What was circumcision for? Reference Genesis 17:12-14.
“What was circumcision for? Reference Genesis 17:12-14.”
Circumcision was the right that marked the person as an Israelite - which status he had at birth. It marked them as members of the Old Covenant.
Water baptism is the rite of passage that marks one as born again in Christ, and it happens after the second birth. It marks us as under the New Covenant.
Unlike birth into Israel, no infant has experienced the second birth required for entering the Kingdom of Heaven. We baptize infant Christians, but we do not baptize non-christian infants, so to speak. One cannot become an “infant Christian” without believing.
Infant baptism is like trying to circumcise someone who is still in the womb.
Just as physical birth is required for circumcision, spiritual birth is required for water baptism.
“Do you make decisions for your children until they reach the age of reason?”
Yes, where possible. I cannot decide for them to repent and believe, which is the requirement to become a believer...