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Albion

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What is the purpose of baptizing a baby?

We've been all over this. There are at least four or five very good reasons, from a public declaration of the child being part of Christ's church (which other denominations feel also and so have had to phony up "dedications" that have no Biblical basis) to forgiveness of sin to the imparting of grace and more.
 
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Lion King

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I'm sorry, couldn't read the whole thread as it's like 17 pages now. Anyway, what advantages do baptized babies have over those that are not baptized before God?
 
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shturt678

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Lion King

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Do you honestly believe that in the households referred to in the New Testament that were baptized that not a single baby or small child was part of that household?

Forgive me, but is it safe to assume anything regarding the Scriptures?
 
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Albion

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I'm sorry, couldn't read the whole thread as it's like 17 pages now. Anyway, what advantages do baptized babies have over those that are not baptized before God?

Forgiveness of sin, reception of God's grace. Didn't I mention those?
 
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Lion King

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Forgiveness of sin, reception of God's grace. Didn't I mention those?

1. What sins do babies need to be forgiven?
2. Are you suggesting those babies not baptized are not received into God's grace?
 
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narnia59

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Oh, so you believe babies that die without being baptized will not enter the Kingdom of God?

1 Corinthians 7:14 "For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy."

Revelation 21:27 "But nothing unclean shall enter it" -- speaking of heaven.

From a Scriptural point of view alone, there has to be something that occurs that makes a child holy instead of unclean.

The 'normative' way, the spiritual law in effect that accomplishes this is baptism. The faith of the parent acts upon the mercy of God on behalf of their child.

God's spiritual laws are no different than God's physical laws. God has a physical law known as gravity. I am absolutely bound by that law. Can God, for his own purpose set aside that law? Most certainly, if someone is falling to their death, he could. People have stated that he has. We would call that a miracle -- God setting aside His law for His own purpose. That doesn't mean I should presume that He will, and go jump off a cliff.

Same thing with spiritual laws. Baptism washes away our sin -- including that which makes children unclean, original sin innate to their fallen nature as humans -- and makes them holy and fit for the kingdom of God. Can God, for his own purpose set aside that law and accomplish the same in another way? Most certainly. I trust in his mercy that He can and does. That doesn't mean that any of us should presume He will and dismiss the spiritual law in effect of Baptism.
 
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narnia59

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Forgive me, but is it safe to assume anything regarding the Scriptures?

Well, people seem to assume that children raised in a Christian home reach something called an 'age of reason' and can then be baptized, even though such a concept is never taught in Scripture, and we see no baptisms like that ever occur.
 
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Jipsah

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Lion King

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No sarcasm, ie, unless you know of another way these little precious infants can receive the Holy Spirit? I'm all ears, seriously.

Was John the Baptist baptized with water before he received the Holy-Spirit? The Spirit of God is given to babies at/before birth:

Out of the mouth of babes and infants have you ordained strength because of your enemies, that you might still the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes. Matthew 11:25

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, And said to him, Hear you what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you have perfected praise? Matthew 21:15-16

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
 
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Lion King

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Wait a minute, are you actually saying babies that have not been baptized or are born to atheists are UNCLEAN, and will not enter the Kingdom of God?!!

Didn't the LORD reveal to Peter that all God's creation is CLEAN in a vision?

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:15

He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean." Acts 10:28
 
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narnia59

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So you propose universal salvation for babies? Babies need no savior? Why on earth then does God ever let anybody grow up? Hardly merciful to let anybody survive to this mythical age of reason.

The context of God's revelation to Peter is related to dietary laws and food, not people. All people are not clean, or otherwise all people would be in heaven.

St. Paul is who refers to children who are holy versus children who are unclean. Care to comment on what you think he means by that?
 
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Lion King

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Well, people seem to assume that children raised in a Christian home reach something called an 'age of reason' and can then be baptized, even though such a concept is never taught in Scripture, and we see no baptisms like that ever occur.

Well, the Scriptures do say, "Repent and be baptized"....

Just saying.
 
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narnia59

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Well, the Scriptures do say, "Repent and be baptized"....

Just saying.
Followed by "For the promise is to you and to your children".

You repent. Here's the promise -- forgiveness of your sins and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Promised for your children too.

Just saying.

Falls right in line with St. Paul's understanding that a believing parent brings their child to holiness.
 
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katherine2001

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So, if a baby is not baptized, he/she is not part of the Covenant of God?
Well, evidently circumcision was necessary for male babies to be part of the Covenant, or it wouldn't have been required, would it. If not, God would have allowed the circumcision to take place when the child was old enough to decide on his own, at the "age of reason".
 
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