Infant Baptism

[Rev Randy]

You guys know in your heart that one must first believe, just admit infant baptism is not what was commanded and lets move on brother.

I know nothing of the kind in my heart. You also did not answer the question.
Infants, per God's instructions were circumcised on the eighth day. Why did God not instruct for it to come when one believes like the adult converts?
What I know in my heart is that an infant needs Christ.

 

[holyrokker]

So, there is a "sin gene" that is located somewhere in the "y" chromosome. I wonder when geneticists will discover that gene.

(sarcasm intended)

 

[Lion King]

I'm glad that's been brought up. Why did God find it proper for babies to be circumcised? Should He not have waited until they believed and understood?

Probably because circumcision has nothing to do with salvation.

 

[Rev Randy]

So, there is a "sin gene" that is located somewhere in the "y" chromosome. I wonder when geneticists will discover that gene.

(sarcasm intended)

Sarcasm noted.

 

[BrotherDC]

I know nothing of the kind in my heart. You also did not answer the question.
Infants, per God's instructions were circumcised on the eighth day. Why did God not instruct for it to come when one believes like the adult converts?
What I know in my heart is that an infant needs Christ.

Yet many Jews were circumcised and rejected Christ, same as baptism

1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co 7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

[Rev Randy]

Probably because circumcision has nothing to do with salvation.

How about circumcision of the heart?

 

[BrotherDC]

How about circumcision of the heart?

How about baptism of the spirit? Interesting isn't it?

 

[Rev Randy]

How about baptism of the spirit? Interesting isn't it?

That's included in our one baptism.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by Rev Randy

I'm glad that's been brought up. Why did God find it proper for babies to be circumcised? Should He not have waited until they believed and understood?
​

Probably because circumcision has nothing to do with salvation.

Ishmael was 13 before he got snipped................

Gen 17:
23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him.
25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised.

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[BrotherDC]

That's included in our one baptism.

There is only one baptism, its in Christ, in faith. God decides who gets the spirit, not water.

 

[Lion King]

How about circumcision of the heart?

Babies already have a circumcised heart from the moment they are born into the world. Even when infants do something they are not supposed to do, it is not counted as sin, simply because they do not yet understand good from bad.

Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you should have no sin: but now you say, We see; therefore your sin remains. John 9:41

 

[Rev Randy]

There is only one baptism, its in Christ, in faith. God decides who gets the spirit, not water.

God indeed decides. And does it through water and oil. Is God limited to only that way? God is not limited.

 

[Albion]

Babies already have a circumcised heart from the moment they are born into the world. Even when infants do something they are not supposed to do, it is not counted as sin, simply because they do not yet understand good from bad.

Fascinating theory. Where'd you pick it up?

 

[Rev Randy]

Babies already have a circumcised heart from the moment they are born into the world. Even when infants do something they are not supposed to do, it is not counted as sin, simply because they do not yet understand good from bad.

So it grows back?

 

[BrotherDC]

God indeed decides. And does it through water and oil. Is God limited to only that way? God is not limited.

You're correct sir.

 

[Lion King]

Fascinating theory. Where'd you pick it up?

The Scriptures seem pretty clear to me on how infants are regarded in the eyes of God. Take a look at Israel, for instance, even though most of the Israelites were destroyed in the wilderness for disobeying the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 10:5), the infants were spared and allowed to enter the promised land and take possession of it. Why did God do this?

And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad--they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. Deuteronomy 1:39

God allowed the babies to inherit the promised land because they did not yet have the knowledge between good and evil. In other words, were innocent before God. This is reason that God commands each and everyone to be like little children, otherwise, we too, will not enter the promised land.

And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 1 Corinthians 14:20

Remember, the Kingdom of God belong to little children and ones like them.

 

[holyrokker]

Circumcision was a sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham.

In a similar way, baptism is a sign of the covenant God makes with us through Christ.

Just as circumcision could not save anyone, neither can baptism.

The reality is found in faith. Faith is the reason God counted Abraham as righteous. Faith is still the reason anyone is considered righteous.

It seems to me that "rebaptism" is an act of legalism: replacing the sign of the covenant with the act itself.

 

[BrotherDC]

It seems to me that "rebaptism" is an act of legalism: replacing the sign of the covenant with the act itself.

Amen!

However faith can follow legalism too, romans 14

 

[Albion]

The Scriptures seem pretty clear to me on how infants are regarded in the eyes of God. Take a look at Israel, for instance, even though most of the Israelites were destroyed in the wilderness for disobeying the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 10:5), the infants were spared and allowed to enter the promised land and take possession of it. Why did God do this?

And the little ones that you said would be taken captive, your children who do not yet know good from bad--they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. Deuteronomy 1:39

God allowed the babies to inherit the promised land because they did not yet have the knowledge between good and evil. In other words, were innocent before God. This is reason that God commands each and everyone to be like little children, otherwise, we too, will not enter the promised land.

And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 1 Corinthians 14:20

Remember, the Kingdom of God belong to little children and ones like them.

I think you're confusing something here--the condition of all of us before God and the other attributes that men may have.

When I pointed out that the Bible teaches that we are born in sin, I didn't suggest that this means every newborn is spoiling for trouble. It just means that we are not acceptable to God, in his justice, until redeemed.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by Lion King

Babies already have a circumcised heart from the moment they are born into the world. Even when infants do something they are not supposed to do, it is not counted as sin, simply because they do not yet understand good from bad.
​

Fascinating theory. Where'd you pick it up?

Can an infant do evil?

1 Corin 14:20
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.
In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

Babies know the difference between good and evil at six months, study reveals | Mail Online

At the age of six months babies can barely sit up - let along take their first tottering steps, crawl or talk.
But, according to psychologists, they have already developed a sense of moral code - and can tell the difference between good and evil.
An astonishing series of experiments is challenging the views of many psychologists and social scientists that human beings are born as 'blank slates' - and that our morality is shaped by our parents and experiences.

Instead, they suggest that the difference between good and bad may be hardwired into the brain at birth.

In one experiment involving puppets, babies aged six months old showed a strong preference to 'good' helpful characters - and rejected unhelpful, 'naughty' ones.
In another, they even acted as judge and jury. When asked to take away treats from a 'naughty' puppet, some babies went further - and dished out their own punishment with a smack on its head.............




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