Baptism of infants is a promise by the parents to raise the child as God has commanded. Circumcision put a baby into the covenant community, he could not be saved outside of it just like now we cannot be saved outside the church. It does not save but sets one apart and places them within the covenant community.

It seems like the verses and attributes given to baptism are actually and would have to be referring to what the Spirit does for us in saving us. We are symbolically identified with his death and resurrection and the washing away of our sin, but the Spirit does this not water.

I wonder if Romans 6:1-6 even pertains to water baptism or if that is just read into it based on the present understanding of what baptism is believed to do.

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Erick Bohndorf, Covenant Baptist Church, KS
http://qayaqtraveler.blogspot.com/
The question for us today is, will we be like the majority of Israel and continue to look in fear at the giants in the land and urge our fellow Christians to be "realistic," or will we be like Joshua and Caleb and faithfully follow our king, trusting to fulfill every one of his promises completely?