The Church of Christ exists as a divinely organized community. It is the
“kingdom of God,” one historic kingdom under all dispensations. The
commonwealth of Israel was the “church” (Acts 7:38; Romans 9:4) under
the Mosaic dispensation. The New Testament church is not a new and
different church, but one with that of the Old Testament. The terms of
admission into the church have always been the same viz., a profession of
faith and a promise of subjection to the laws of the kingdom. Now it is a
fact beyond dispute that the children of God’s people under the old
dispensation were recognized as members of the church. Circumcision was
the sign and seal of their membership. It was not because of carnal descent
from Abraham, but as being the children of God’s professing people, that
this rite was administered (Romans 4:11). If children were members of the
church under the old dispensation, which they undoubtedly were, then
they are members of the church now by the same right, unless it can be
shown that they have been expressly excluded. Under the Old Testament
parents acted for their children and represented them. (See Genesis 9:9;
17:10; Exodus 24:7, 8; Deuteronomy 29:9-13.) When parents entered into
covenant with God, they brought their children with them. This was a law
in the Hebrew Church. When a proselyte was received into membership,
he could not enter without bringing his children with him. The New
Testament does not exclude the children of believers from the church. It
does not deprive them of any privilege they enjoyed under the Old
Testament. There is no command or statement of any kind, that can be
interpreted as giving any countenance to such an idea, anywhere to be
found in the New Testament. The church membership of infants has never
been set aside. The ancient practice, orginally appointed by God himself,
must remain a law of his kingdom till repealed by the same divine
authority. There are lambs in the fold of the Good Shepherd (John 21:15;
comp. Luke 1:15; Matthew 19:14; 1 Corinthians 7:14).
“In a company of converts applying for admission into Christ’s house
there are likely to be some heads of families. How is their case to be
treated? How, for example, are Lydia and her neighbour the keeper of the
city prison to be treated? Both have been converted. Both are heads of
families. They desire to be received into the infant church of Philippi.
What is Christ’s direction to them? Shall we say that it is to this effect:
‘Arise, and wash away your sins, and come into my house. But you must
come in by yourselves. These babes in your arms, you must leave them
outside. They cannot believe yet, and so they cannot come in. Those other