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Foundations*63*(November*2012):*18:42**INFANT*BAPTISM:*PUTTING*OLD*WINE***INTO*NEW*WINESKINS?*John%Stevens ∗ %%*The* long* historic* division* between* paedobaptists* and* credobaptists* results* from* significantly*differing* biblical* theologies.* This* article* will* suggest* that* classic* paedobaptist* arguments* are*based*on*a*misreading*of*the*relationship*between*the*Abrahamic*covenant*and*its*fulfilment*in*the* new* covenant* inaugurated* by* the* death* and* resurrection* of* Jesus.* A* thoroughgoing*salvation:historical*approach*to*the*unfolding*fulfilment*of*the*covenant*leads*to*the*inevitable*conclusion*that*baptism*is*not*the*replacement*of*circumcision*as*a*sign*of*the*promises*of*the*covenant* of* grace,* but* a* dramatisation* of* the* receipt* of* salvation* and* the* forgiveness* of* sins*effected* by* baptism* in* the* Spirit,* which* is* the* primary* blessing* of* the* new* covenant.* The*children*of*believers*are*not*included*in*this*new*covenant*by*birth,*but*only*by*spiritual*rebirth.*The*implications*of*this* understanding* for* baptismal* practice*are*considered.* Baptism* should*follow*as*closely*as*possible*upon*conversion,*and*is*primarily*intended*to*assure*the*convert*of*their*new*status*and*new*life*in*Christ.*Convinced*paedobaptists*should*not*be*required*to*be*rebaptised* as* a* condition* for* church* membership* or* participation* in* the* Lord's* Supper.* Both*paedobaptists* and* credobaptists* are* urged* to* practice* charity,* accepting* each* other* because*they*have*been*accepted*by*Christ*and*baptised*by*his*Spirit.***For*more*than*four*hundred*years*Protestant*Christians,*who*are*united*in*their*rejection*of*the*Roman*Catholic*sacramental*understanding*of*baptism*as* conferring* regeneration,* have* been* divided* as* to* the* appropriate*administration* of* baptism.* One* reason* why* this* division* has* proved* so*difficult* to* resolve* is* the* frustrating* lack* of* conclusive* biblical* evidence,*whether*didactic*or*narrative,*as*to*the*proper*subjects*of*baptism.*The*New*Testament* contains* no* explicit* account* of* the* baptism* of* infants,* nor*instructions*to*evangelists,*elders*or*parents*to*baptise*children.*It*contains*no*explicit*instructions*for*the*baptism*of*the*children*of*believing*parents*when*they*profess*personal*faith.*Paedobaptists*and*credobaptists*can*thus*argue* until* they* are* blue* in* the* face* about* the* likely* implications* of* the*“household”* baptisms* recorded* in* Acts* without* either* achieving* the*exegetical*equivalent*of*a*knock:out*punch. 1 **********************************************************************∗* National* Director* of* the* Fellowship* of* Independent* Evangelical* Churches* (FIEC).* I* am*grateful*for*the*comments*of*Bill*James,*Andy*Gemmill,*Paul*Mallard,*Richard*Underwood*and*Rev*Dr*Tim*Ward*on*an*earlier*draft*of*this*article.*The*views*expressed*are*entirely*mine,*and*I*am*solely*responsible*for*all*errors.*1*See* for* example* Ben* Witherington,* Troubled% Waters,* (Waco:* Baylor* University* Press,*2010),*2:3;*Louis*Berkhof,*Systematic%Theology,*(Edinburgh:*Banner*of*Truth,*1958),*634,*636;*Letham,*A%Christian’s%Pocket%Guide%to%Baptism,*(Fearn:*Christian*Focus,*2012),*2.**