Likewise, infants are baptized into "future repentance and faith" and "the seed of both lies hidden within them by the secret working of the Spirit"(Inst.4, 16, 20). To refuse infants baptism then, according to Calvin, is to "rage openly at God's institution"(Inst.4, 16, 20).
This confuses me because we know that many, many infants who are baptized were never predestined by God to be saved. Of course, there are some who profess a false faith and are baptized, but that is solely on them. For the infant, no real presumption can be made, and no fault can be laid for "cheating". That's why it makes less sense to me. When someone is baptized in my church, there is celebration based on a fair presumption. I wouldn't know why to celebrate an infant's baptism, since we would have no idea whether the infant was ACTUALLY a child of God.
For the infant, no real presumption can be made, and no fault can be laid for "cheating".
You've just articulated why adult baptism doesn't really jive with reformed theology and why Calvin and most Reformers rejected it.
Do our works save us? Does our proclamation of faith save us? Does our lack of "cheating" save us? No. God's adoption of us from before the foundation of the world saves us by Christ's atonement alone. And this is true from the moment of our birth, not from the point we make a public pledge. Our understanding of our salvation may occur when we formally announce it in church one Sunday morning, but God determined the names of His elect before anyone was born. Infant baptism affirms this fact.
Infant baptism goes along so well with Reformed theology because it declares that God alone chooses His covenant family and does so irrevocably.
If we believe God ordained His covenant family, just as He ordains our own families, our spouses and our children, then that family is covered by the covenant. And baptism is a sign and seal of the covenant.
"She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet." -- Proverbs 31:21
There are many times in a parent's life he is fearful for his children. Verses like this one from Proverbs confirm that God holds His covenant family is His embrace, each of them. And at a time of His choosing, they will know it.
I know Baptists are very possessive of their adult baptism. If someone hasn't been baptized, certainly being baptized as an adult is a good and Godly thing to do as we are instructed to be baptized in His name. But to baptize your children before the congregation in the sight of God is a lovely, generous act of God's grace to His family, declaring the lives of our children are in His hands from the moment they take their first breath, forever clothed with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Here's a short Q & A on Infant Baptism from the OPC...
What did change is this:
These were all changed by Jesus. Yet, Jesus nowhere said, "Exclude the infants, for of such is not the kingdom of God. You must become as adults before I will give the Holy Spirit or repentance for sins, or saving faith." In fact Luke 18:15-17 says just the opposite. Baptism is not man's testimony or sign of what he the man has done. Baptism is God's testimony to man of what God does, when and where he pleases, to wash sinners from the filth and guilt of their sins. Baptism is God pointing down to man and declaring the gospel. Baptism is not man pointing up to God with a message, nor man pointing to himself and giving out a message... The Heidelberg Catechism of 1563 gave the following answer to your question... Q. 74. Are infants also to be baptized? A. 74. Yes, for since they, as well as their parents, belong to the covenant and people of God,[1] and through the blood of Christ [2] both redemption from sin and the Holy Ghost, who works faith, are promised to them no less than to their parents,[3] they are also by Baptism, as a sign of the covenant, to be ingrafted into the Christian Church, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers,[4] as was done in the Old Testament by circumcision,[5] in place of which in the New Testament Baptism is appointed.[6] "...The New Testament does not know anything about infants not being accountable, or having to grow up a decade or more before they reach a supposed 'age of accountability.' In order to preach Jesus, the New Testament speakers all appeal to the Old Testament to adequately set forth the identity of Jesus and what the church should do. The three major changes in the New Testament church from the Old Testament Church (Acts 7:38; the Greek reads ekklesia—church—not congregation) do not change the doctrine, the form of church government, or the synagogue worship as brought into the New Testament Church.
•the Passover into the Lord's Supper
•circumcision into baptism
•remembering of the 7th day into the 1st day of the week
Great point FK. Thankfully we are well past the age when we see people put to death for being baptized as adults.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter is instructing the individual that they must first Repent. Only someone with a measure of maturity is going to be able to understand their need for repentance, certainly not an infant that can't even speak yet. We already know from Scripture that the only means by which an individuals sins are remitted is through Jesus Christ.
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already,...",
So we know that the remission of sins is not accomplished in the baptism, but by Faith Alone in our Savior Jesus Christ.
Scripture also shows that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer prior to baptism.
Acts 11:15-16 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, "John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So clearly the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a result in Faith Alone in Jesus Alone, not the physical act of baptism. Repentance is the act of someone who has already been drawn to the LORD and has been changed and made a new man in Christ. Infant baptism is a means by which membership in a particular church is achieved.