How many times do you need to be told that 'believing faith' only applies to adults, and then only to 'compos mentis' adults at that.
Baptist church praxis regarding baptism excommunicates its children and the intellectually impaired from the church until they make a cognizant confession of faith. (some mentally impaired can never do so), Until they can understand and believe, you claim, they cannot be members of the church, because entry into the church is by baptism alone. But that is faulty reasoning.
You know nothing of the terms of your own covenant with God it seems, and certainly do not take God
'at His Word' when he promises salvation to 'you
and your children, and those afar off'.
Acts.2:39; Gen.9:9; 17:12; No wonder there is so much angst among Baptists as to whether their kids are
'saved yet'. Such questions are a slap in the face of God and a demonstration of doubt that God will keep His promises clearly set out in scripture.
Gen.17:19-21. It is
God who decides whom He establishes His Covenant with,
even before they are conceived, let alone before they are born or can ever have
'believing faith'. Believing faith is something which is graciously granted by God, not something
'we do to get saved', only when
we are finally
clever enough to understand and believe.
.
First of all, I am just trying to have a conversation with you.
I am not angry, but apparently you are angry with me. Your very first sentence you asked,
"How many times do you need to be told..."
1 Jonn 2:27
"...you don't need a teacher..."
I do not need you to teach me anything. I was hoping on this website I could have interactions with other believers which lead to a deeper understanding of scripture, but that does not seem to be the case.
I am willing to listen, to consider, to pray, and if I learn something new that is terrific.
But please show me respect, and I will try to do the same for you.
I do not know you, and you do not know me.
Can we have different points of view and still love each other as God says we should?
Lord help us.
Second of all, you left out an essential part of Acts 2, which undermines your argument.
Acts 2:38
"Repent and be baptized everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...the promise is for you and your children."
Clearly, people are being told what do do, and the children are included in the instruction. That in no way says that anyone, including our children, are juSt saved.
Also, as for the other scriptures, God made covenents, and people broke them, from the beginning of time,
Genesis 17:14, Leviticus 26:15, Ezekiel 16:59, Isaiah 24:5, 1Kings 11:11, Hosea 8:1...
Hebrew's chapters 8 and 9 speak of a new covenents, but 9 ends with ..."to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
Throughout the entire Bible, God expects things of man.
To be perfect? No.
But to strive? Yes.
God cleared up some confusion I had over verses concerning grace and works.
He put the question on my heart,
"What if I had completely left works out, after Jesus' crucifixion?"
Immediately I knew the answer. Man would use salvation as an excuse to sin.
Jesus saved us so that we may, through him, overcome sin. He did not save us so that we would be free to sin.
"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
The point of people being saved with or without baptism is an interstinging one. I would even go so far as to call it a debatable matter.
And there is nothing we can do to save ourselves, but there are still things God requires of us,
Matthew 25:40-45
...whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me..,"
"...then he will say to those on his left, depart from me, into the eternal fire...for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat..."
If you would like to have a friendly, loving debate about scripture, I'm in, but I ask to to please show me the same respect that you require of others.
And I understand why people get upset.
I do too, and I forgive you.