tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post1272737187817978291..comments2023-03-27T07:18:54.285-07:00Comments on Having Two Legs: All Baptism is Infant BaptismTobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15535764613687631886noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4107600.post-34352127017404165082008-02-02T07:50:00.000-08:002008-02-02T07:50:00.000-08:00Toby, Genesis 1-2 opens with a great deal, with a ...Toby, Genesis 1-2 opens with a great deal, with a striking amount, of naming. God speaks the specifics of His creation into existence, and names what it is (Gen. 1:1-2:3). And there's also, as men have observed, rulers in each created realm that rule, govern and have their role (e.g. the sun is to rule and have its role in its realm). Then in chapter 2:18 and following, the woman is made from man, and he, Adam, names her: "woman." This starts out the story of their lives together in the garden. My point thus far, naming happens early on; chronologically speaking, it's early on. It's early on in the creation of the world; it's early on in the course of life for the man, Adam, and his wife. Of course, also, there's the naming of children and that happens early on. Adam knew his wife, Eve later gives birth and right away, early on, he's named---Cain (Gen. 4:1). Another related observation is the Bible's point about God naming or re-naming His people, they are given their names and that giving is associated with their calling, life, and circumstances---as rulers in their realm of discipleship. Abram goes to Abraham, as an example; Simon to Peter; Saul to Paul. These names are given at the beginning of the course of their life-long journey, to live out the way of faith. We can also ask: why the list of the names of the tribes; why the list of the names of the apostles---early on, early in the stories and settings where they are found in their respective Bible books? Naming comes at the first, at the beginning. It seems consistent, therefore, to make the observation that God with the administration of water baptism puts His own name on His people early on: "You are claimed as My own, here is your new name, 'Christian'---now, come and serve in My kingdom." Early on, chronologically speaking, is when this happens. Baptism first, now teaching unto discipleship (Matt. 28:19). And as you explained with infant baptism: it's God's beginning ways----His naming at the first, and His condescension of relationship to His own at the head of it all. It starts as the beginning of disciplehip--and yes, it's a disciplehip of following Christ, and He must be embraced by faith by that particular disciple. In this new life of discipleship, the baptized one follows, in faith, his King. The disciple serves and rules---in a godly pattern after his King---in this world. He is to go and make more disciples! All water baptisms are His naming; all God's children get their names at the first, just as infants do in our households. At the baptismal font, God says, "Welcome to the family, now from here on out, trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus." Rocky, right along with his household, has begun the walk with the Lord as children (3 John 4). DadAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com