Over the past several weeks, I have been reflecting on infant baptism, confirmation, Covenant, and the relationship between God’s initiative and humanity’s response. One passage that has become increasingly significant in this discussion is First Corinthians 10:1–4.
This article emphasizes that God initiates the covenant relationship, but active participation in the Covenant necessitates unwavering fidelity.
- That is the lesson Paul draws from Israel.
- They were all under the cloud.
- They all passed through the sea.
- They all ate the same spiritual food.
- They all drank the same spiritual drink.
Yet many still failed to trust and follow God.
Paul’s warning is directed toward complacency, not covenant initiation.
The Apostle Paul writes: “For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (First Corinthians 10:1–2, NASB95)
Paul describes Israel’s passage through the Red Sea as a type of baptism. What is noteworthy is that the entire covenant community passed through the sea together. Men, women, children, and infants were all included in this event. No individual profession of faith is recorded before the crossing. God acted first. God delivered His people. God initiated the covenant relationship.
This observation provides an interesting parallel to the Covenant in infant baptism. Just as Israel was brought through the sea as a covenant community, some Christians understand baptism as God’s covenantal action toward the individual before that individual is capable of fully understanding or responding.
However, Paul’s purpose in First Corinthians 10 is not to establish a doctrine of baptism. His purpose is to issue a warning.
Immediately after describing Israel’s “baptism into Moses,” Paul writes:
“Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.” (First Corinthians 10:5, NASB95)
This is a remarkable statement:
- All passed through the sea.
- All experienced God’s deliverance.
- All received covenant blessings.
Yet many failed to live faithfully within theCovenantt.
Paul’s conclusion is not that participation guarantees the outcome. Rather, he warns believers against presumption: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” (First Corinthians 10:12, NASB95).
This distinction has helped clarify my own thinking. The issue is not whether God initiates. Throughout Scripture, God always acts first.
- God called Abraham.
- God delivered Israel.
- God sent His Son.
- God established the New Covenant.
The question is how those who have received God’s covenant blessings respond to Him afterward. Viewed through this lens, baptism and confirmation need not be understood as opposing ideas. Baptism may be viewed as God’s initiative toward the individual.
Confirmation may be viewed as the individual’s public response to God’s initiative. Neither removes the necessity of faith, trust, repentance, obedience, and covenant fidelity.
First Corinthians 10 reminds us that participation in the covenant community and the experience of covenant blessings do not eliminate the call to live faithfully before God.
The lesson is not merely about baptism. The lesson is about covenant life.
- God establishes the relationship.
- God acts first.
- Humanity is called to respond faithfully within what God has established.
That pattern appears throughout Scripture and remains just as relevant under the New Covenant as it was for Israel in the wilderness.
Michael Kovach
Covenant Light Publishing
All Rights Reserved
Leave a Reply