Should Infants Be Baptized?
Scriptural Answers
1. Is your method of baptism biblical?
I do know honest and sincere folks who were baptized either by trine immersion or affusion. Others have baptism administered for them by oil or sprinkling. None of these forms of baptism are biblical, for the Scriptures said that there are "one Lord, on faith, and one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5), meaning only one true Lord, one true faith, and one true baptism. Therefore, all other methods of baptism are counterfeits.
Because Jesus is our true Lord, he is the only one who can tell us what the true baptism is. In Mark 1: 9, 10, our Savior showed us how we suppose to get baptized: "Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting". Not only the Lord was ready for baptism, but he received it by immersion. Indeed, the word "baptism", "baptizo" in Greek means "to dip under or submerge or immerse". Do you "obey the voice of the Lord" (Jeremiah 38:20) or that of human? Are you following Jesus' example (1 Peter 2:21) or misguided men and women?
2. Do infants know the truth about God?
No one should be baptized unless that person knows the truth about God. For example, the Ethiopian treasurer was baptized after receiving the truth about Jesus (Acts 8: 26-39). It was the same for the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16: 23-34), Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-18), and Cornelius (Acts 10: 1-48). Do infants know the truth about God?
3. Do infants believe the truth?
The Bible says: "he who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 19:16). That means, only those who believe should be baptized. Infants as I know them only believe in breastfeeding or formulas or in care they're receiving from their parents.
No one has a biblical right to baptize a baby. Although sinners need to be baptized as a symbol that their sins have been washed away, they should first be prepared for that. Infants should not be baptized, for they do not know the truth nor believe it. They cannot experience conversion nor repent.
Published by Robenson Louis
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2 Comments
Post a CommentAgreed. Baptism should be done after a person has made an individual decision to follow Christ - it's a profession of faith. It accomplishes nothing to have baptism performed as an infant.
You are right on the mark with this sir. Very well put. I am a Southern Baptist & I thought the original word for baptism in Greek is Baptizmo (or close to that) which means a "submergence", that is going fully under the water. Since I believe the Bible & it is Truth, Acts 16:30-31 is something only an adult could say "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?, v32 ...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..." What infant can say that or believe in something they know nothing about at that age?! Well done.