Infant Baptism?
A. BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION( Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16 ).
B. TO BECOMING DISCIPLES OF CHRIST( Matt. 28:19-20; Gal. 3:27 ).
C. IS IMMERSION.
D. ANOTHER QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM?
A. TO BE BAPTISM, IT MUST BE IMMERSION.
1. We have seen that pouring or sprinkling is not baptism.
2. Therefore "infant baptism" as commonly practiced is really a misnomer.
B. THERE ARE PREREQUISITES TO BAPTISM.
1. Bible baptism requires FAITH( Acts 8:35-38; Mark 16:16 ).
2. Bible baptism requires REPENTANCE( Acts 2:38 ).
a. What is repentance? metanoeo-
1) to change one's mind (heart), that is, to repent.
2) to change one's mind (heart) for the better, to amend heartily with
abhorrence of one's past sins. ( Thayer )
b. How can we relate this to infants?
A. THE RISE OF INFANT BAPTISM IN CHURCH HISTORY.
1. "It cannot be proved by the sacred Scriptures that infant baptism was
instituted by Christ, or begun by the first Christians after the apostles."
(MARTIN LUTHER, Vanity Of Infant Baptism, Part II, p. 8)
2. If this is true, when did the practice of "infant baptism" begin?
a. The earliest mention of infant baptism is around 200 A.D.
b. Only after the doctrine of "original sin" had been developed.
1) "The early theological development of the doctrine of original sin
contributed to the importance of infant baptism." (Christianity
Through The Centuries, p. 160)
2) Infant baptism based on the idea that babies are born in sin.
B. ARE BABIES BORN IN SIN?
1. Do babies inherit the personal guilt of their forbearers( Ezek. 18:20 )?
2. Consider the nature of the NEW COVENANT( Heb. 8:6-13 ).
a. No one enters this covenant without already knowing the Lord( vs. 11 ).
b. Unlike the old covenant where people entered the covenant by virtue
of birth into the right family (Israel), where males entered the covenant
by virtue of circumcision when eight days old, where as they grew
older THEY HAD TO BE TAUGHT TO KNOW THE LORD.
d. When "infant baptism" is practiced, this distinctive feature of the new
covenant is no longer present!
e. This distinctive feature of the new covenant is true only when:
1) Baptism (the means by which we enter a covenant relationship
with the Lord today) is administered to penitent believers.
2) Those who enter the covenant have already been taught about the
Lord (via the gospel of Christ).
A. Romans 5:12. READ ALL OF THE VERSE.
B. 1 Cor. 15:22. READ CONTEXT.
C. Psa. 51:5; 58:3. MAKE SENSE OF LYING FROM THE WOMB.
D. Eph. 2:3. HABITUAL PRACTICE. JUDGED FOR OUR DEEDS( 2 Cor. 5:10 ).
A. SHOULD INFANTS BE BAPTIZED? "YES" IF WE CAN SHOW:
1. One example in the N.T. where infants were baptized.
2. That they meet the prerequisites of faith and repentance.
3. That they can know the Lord somehow before they enter into the relationship
baptism places them, and so do not need to be taught to know the Lord
B. BUT THE FACTS ARE:
1. There is not one case of "infant baptism" in the N.T.!
2. Only those who believe and have repented may be baptized!
3. To baptize infants would make the point of Heb. 8:11 without meaning!
C. THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS THAT BABIES
1. Are born without the guilt of their forbearers, therefore,are not lost.
2. Remain safe until they reach an accountable age where they become guilty of
their own sins and in need of salvation.
D. WHAT IF YOU WERE BAPTIZED AS AN INFANT?
1. Most likely you were not (simply "sprinkled").
2. Even if immersed, it was not "Bible baptism" which requires faith and repentance.
3. You are still in need of obeying the Word of the Lord!
