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The debate over baptism is seriously hindered by the typical approach to the subject. In other words, we tend to think that simply looking the word "baptism" up in a concordance is enough to establish whether we should baptize adults only or infants as well. This approach is problematic because it does not take into account the many other areas which directly or indirectly intersect with baptismal theology, such as parents, children, descendants, covenant, God's promises, and so on.

The most typical argument is that, after looking at all the passages mentioning baptism, the reader concludes, "Not one infant baptism was in view here. Therefore, the Bible must not teach infant baptism." But this argument is nonsense. Imagine someone making the argument that we cannot serve women the Lord's Supper on the basis that the New Testament never comes right out and commands the Supper be given to women. We would conclude this person was a lunatic, or elsewise was seriously misinterpreting the Scriptures. The Scriptures do command women partake of the Lord's Supper, but you wouldn't get this doctrine from looking up "Lord's Supper" in a concordance. Rather, it is implicit from the broader theological basis of Gal. 3:28.

Noticing this, we can ask, "What were the old testament promises concerning children in the New covenant?" We notice that the concern infants and children.

"'As for me,' Says the Lord, 'this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My Words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from your descendant's descendants,' says the Lord, 'from this time and forevermore,'" (Isa. 59:21).

"But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them," (Psa. 103:17-18).

There are myriads of similar promises throughout the Old Testament (Ezek. 37:24-26; Jer. 32:38-40; the book to Deuteronomy, etc.). But the promise is clear. In the new covenant, God promises to make covenant with all who believe, them and their children.

The New Testament books make clear that it is with Christ's incarnation and sacrifice on the cross that these promises have come to be fulfilled:

"For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy

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