When
Christians who aren’t from a Reformed background try to understand covenant
baptism, they often compare it to a baby dedication. There are, of course, obvious
similarities, making this a natural comparison, but there are meaningful
differences—and the differences go beyond the use of water! Essentially, in a
baby dedication, the ceremony focuses on the act of the parents; the parents
are dedicating their child to God. They certainly do this in a covenant baptism,
too, but this isn’t its primary purpose.
In a covenant baptism, the purpose is to signify and seal God’s promises to us.
Yes, parents dedicate their children to God, but we must understand this as a response to God’s covenant promises to
be God to us and our children (Genesis 17:7, Acts 2:38-39). The primary thing
is the action of God. God is making
promises to us. God is assuring us of
his promises through the waters. God
is placing his triune name upon us. As always, it isn’t about you—it’s about
God.
