THE CHILDREN'S BAPTISM

Most children who read this page have been baptised in their infancy and will have no memory of the occasion. Perhaps some have not even seen a baptism take place, but all will know that the act itself simply involves being taken under or through water. Whilst this is only a sign, it is a sign of going out of sight and then being seen again because the Lord Jesus was buried and then was seen again as a risen Man. For this reason, before the act of baptism, the name of the child or grown-up person is called as being baptised to His name and also "to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". This in a very distinct way has the whole light and wonderful privilege of Christianity in view.

Believing parents, in the exercise of faith, recognise that it is right to have their children baptised, leaving it in confidence with God that He will work in their hearts to bring them into the true confession and enjoyment of Christianity. You will remember instances in Scripture where households have been baptised, such as that of the jailor at Philippi and that of Stephanas at Corinth. Parents themselves protect their children from everything that might be harmful and would deny the claims of the Lord. This explains why we have often, perhaps unwillingly, had to give up things we would like to do. Our heavenly Father knows that obedience costs us something and He will repay it in His own way. The commandment to obey parents is "the first commandment with a promise". Many of us have witnessed the baptism of grown-up persons who have confessed the Lord and desire to be known as belonging to Him. I have seen a photograph of a believer being baptised in a space cut in a frozen river in Russia. He was converted in prison and this was the first day of his release, although mid-winter! It may well be that he desired to remember the Lord in the breaking of bread as one would expect. Over fifty years ago Mr James Taylor wrote in a letter that, as household baptism became more recognised, the proportion of children turning to the Lord and accepting the fellowship of His death became much larger. Baptism is not essential for the eternal salvation of the soul. It seems that the twelve apostles were not baptised but were sent to baptise others into the public profession of Christianity. It is for us a means of practical daily salvation to be 'true to our baptism' as it has often been expressed. Are you true to yours?

J.C.Evershed