It is exciting whenever a new child enters a family. That child’s life needs to be celebrated and dedicated to God. Dedicating a child, acknowledges God’s sovereignty, not only over the child but also over the parents. Parents come before God to present their child to Him and His people. In doing this they are asking for grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities in raising their child for God. In addition, parents also come praying that their child might one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin.
Sometimes, there is confusion with the terms “Baby Dedication” and “Infant Baptism.” At Xenia Grace Chapel we baptize children, but only when that child comes to the age when they have asked Jesus Christ to come into their heart and be their Savior. We separate the two events so that the child will knowingly understand why they need salvation and what baptism means. Baptism is a separate event, signifying ones acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior.
Children are a gift from God. Psalms 127:3 proclaims that “sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him,” This means that children belong first and foremost to God. And, God in His goodness gives children as a gift to parents. They not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift. Because, children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
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