Infant Baptism

[MoreCoffee]

Christian baptism is about God's act of washing away one's sins and uniting one with Jesus Christ.

Other baptisms may be about other things.

 

[Albion]

I couldn't disagree more.
Peter says it's an act of a good conscience toward God.
I think it's about the relationship.

I have the feeling that Rev. Randy didn't mean his comment in an either-or way. Baptism obviously has some impact and meaning for the recipient, but the institution of the sacrament--as also with the Lord's Supper--is God's doing and brings spiritual benefits that change our relationship to God in various ways. Therefore, it makes sense to describe it as God making available to us a changed relationship between us and Him.

 

[shturt678]

Christian baptism is about God's act of washing away one's sins and uniting one with Jesus Christ.

Other baptisms may be about other things.

You folks have this thread, not only not offending nor provoking our Lord, but actually He's smiling right now and I wanted to be a part of the smilee praise the Lord gang, ie, important thread.

 

[Rev Randy]

I have the feeling that Rev. Randy didn't mean his comment in an either-or way. Baptism obviously has some impact and meaning for the recipient, but the institution of the sacrament--as also with the Lord's Supper--is God's doing and brings spiritual benefits that change our relationship to God in various ways. Therefore, it makes sense to describe it as God making available to us a changed relationship between us and Him.

My meaning was simple. It's about God and God's love toward us. Without a doubt it has much meaning to us. But we are not baptized into self. We are baptized into death and rise into a new life in God. We do not do it for show but for this:Acts 2:38 "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Perhaps if one views it as just an outward sign of an inward feeling then one could think it's saying look at me. But they'd need to not believe the Apostles words.

 

[New_Wineskin]

Hi. My question is just a simple one but with a long backstory.. I was baptized as an infant. I've always held this baptism as a true one based on this: I believe if you are baptized and later on decide to not follow God, your baptism is no longer valid. That being said, I believe in the opposite, if you decide to come to God after being baptized, your baptism is in fact, valid. I've also thought that the babies were dedicated in the Israelites' covenant after 8 days, and entire households were baptized in the New Testament. That being said, the church I belong to now believes my baptism is not valid by noting that in the New Testament, it is 'believe, then be baptized'. This obviously disturbs me because, does my baptism count? Do I need to be re-baptized? I don't know, and I've been following God for a while now and am scared that I've been following all this time but missing a step. I've always thought my baptism was valid until my pastor said it was not. Can somebody shine some light on this?

I go to a church that doesn't have a specific denomnation but clearly leans baptist. I'm posting it here as I do think it's a theology question, although it does fall under 'Christian Advice' as well.

I understand how people have come to worship water as much as they have been led to do .
Be that as it may , if they are pushing you to be water baptized because they consider that you have no "valid" water baptism , then they are trying to force you to do something not of faith . Tell them that , if and when you come to the conclusion that you have no "valid" baptism and still think that you need such a thing , *then* and only then will you go about having it done .

 

[Going Merry]

To be honest I never seen a infant baptize anyone.

 

[MamaZ]

To be honest I never seen a infant baptize anyone.

 

[SAT]

Hi. My question is just a simple one but with a long backstory.. I was baptized as an infant. I've always held this baptism as a true one based on this: I believe if you are baptized and later on decide to not follow God, your baptism is no longer valid. That being said, I believe in the opposite, if you decide to come to God after being baptized, your baptism is in fact, valid. I've also thought that the babies were dedicated in the Israelites' covenant after 8 days, and entire households were baptized in the New Testament. That being said, the church I belong to now believes my baptism is not valid by noting that in the New Testament, it is 'believe, then be baptized'. This obviously disturbs me because, does my baptism count? Do I need to be re-baptized? I don't know, and I've been following God for a while now and am scared that I've been following all this time but missing a step. I've always thought my baptism was valid until my pastor said it was not. Can somebody shine some light on this?

I go to a church that doesn't have a specific denomnation but clearly leans baptist. I'm posting it here as I do think it's a theology question, although it does fall under 'Christian Advice' as well.

Your baptism is valid, job done now start worshiping our lord, baptism is a grace event not a procedural event, that is not to say there isn’t a process, the process is secondary to the grace that took place at your baptism as a child/baby, you must understand that in biblical times whole households were baptised that would have been children baby’s servants. You must try to think grace and not process, if you do that then you will find that faith then relies on grace and not law and process.
So someone new coming to faith will be baptised at that age say 20. You could have been on a roller-coaster ride of faith in that time, but that matters not. once that gift was given it’s there for you to pick up again. Just remember to thank God for the gifts he gives you, and repent of any sins, and if you are like me that may take a while.

