Baptism at Crosspoint
At Crosspoint Church, we believe baptism is one of God’s gracious signs and seals of His covenant love. It reminds us that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ, and it marks our inclusion in God’s family, the church. Below you’ll find answers to some common questions about both adult baptism and infant baptism in the life of our church.
Adult Baptism
Q: What should I do if I’ve never been baptized before and would like to be?
If you have never been baptized, you will need to complete the church membership process first (we offer this class every March). If that schedule doesn’t work for you, then we can accommodate a more efficient process. In other words, if you came to us in April with a profession of faith in Christ and wanted to be baptized, we would not require you to wait until the following year to go through the class and be baptized. We would ask you to do a “home study” of the membership material and then we would meet with you to discuss moving forward with your membership and baptism. Once your membership is approved, your baptism will be scheduled on the same day you take your membership vows before the congregation.
Infant Baptism
Q: Why does Crosspoint Church (and the PCA) baptize infants?
We believe that God’s covenant of grace—His promise to be our God and to have us as His people—extends in a mysterious way to the children of believers. Because of this covenant promise, the children of believing parents have a right to the covenant sign, which in the New Testament is baptism (as circumcision was in the Old Testament).
Q: How does baptism relate to circumcision?
In the New Testament, baptism replaces circumcision as the sign of God’s covenant.
- Colossians 2:11–12 teaches that baptism is the full expression of circumcision.
- Under the old covenant, infant males were circumcised as newborns (Genesis 17:12), and the covenant was said to be everlasting (Genesis 17:13).
- Physical circumcision is no longer required (Galatians 6:11–18), but the covenant itself continues (Romans 2:29).
- The new outward sign of that same covenant is baptism (Colossians 2:11–12).
Therefore, we believe it is right to administer baptism to the children of believing parents.
Q: Does the Bible support the baptism of entire households, including children?
Yes. The pattern of household baptisms in Scripture indicates the inclusion of children.
- Acts 16:15, 31–33 and 1 Corinthians 1:16 record entire households being baptized, with no indication that children were excluded.
- Acts 2:38–39 echoes the same covenant promise found in Genesis 17:9–14:“The promise is for you and for your children.”
Q: Does infant baptism mean a child is automatically saved?
No. Baptism does not save a child. Salvation comes only through personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Baptism is a sign of inclusion in the covenant community and a reminder of God’s promises to believers and their children. When a child later professes faith, that is when the meaning and blessings of baptism come to full expression.
Until that time, baptism serves as a gracious sign of belonging to the church family through the faith of believing parents and God’s covenant promise:
“I will be your God and the God of your children.”
We have found this brief video very helpful and we recommend it to our friends who are coming from a variety of theological traditions and backgrounds that differ from the PCA. We also have resources on the book shelf in the front lobby.