When a man and woman are united by covenant to Christ, their offspring are born into the church. The same way an American man and woman grow their country in size by giving birth to new citizens, so they grow the church by giving birth to new members. Of course, there is more to being a true American than just having the United States on your birth certificate and of course, there is more to being a true Christian than just having the sign of the covenant placed upon your head in baptism as a child. There is always more to it, but never less. One born outside of the country has to go to greater lengths to obtain the privileges others were born with, but his responsibility to embody the principles of a true citizen are the same. Those born outside the church, similarly, have to change their essential citizenship to become a church member, but their obligation and privilege in embodying the commands of Christ are no more or less difficult than those born into membership. That said, adult pagan coverts don't require more water than the children of believers to be baptized. The same water serves as their sign. The covenant is entered into and kept by both of them only by God's grace and through faith.
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