To a Thousand Generations: Infant Baptism - Covenant Mercy to the Children of God

by Douglas Wilson

Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised (his was a case of believer’s circumcision). Because he was subsequently circumcised, he was therefore equipped to be the father of two groups of people—those who shared his faith without ever having been circumcised at all (Gentiles), and those who came to share his faith after their circumcision as infants (believing Jews). The fact that Abraham was justified by faith without circumcision meant that any man could be justified apart from circumcision. This was therefore an encouragement to Gentiles. The fact that Abraham was then given circumcision as a sign and seal of his faith-righteousness meant that this was its proper signification, and faithful Christian Jews were required to regard it as a sign, in their bodies, of the justification of Christ, appropriated by faith in the gospel.