In mid-April I had the privilege of attending my 88 year old father-in-law’s wedding.  Janey and I had been praying for this public union for almost forty years.  As you might expect, this was a glorious occasion.

This is not the type of wedding you might expect for a widower.  You see, Mr. Furrow was the bride.  The ceremony was his public union with the Bridegroom through baptism.

The “I dos” rang out firm and clear before the gathered congregation as he answered these questions: “Do you admit you are a sinner?’ and “ Do you trust in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of your sins?”

What would a marriage ceremony be without a name change?  The bride publicly and officially

bore the name of Christian.  His baptism publicly marked him as being owned by Christ.

After the service, four generations of the family enjoyed a joyous time of feasting and fellowship at over a meal  at the bride’s home.

The Bridegroom had been pursuing the bride for some time.  We had noticed a growing openness to prayer and scripture reading and a positive use of the Lord’s name in our conversations with him.  Almost three weeks prior to the baptism, the Bridegroom irresistibly commanded this union.  Having been granted faith and repentance, the bride readily assented.

I must add at this point that baptism, whether it be infant or adult, does not save.  Christ alone is our Savior.  We look to Him alone for our salvation. He saves when and how He so desires.

Baptism publicly marks one’s covenantal union with Jesus Christ.  The Westminster Confession of Faith XXVIII.l states that those baptized are “baptized into the visible church .....it is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life.”  Larger Catechism Q/A l66 says that infants of Christians “are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized.”  The next Q/A l67 states that the baptized have “given up their names to Christ.”  It is in this sense that I speak of baptism as being like a marriage.

We should take seriously each baptism and use the ceremony to improve our own baptism.  As Larger Catechism Q/A l67 clearly states, the baptized  are to be reminded of our ingrafting into Christ as we face temptation daily.  By faith, we seek to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness.  This is true whether we have been baptized as an infant or as an adult, after the confession of our faith in Christ.

Confession of this covenantal union, whether in baptism or marriage, must be made.  Regarding those baptized in infancy, they are to confess to elders the reality of their faith in Christ and be admitted to the Lord’s Table.  Thus, infants growing up are to be taught to pray to God.  They should be taught to address God as Father and to praise Him for who He is.  They are to confess their sins.  They bring their supplications to the Lord’s throne of grace.  They do this because they are covenant children and covenantally united to Christ.  They do not wait until they have been admitted to the Lord’s Table by confession of faith before they begin living out this union with Christ. Parents are to teach their children to look to Christ alone for salvation and to repent of  their sins. They pray with and for their children in regard to their spiritual needs and spiritual growth.

With marriage, confession of that union is to be made on a daily basis.  Those married live in terms of their vows to their spouse.  These vows undergird them in times of temptation to be unfaithful.  Their relationship with one another and others is marked by this marital covenant.

Although there are differences in marriage and baptism, we must realize that baptism is important, serious, and meaningful.  Covenant families must realize it as such and teach their children accordingly.  Covenant children cannot take it for granted or treat it lightly.  It is a means of grace.  There are too many warnings in scripture for covenant members who have disrespected the covenant .  These warnings are applicable and important for Christian youth of our generation.  We live in a day of image.  Christianity is a religion of words about the Word.  Baptismal vows, like wedding vows, are to be taken seriously.

May we be a people who honor our baptisms and recognize the covenantal union with Christ that it establishes publicly.

Review ©2007 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia