A thought or two about Infant Baptism

Is a baby able to do the following:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them ... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

There is no example of infant baptism in scripture this is a doctrine of man. Jesus as our example, did not get baptized until the beginning of His ministry, not at birth. Baptism is a decision one makes, when they understand right from wrong and want to choose right and live a new life in Christ.

Xeno.of.athens said:

There is no command for a person to do those things as qualification for baptism.

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2 Timothy 3:16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Baptism is a decision one makes and infants cannot make decisions. It represents choosing a new path in Christ that infants simply cannot do. Jesus was not baptized as an infant, He is our example to follow. Infant baptism is not biblical simple as that. We are told the scriptures are used for instruction- not what is outside of scripture.

We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” Romans 6:4–6.

The earliest reference to infant baptism was by Irenaeus (c. 130–202)

SabbathBlessings said:

Baptism is a decision one makes and infants cannot make decisions.

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Xeno.of.athens said:

Where do the scriptures say this?
For those possessing the competency the qualification implied for baptism can be discerned from scripture.

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Xeno.of.athens said:

There are several key passages in the New Testament that teach about the qualifications for baptism.
One of the most important passages is Mark 16:16, which states, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." This passage emphasizes the importance of belief in Jesus as a prerequisite for baptism.

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Which a baby can't do. A baby can't believe, which is a decision one must make when they understand.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Another key passage is Acts 2:38, which states, "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." This passage teaches that repentance, or a turning away from sin, is also a qualification for baptism.

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A baby cannot repent- repent from what? Sin- repent means a change of heart- another decision a baby cannot make.

Xeno.of.athens said:

John 3:5 is also an important passage, it states, "Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." This passage teaches that baptism is necessary for entry into the Kingdom of God.

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True- which is why we want to make sure our baptisms are valid.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Another passage is Romans 6:3-4, which states, "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

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If you keep reading....

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin

This again is another decision that babies simply can't comprehend or make.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Xeno.of.athens said:

This passage emphasizes the transformative power of baptism, which marks the beginning of a new life in Christ.
In summary, the Bible teaches that belief in Jesus, repentance, and the desire to be baptized are the main qualifications for baptism. These passages indicate that baptism is not just a mere ritual but a sacrament that brings about spiritual transformation and regeneration.

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Yes, baptism is transformative, and babies are not developed to make any conscious decision on anything yet alone their own decision to dedicated themselves to a life lived by the example of Jesus. Which is why there is no example of infant baptism in the Word of God. We are not saved by our parent's decisions; we each must stand before Jesus based on our own decisions.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Infant baptism is the practice of baptizing infants or young children. There are several biblical and theological arguments that can be made in favor of infant baptism.

First, the Bible teaches that baptism is a sacrament that washes away sin and grants the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, it is clear that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4, Acts 2:38) and grants the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, John 3:5). Since infants are born with original sin, they are in need of forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as adults are.

Second, the Bible teaches that baptism is the means by which one enters the covenant community of believers. In the Old Testament, infants were included in the covenant community through circumcision, which was the sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). In the New Testament, baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Colossians 2:11-12). Therefore, it makes sense that infants would be included in the covenant community through baptism.

Third, the Bible teaches that the whole household can be baptized (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). This implies that the infants in the household were included in the baptism.

Fourth, the early Church practice of baptizing infants is attested in the writings of the early Church fathers, such as Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Augustine of Hippo.

In conclusion, infant baptism is biblically and theologically sound, as it is in line with the biblical teaching on the nature of baptism and its relationship to the forgiveness of sins and entrance into the covenant community of believers, and it was also the practice of early Church.

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I have no argument with infant baptism however, John the Baptist baptized with water , Jesus Christ of Nazareth baptizes in His Holy Spirit. We should seek Him and His promise to us. Blessings.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Infant baptism is the practice of baptizing infants or young children. There are several biblical and theological arguments that can be made in favor of infant baptism.

First, the Bible teaches that baptism is a sacrament that washes away sin and grants the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, it is clear that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4, Acts 2:38) and grants the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, John 3:5). Since infants are born with original sin, they are in need of forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as adults are.

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The Bible does not call baptism a sacrament. I do not believe in the doctrine of original sin, the nature of man has not changed from Adam and Eve's nature (they sinned the one and only sin they could sin with the nature they had). We did get the knowledge of good and evil written on our hearts (conscience) which provides us with tons of ways to sin, so all who reach adult maturity will sin.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Second, the Bible teaches that baptism is the means by which one enters the covenant community of believers. In the Old Testament, infants were included in the covenant community through circumcision, which was the sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:9-14). In the New Testament, baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Colossians 2:11-12). Therefore, it makes sense that infants would be included in the covenant community through baptism.

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Christian baptism replaced John's baptism and physical circumcision was replaced by circumcision of the heart. Physical circumcision was a sign for the physical nation of Israel to be identified with that nation.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Third, the Bible teaches that the whole household can be baptized (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). This implies that the infants in the household were included in the baptism.

Fourth, the early Church practice of baptizing infants is attested in the writings of the early Church fathers, such as Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Augustine of Hippo.

In conclusion, infant baptism is biblically and theologically sound, as it is in line with the biblical teaching on the nature of baptism and its relationship to the forgiveness of sins and entrance into the covenant community of believers, and it was also the practice of early Church.

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We do not know in the language of the first century if infants were included as part of the "whole Household" and there is reason to question that. 1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. There is a conjunction between his children and household which suggests the deacon's children were not included in the household.

I know that I needed everything God could provide to assure me of my conversion, both outwardly and mentally. God wants you to physically feel the experience of what is going on Spiritually.

You need to add to your conversion a definite time place and physical experience, which God has provided for you.

Adult believers water immersion is to be a physical outward representation of what had or is happening spiritually in the person being baptized. It is mainly to help the individual being baptized to better grasp what is going on, but it can “witness” to others observing the baptism. It has the elements of going down under the water (burying the old man), placing your dependence in another; the person baptizing you (surrendering your life to God), being washed (having your sins washed away), rising out of the water (rising from the old dead body), and stepping forth out onto the earth (a new person). The person is walking out into the hugs of his new family. It is also a sign of your humility, since it is a humbling act anyone can simple allow someone to do to them (so not a work) and since humility has been shown in the accept of charity (God’s free gift of undeserving forgiveness) it should just support and add to the memory of that acceptance. To refuse Christian water baptism when it is readily available might mean you are not ready to handle other responsibility like having the indwelling Holy Spirit and you are hurting yourself.

Xeno.of.athens said:

Infant baptism is the practice of baptizing infants

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But the question is "why" since there is no Bible record of infant baptism and no reason to suspect that infants "make an appeal to God for a clean conscience" as per Peter's statement about baptism in 1 Peter 3?

Xeno.of.athens said:

First, the Bible teaches that baptism is a sacrament that washes away sin

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What text says that?

Xeno.of.athens said:

Since infants are born with original sin, they are in need of forgiveness

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Infants do not commit sin because they have no ability to do it. What they have is a sinful nature.

You can't ask forgiveness for something you did not do - much less "confess it"

According to Christ "if you were blind you would have no sin" John 9:41


40 Those who were with Him from the Pharisees heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you maintain, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Xeno.of.athens said:

In the Catholic Church, the qualifications for infant baptism are:

1. The parents or guardians must have the intention of raising the child in the Catholic faith.
2. The parents or guardians must be willing to have the child receive the sacrament of baptism.
3. The child must not have already been baptized in another Christian denomination.
4. The child must not be in danger of death.
5. It is preferred that the parents or guardians be married in the Catholic Church, as baptism is seen as the first sacrament of initiation into the Catholic Church and it is important that the child be raised in a Catholic home.

It is important to note that the parents or guardians act as the primary agents in the sacrament of baptism for their child

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Agreed that the above is what the Catholic Church appears to teach.

The question is - is that a correct teaching according to the Bible?

I can find no biblical justification for denying our children Jesus Christ. As though we should raise our children as atheists or pagans rather than as Christians. That we should deny them God's means and works and word. That we should stand in the way between Christ and our children and tell Jesus no, He can't have them; or to tell our children that no they can't have Him.

For Christ Himself says concerning these little children, "The kingdom belongs to such as these" and "Do not prohibit the little ones from coming to Me". He Himself gives Himself to all sinners, and indeed through Adam all are sinners, all are dead in their trespasses, and therefore "There is no other name" by which one can be saved. Salvation is found in Christ alone, and so the Church as the minister and Body of Christ proclaims the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them.

We can baptize pagan idolators who repent, but we can't baptize our own children whom God has already entrusted to our care that we should be ministers to them? He has given them that they should be cared for, loved, and ministered to with the love, grace, and word of God. Therefore, minister to them, cradle them in your arms, take them by the hand, and show them Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Unless it can be proved by Holy Scripture that God forbids little children to come to Him, that God forbids that His Church should baptize the little ones, then I must stand on the solid foundation of God's word: There is salvation no where else except Jesus Christ, and God has told His Church to baptize. Therefore I will not, and cannot, recant of the good confession of faith that God ministers to us through the water of baptism with His word, to create and sustain faith and to wash away our sins and declare us righteous in His sight by the perfect and finished work of Christ alone. To do otherwise would be to deny the word of God and the reject power of the Gospel to save.

-CryptoLutheran

ViaCrucis said:

I can find no biblical justification for denying our children Jesus Christ.

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No one is denying infants of Jesus Christ, this is not the argument being made.

The point of baptism is to make a decision to live for Christ- washing away old sins and become a new creature in Christ. We are not saved by decisions others make for us, we our saved by the decisions we make and the direction in life we choose to follow, Infants cannot make any of these decisions, which is why there are no examples of infant baptism in scripture. We are told to follow the scriptures and there are reasons for it, it keeps us safe and on the narrow path.

Xeno.of.athens said:

I pray that you will change your thinking.

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Have you studied the alternatives?