Fnerb said:
Forgive me for not catching up on all the posts that have been before this. I don't have internet at home (just moved) so I logged in just now and saw about 8 pages of posts (there were 2 when I left the thread).
Let me give you my belief on baptism as I have been taught (not Roman Catholic mind you)...
First off, "we" recognize two sacraments, Baptism and The Lord's Supper. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus commanded his disciples to Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
We are baptized "into" the name of our triune God and thus His name is placed upon us: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27 KJV)
Now comes the big question, baptism for whom.
As Jesus said above, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...". There are no age brackets placed here. Infants are sinful. Not only are we told so in Psalm 51, but as Paul tells us in Romans, the wages of sin is death. If babies were sinless, why is there infant death?
Jesus also spoke of "one of these little ones which believe in me" (Matt 18:6). So clearly, the miracle that is faith is not limited to adults.
And finally, to those who ask how water can do such great things, it’s not just the water.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25 – 27)
Through the Word connected with Baptism, Christ pours his Spirit upon us to create or strengthen faith. The Bible calls Baptism a “washing of rebirth†by which the Holy Spirit makes us God’s children…
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7)
Fnerb,
Children and Adults can be baptized, and they can be baptized after they believe. Infants are not able to believe so they must wait until they are older and can believe before baptism is offered to them. To baptize an infant has absolutely no effect on the infant, as they are unaware of anything going on around them. I do not remember my baptism when I was baptized, nor was I saved when I was baptized as an infant. I was not saved until I believed upon the name of Jesus Christ upon which I was baptized after that event even though I had been baptized as an infant.
Your previous post hit upon the fact of when to be baptized in the verse of Scripture provided:
- 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
Those who can believe and do believe should be taught to observe all things whatsoever Jesus has commanded, and be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Infants can not believe nor can they be taught to observe whatsoever Jesus commanded, nor should they be baptized.
Also you note the following:
- We are baptized "into" the name of our triune God and thus His name is placed upon us: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27 KJV)
The entire Scripture in context is
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Therefore, those that have believed have become children of God
by faith in Christ Jesus and as many that have been baptized into Christ (after having faith in Him) have put on Christ.
What about the reference that you gave from Matthew 18:6?
- Jesus also spoke of "one of these little ones which believe in me" (Matt 18:6). So clearly, the miracle that is faith is not limited to adults.
You are correct that the miracle of faith is not limited to adults. It is limited to those who can believe whether adult or children. Children can believe, therefore, they can be baptized upon their belief after having faith in Christ Jesus. Infants cannot believe, nor can they have faith, therefore, they should be baptized after they are born again, after they have faith in Christ Jesus. Until then, baptism is not baptism, but a tradition of men, sprinkling babes with water, appeasing parents as to the eternal security of their children. No where in Scripture are infants baptized.
Do infants who die go to hell? No because they have died before being under the law, and before they could make a choice of coming to Jesus or not. I believe that Jesus' blood has atoned for the sins of those unable to come to him. That is the character of God. Do some of those who have been baptized as infants go to hell? Yes, because they have never been born into the family of God from having faith in Jesus Christ. Would I get baptized after being born again even though I was baptized as an infant? Yes. I did.
God bless you and may you have God's understanding, wisdom, and peace in this matter,
Michael
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