Credobaptism
A view held among orthodox Christians
The teaching that baptism is for those who personally profess repentance and faith in Christ, normally by immersion.
Also called: believer's baptism, believers' baptism, credobaptist, credobaptists, believer's by immersion, baptism by immersion
What it means
Credobaptists (from the Latin credo, "I believe") hold that baptism belongs to disciples who have professed faith. In the New Testament those who received the word were baptized; Philip baptized men and women who believed; and baptism pictures dying and rising with Christ. They read the new covenant as one in which all members know the Lord, so its sign belongs to those who give evidence of that.
Most credobaptists also hold that immersion is the proper mode, since the word means "to dip" and the act pictures burial and resurrection. The 1689 London Baptist Confession teaches that those who actually profess repentance and faith are the only proper subjects, and that immersion is necessary to the due administration of the ordinance.
Credobaptists do not hold that baptism saves, and they love and teach their children while waiting for a credible profession. Faithful Presbyterian churches disagree, and the site treats the question even-handedly: both views are held by churches that confess the same gospel.
In Scripture
Disciples are made and then baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Those who received Peter's message were baptized.
When they believed Philip's preaching, men and women were baptized.
The Ethiopian asked to be baptized, and both went down into the water.
Baptism pictures burial with Christ and being raised to newness of life.
Believers were buried with Christ in baptism and raised through faith.
Where it comes up
Confessions: LBCF 1689 29.1; LBCF 1689 29.2; LBCF 1689 29.4
On this site: Baptism
Related terms
PaedobaptismA view held among orthodox Christians
The teaching that baptism, the sign of the covenant of grace, is to be given both to those who profess faith and to the infant children of believers.
OrdinanceTerm
A rite Christ commanded His church to observe; Baptists commonly use the word for baptism and the Lord's Supper, stressing obedience to Christ's appointment.
Baptismal regenerationSerious error
The teaching that the act of baptism itself conveys the new birth, so that those rightly baptized are by that act regenerated and cleansed from sin.