Page 49 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

BAPTISM-INFANT

babies into the Lutheran Church. As you can see, my other, and with the Church of every time and place. Our
certificate was printed by the Missouri Synod’s common baptism, which unites us to Christ in faith, is
Concordia Publishing House and reads, ‘In Baptism full thus a basic bond of unity” (Baptism, Eucharist and
salvation has been given unto you; God has become Ministry, 1982).
your Father, and you have become His child.’ My THE ERROR OF INFANT BAPTISM
daughter’s reads, ‘You are a child of God because God 1. Infant baptism is not taught in the New Testament.
has made you His child through this act. All of God’s There is not one example in the New Testament
promises belong to you as you live under Him in His Scriptures of an infant being baptized. To find evidence
Kingdom.’ You must know that Luther’s Catechism, used for this practice, one must attempt to read something
in every Lutheran Synod, declares concerning the into the Scriptures.
‘Sacrament of Baptism,’ that ‘it works forgiveness of
sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal “For some, infant baptism is a doctrine by
salvation to all who believe this, as the words and implication. It is implied that in five households in the
promises of God declare.’ It also states regarding the N.T. that were visited by salvation, there must surely
‘Sacrament of the Altar’ [the Lord’s Supper], ‘namely, have been young children. These were the households
that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and of Cornelius in Acts 10, Lydia in Acts 16, the Philippian
salvation are given us through these words.’” jailer in Acts 16, Crispus in Acts 18, and Stephanas in 1
Co. 1:16” (The Church of God: A Symposium).
Anglican: “Baptism is a sign of Regeneration or New-
Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive The Case of Cornelius. “It is stated in v. 24 of Acts 10,
Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the that those gathered with him in the house were his
promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption kinsmen and near friends. He sends word that they are
to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly ‘all here present before God, to hear all things that are
signed and sealed.... The Baptism of young Children is commanded thee [Peter] of God.’ In v. 44 the Holy Spirit
in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most fell upon all them which heard the Word. We know from
agreeable with the institution of Christ” (The Thirty- other Scriptures that, in the N.T., the Holy Spirit acts
Nine Articles of Religion, XXV, XXVII). thus only upon those who have believed. Those
gathered were capable of hearing the commands of God
Methodist: “Sacraments are ... signs of grace ... by the with a view to believing and obeying” (Ibid.). It is
which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only specifically stated in Acts 11:17 that those who were
quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in saved and baptized with Cornelius were those “who
him. ... Baptism ... is also a sign of regeneration, or the believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Obviously these were
new birth. The baptism of young children is to be not tiny infants.
retained in the Church” (The Articles of Religion, 1784,
Lydia and Her Household (Acts 16:14-15). Nothing is
XVI, XVII). said about infants in this passage, and it is highly
Reformed: “We condemn the Anabaptists, who deny unlikely that this busy merchant woman would have
that young infants, born of faithful parents, are to be had tiny babies. There is no evidence here whatsoever
baptized. ... We therefore are not Anabaptists, neither for the practice of infant baptism.
do we agree with them in any point that is theirs” (The
The Philippian jailer and his household (Acts
Second Helvetic Confession, 1566, chapter XX). 16:30-34). This passage clearly says that Paul spoke the
Presbyterian: “Baptism ... is a sign and seal of the Word of God to the entire household (v. 32) and that
covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of the entire household believed (vv. 32-33). This could
regeneration, of remission of sins ... Dipping of the not be said of infants.
person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is
rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water The household of Crispus (Acts 18:8). Those who
upon the person. Not only those that do actually profess were saved and baptized in this family were all
faith in and obedience to Christ, but also the infants of believers, for we are told, “Crispus ... believed on the
one or both believing parents are to be baptized. ... by Lord with all his house...” We are not told how old the
the right use of this ordinance the grace promised is not members of Crispus’ family were, but we are told that
only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the each one of them believed on the Lord. Obviously they
Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that were not infants.
grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s The household of Stephanas (1 Co. 1:16). Again
own will, in his appointed time” (The Westminster nothing is actually said about infants being present or
Confession of Faith, 1646, XXVIII). baptized. In 1 Co. 16:15 we are told that this household
World Council of Churches: “Through baptism, addicted themselves to the ministry. This could not be
Christians are brought into union with Christ, with each said of infants.

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 49