Thread: Infant Baptism -- Is It Scriptural? Part One
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Infant Baptism -- Is It Scriptural? Part One
Posted : 29 Aug, 2011 09:38 PM
�The Old Testament Points to The New Testament�
We Christians have heard this (or some form of it) many times, because there are many Instances where something in The Old Testament does Point to its Type in The New Testament and there are more still being Revealed to us.
Baptizing of Infants is one them.
In The Old Testament Babies (Infants) were Circumcised when they became eight days old as the way of entering into the Old Covenant.
Genesis 17:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner�those who are not your offspring.
Notice the Command ��including those born in your household��. It seems that EVERYONE in your HOUSEHOLD that was Male ��must be circumcised,��. Remember this�it is Important�as you will see later.
Leviticus 12:3
New International Version (NIV)
3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.
For some reason God Chose the Eight Day
Baptism is the �New Circumcision" for All People of the New Covenant.
Colossians 2:11-12
New International Version (NIV)
11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[a] was put off when you were circumcised by[b] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
So�Baptism is The �New Circumcision� and that is why Infants are Baptized and have ALWAYS been Baptized since the Beginning of The Church.
Man that is �Born of Woman� is full of Trouble and is Unclean. Baptism is required for all human beings because of our Sinful Nature (Original Sin).
Job 14:1-4
New International Version (NIV)
1 �Mortals, born of woman,
are of few days and full of trouble.
2 They spring up like flowers and wither away;
like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
3 Do you fix your eye on them?
Will you bring them[a] before you for judgment?
4 Who can bring what is pure from the impure?
No one!
We are Born �Dead in Sin� and in Need of being �Reborn Again� (Born Again) before we can Respond to God�s Word. We are Conceived in the Iniquity of Sin...All of us�not One is Born without Sin.
Psalm 51:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
This shows the necessity of Baptism from conception. Therefore, Baptism is for Babies as well as for Adults.
God did not make His new Covenant narrower than the old Covenant. To the contrary, He made it wider, for both Jews and Gentiles, Infants and Adults.
Jesus says unless we become �Like Children�, we cannot Enter into Heaven. So why would Children be Excluded from Baptism?
Matthew 18:2-5
New International Version (NIV)
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: �Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Jesus Clearly says The Kingdom of Heaven also belongs to Children. There is no �Age Limit� on entering the Kingdom, and no �Age Limit� for being eligible for Baptism.`
Matthew 19:14
New International Version (NIV)
14 Jesus said, �Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.�
Jesus says to let the Children come to Him for the Kingdom of God also belongs to them. Jesus says nothing about being �Too Young� to come into the Kingdom of God.
Mark 10:14
New International Version (NIV)
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, �Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Jesus says, �Let the children come to me,...�. The people brought Infants to Jesus that he might touch them. This Demonstrates that the �Receipt of Grace� is not Dependent upon the �Age of Reason�.
Luke 18:15-17
New International Version (NIV)
The Little Children and Jesus
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, �Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.�
Peter says to the multitude, "Repent and be baptized...". Some Christians use this verse to prove one must be a Believer (not an Infant) to be Baptized. But the Greek translation Literally says,
"If you repent, then each one who is a part of you and yours must each be baptized�
Greek (�Metanoesate kai bapistheto hekastos hymon.�)
This, Contrary to what some Christians argue, actually proves that Babies are Baptized based on their �Parent�s Faith�. This is Confirmed in the next verse.
Acts 2:38-39
New International Version (NIV)
38 Peter replied, �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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off�for all whom the Lord our God will call.�
The Key Words here are
��for you and your children and for all who are far off��
Peter says Baptism is Specifically given to Children as well as Adults.
��Those far off�� refers to those who were at their �homes� (primarily Infants and Children). God's �Covenant Family� includes Children. The word "Children" that Peter used comes from the Greek word "teknon" which also includes Infants.
The Church has Baptized Infants since �Day One� as Instructed by Christ Himself
I have much More Scripture to Show that Infant Baptism is Scriptural�but I do not want to Overwhelm and so I will Post on another Thread.
Arch, you have need to put your bong away already... because too much smpoke has gotten in your eyes, and the mind has gotten blinded from the smoke clouds:ROFL::rocknroll::ROFL::excited:
What part of REPENT FOR THE REMISSION (which means forgiveness) of your sins, and be baptized... DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?
Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this (meaning practice such sins) will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So, Arch PLEASE tell me what infant or child lives or practice in such sins, that he/she should REPENT OF AND BE BAPTIZED for God's forgiveness?
Jesus told his disciples NOT to keep the children away from coming to Him becaseu they are INNOCVENT OF SINS, and the are like unto the kingdom, and this is how we would like for us to be, humble and innocent as a child. Every child that was brought to Jesus, the Bible tells us that HE BLESSED THEM, no where does it say one word that Jesus baptized the children who came to Him or even told thier parents to baptize them? Jesus laid hands on the children and BLESSED THEM. And used them as an example of conduct and behavior that WE as adults ought to be in order to enter the kingdom of God(heaven)...
The far off ...that Peter speaks about is spekaing about those JEWS who were scattered, as well as those Jews in others parts of the regions and country, as well the lost, as well as those Jews who were not there in the city celebrating the Jewish feast on the Day of Pentacost when God poured out His Holy Spirit.
I think you already have EVEN SCRIPTURES that you don't understand, why should I make your load any heavier, when you can't magage what you've got:nahnah:... read and get what has already been given to you and allow the Holy Spirit of God to reveal His word to you... then you'll be ready for more scriptures after what you have has sunk into your heart, mind, soul, and spirit with spiritual knoweldge and understanding....tooo much ain't good for ya:glow::yay:
I just want to add something which I thought was obvious but turns out it may not be...
There are several instances in the new testament where "household" is referred to (a Bible search engine will throw them up). Be careful not to take this as literal at every mention! You'll see how some of the sections are titled "Jesus feeds the 5000" or similar - scripture itself admits that is only the number of men present - women and children simply weren't counted. Likewise the OT census' only included the men (since they may have had more than one wife plus concubines, not to mention the numerous children by each).
Jesus Himself said of Zacchaeus "salvation has come to this house". This isn't literal, unless I'm misunderstanding Jesus, the actual dwelling place hadn't found salvation! Rather, the head of the household (Zac') had found salvation - and through the dramatic change it produced, it is likely some of his wives, children and staff would also have responded to Jesus.
Now if the master of the house converts and is baptised, it's not impossible to believe that he could order all the members of his household to also be baptised; remember the guy who raped Tamar in the old testament and wanted to marry her? He was made to be circumcised, which also went for his household (again, not literally everyone - it's difficult to do for the women!). But as I said in my original post, baptism as we practice it is little more than a symbolic dunking. Without accepting Jesus, there will be no baptism of the Spirit, even if they've been dunked under their master's orders.
If you really really want to say that "household" includes everyone present there be they infant, unbelievers or otherwise, then where does that leave family members, etc. who were elsewhere at the time?
The Bible is a record of things that happened - not everything you read about is commanded by or blessed by God!
So what if an entire household is "baptised" - that's just what happened - it doesn't comment on the validity of it either way, just states the fact.
Now if the Lord comments on something (as He did to the church in Laodicea) then you'd better listen up! But if not, don't assume it's sanctioned by God just because it's in the Bible.*
*This does not mean I believe Scripture is fallible or erroneous - there are plenty of examples of people doing things and God being pleased or angry as a result, but it doesn't record God's opinion on everything that's written - His Spirit is the guide wherever the Word is silent.