 

[shturt678]

One must have confronted the Truth at some point, including little precious babies at a credible water baptism, in order to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and in the Kingdom of God. My point is for those that, even unknowingly, did confront this Truth, viewed this Truth as a lie, immediately has the indwelling of the anti-christ, thinking it is the Holy Spirit. A renewal of one's faith ("instant of faith"), ie, rebaptizing infants, followed by a credible water baptism, removes the anti-christ and the Holy Spirit actually comes in to dwell. Don't give it that much thought as IIThess.2:3-12 & Rev. chapter 9 is in full throttle hence all the former is going to be viewed as a lie. Hey, at least I tried.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

How does baptizing babies give them the spirit of the antichrist? that sounds like tradition, not scripture . and the first time i heard that one .

 

[Going Merry]

acts 10:43-47

i win everyone bow down

 

[Gregory Thompson]

acts 10:43-47

i win everyone bow down

hmmm .. so by baptizing infants .. this implies at one time the church believed .. hmmm ..

 

[Albion]

My meaning was simple. It's about God and God's love toward us. Without a doubt it has much meaning to us. But we are not baptized into self. We are baptized into death and rise into a new life in God. We do not do it for show but for this:Acts 2:38 "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Perhaps if one views it as just an outward sign of an inward feeling then one could think it's saying look at me. But they'd need to not believe the Apostles words.

I have the feeling that neither of us explained it very simply, even though we both tried to do that and have the same belief about the sacrament.

 

[SAT]

acts 10:43-47

i win everyone bow down

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

note the work is done already, by grace alone, now we need to ask if someone did withhold water is God unable to work, Mmmmmm I don't think so somehow lol.

No, No I win lol.

 

[Going Merry]

hmmm .. so by baptizing infants .. this implies at one time the church believed .. hmmm ..

the said scripture shows people being cleansed/cleared of sin by belief (to the point the preacher was still preaching to them) in that instant gaining the holy spirit. they then bring up the point of them not being water baptized yet (because he was with jewish believers) stating who can keep these (gentiles) from being water baptized for they have received (previously before their baptism) the holy spirit?

Read Ephesians 1:13-14 in conjuction to above.

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

It is exactly how ephesians 1:13-14 states would happen. The water baptism has no part in this regeneration or saving. so theology talking about baby baptisms is meaningless. atleast it is for me.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

the said scripture shows people being cleansed/cleared of sin by belief (to the point the preacher was still preaching to them) in that instant gaining the holy spirit. they then bring up the point of them not being water baptized yet (because he was with jewish believers) stating who can keep these (gentiles) from being water baptized for they have received (previously before their baptism) the holy spirit?

Read Ephesians 1:13-14 in conjuction to above.

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

It is exactly how ephesians 1:13-14 states would happen. The water baptism has no part in this regeneration or saving. so theology talking about baby baptisms is meaningless. atleast it is for me.

i just meant . "that they had received the holy spirit" there was no other requirement . it was a funny correlation . gave me a good chuckle .

 

[Going Merry]

i just meant . "that they had received the holy spirit" there was no other requirement . it was a funny correlation . gave me a good chuckle .

I know, i explained mainly for others lol. Their action and the action of the holy spirit makes me content in this issue . Actions speak louder than words

 

[shturt678]

How does baptizing babies give them the spirit of the antichrist? that sounds like tradition, not scripture . and the first time i heard that one .

Baptize an infant, or an adult, in the wrong name (revelation[/B that the Triune God's name is core based upon), immediately the anti-christ comes in to dwell, eg, IIThess.2:4 & Rev.13:14, only for sterters. Don't be concerned as the modern Lutherans even view this non-modern interpretation as outdated, ie, let alone all the other businesses, oh, sorry, church settings' view.

 

[MoreCoffee]

the said scripture shows people being cleansed/cleared of sin by belief (to the point the preacher was still preaching to them) in that instant gaining the holy spirit. they then bring up the point of them not being water baptized yet (because he was with Jewish believers) stating who can keep these (gentiles) from being water baptized for they have received (previously before their baptism) the holy spirit?

Read Ephesians 1:13-14 in conjunction to above.

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

It is exactly how Ephesians 1:13-14 states would happen. The water baptism has no part in this regeneration or saving. so theology talking about baby baptisms is meaningless. at least it is for me.

Nevertheless Jesus said, "I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." and Peter wrote, "Baptism ... now saves you" and Paul wrote, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

So, baptism matters, it matters a lot. And if baptism is what God does for us rather than what we do to tell everybody what we believe then the time at which one receives baptism is not the fulcrum for this lever but rather the fulcrum is God's grace in baptism.

 

[shturt678]

I know, i explained mainly for others lol. Their action and the action of the holy spirit makes me content in this issue . Actions speak louder than words

...thank God he doesn't live close by, ie, he even professes satanic worship claiming that he is God, ie, seriously. My point, you would agape him, ie, walks the walk ("action") more than all the Christians that I've known over the decades. Although he never curses and talks coherently, regarding the Bible, he never talks the talk. On second thought maybe you wouldn't agape him that much?