Originally Posted by larryjf

If we presume our children will come to saving faith based on the promise of God found in His Word, why would our faith in that promise be shaken if our child denies the faith?

From another perspective, let's say that's not the reason we baptize our children. Rather, we baptize them because as a family we are incorporated into the visible Church. A child of 13 yrs of age may not want to be part of the Church...they may not want to clean their room either...tough. It is the parent's responsibility to train up the child in the fear of the Lord...even at that age.

As baptism is equated with circumcision regarding the entrance into the visible covenant community, we should remember that even adults who were under the authority of the believer were to be admitted into the covenant community by the sacrament...