, with no necessary reference to the larger body of Christ. I wonder if they realize that John Calvin said the same about baptism? Granted, Calvin had a lot of other things to say about the significance of baptism, many of which are helpful as well, and which I can happily agree with even as a Reformed Baptist.
From Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, chapter 15:
Baptism serves as our confession before men, in as much as it is a mark by which we openly declare that we wish to be ranked among the people of God, by which we testify that we concur with all Christians in the worship of one God, and in one religion; by which, in short, we publicly assert our faith, so that not only do our hearts breathe, but our tongues also, and all the members of our body, in every way they can, proclaim the praise of God. In this way, as is meet, every thing we have is made subservient to the glory of God, which ought everywhere to be displayed, and others are stimulated by our example to the same course. To this Paul referred when he asked the Corinthians whether or not they had been baptised in the name of Christ, (1 Cor. 1: 13;) intimating, that by the very circumstance of having been baptised in his name, they had devoted themselves to him, had sworn and bound themselves in allegiance to him before men, so that they could no longer confess any other than Christ alone, unless they would abjure the confession which they had made in baptism.
Yes, baptism is more than simply a profession of faith. Calvin knew that, and so do we. It is a sign and seal of God's grace. It is the rite by which one is united to the visible church. It is a symbol of regeneration and a picture of heart circumcision. It is more than merely a profession of faith. But it is inescapably a profession of faith.
|