"There Is One God And One Mediator Between God And Men, The Man Christ Jesus" 
1 Timothy (2:5)

Should Babies Be Baptized?

 

 

Is Baptism For Infants?

 

 


Paidorhantists (Infant Sprinklers)


 

Paidorhantists sprinkle the face of infants with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and proclaim that to be the “one baptism” of the religion of Christ. Excluding the adults who are baptized under this method, this form of baptism requires no faith, no repentance, and no confession to qualify their subjects for the baptism with water. 

The Bible teaches us what practices we are to adhere; not church creeds or doctrines instituted by men instead of God. If a practice is not authorized by God and is different from what the apostles preached and practiced in the New Testament Bible, then it is not of God in origin and done in vain and therefore not pleasing to God (Matthew. 15:9; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9; Proverbs. 14:12; etc.)

But even if this method were acceptable for adults would it do anything for a child’s salvation? Let’s explore this matter a bit more thoroughly in the following sections.

 

 

 

Baptism Requires:

A Level Of Understanding

The Bible says there are several required steps necessary for all sinners to consider regarding their obedient faith unto salvation. This includes obedience in baptism. No one can obey God for us, and no one else can make that choice for us. Other people may teach and encourage us to obey God, but they cannot decide for us whether or not we chose to obey God.  

Since a baby cannot possibly make any of the following types of decisions and cannot communicate any such decision to us, to baptize an infant would have no effect on the outcome of the baby’s salvation.

 

 


Their Belief Is Missing


 

A person should BELIEVE in Jesus Christ before they are baptized. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). How do we come to believe in Jesus as the Son of God? It is by hearing the Word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Therefore, a person should have faith in Christ before they are baptized. Can a baby believe in Jesus as the Son of God? We all know the answer is NO!

 


Their Confession Is Missing


 

Before a person is baptized, he should also CONFESS his faith in Christ. 

(Romans 10:9-10) If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. Can a baby confess his faith in Jesus? NO!

 


Their Repentance Is Missing


 

A person is to REPENT of their sins before they are baptized.  

(Acts 2:38) “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Can a baby repent of sins it has not yet committed? NO!

 

 

Definitions:

To repent means to change one’s life from bad to good. To have a change of mind. A person no longer wants to do things his way, but now he wants to do what the Lord says.

 

  • REPENT: Greek; μετανοέω > Transliteration: (met-an-o-eh’-o) To think differently or afterward, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction, regret): 

 

  • REMISSION: Greek; ἄφεσις  > Transliteration: (af’-es-is) Freedom; (figuratively) pardon: – deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission.

 


The Three Problems With This Logic


 

  1. A baby CAN NOT have faith in Christ; and
  2. A baby CAN NOT confess his faith in Christ; and 
  3. A baby CAN NOT repent of his sins.  

 

First, a baby has no sins.  

Second, he couldn’t repent of them even if he did have them. 

We become sinners when we transgress God’s law (1 John 3:4; James 1:13-15; Isaiah. 59:1-2). 

But a baby cannot understand God’s law, so how could it be held accountable for violating it?

Some people believe that babies need baptism because they have inherited guilt from Adam. This is not true!

 

(See: Comparing The Humanity Of Jesus)

 

Note:

(Ezekiel 18:20) – (The child does not bear the iniquity of the father, but the wickedness of the wicked is upon himself. The only person held accountable for Adam’s sin is Adam, not his descendants.)

(2 Corinthians 5:10) – (Each one will be judged according to what he has done in the body, good or bad. This means no one will be condemned for Adam’s sin, except Adam!)

 

NOTE: This also confirms that no one will be justified because someone else decided to do good. Therefore a parent’s decision to have a child baptize does not change the status of the child’s salvation. Each person will be judged for what he chooses to do, not for what others choose to do for him or her.

 

 

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