Is infant baptism from the Bible?

[atpollard]

What else would stop children from going to him ... only Protestants do that.

1. Lutherans are Protestants and Lutherans practice Paedobaptism.
2. Presbyterians are Protestants and Presbyterians practice Paedobaptism.
3. Anglicans are Protestants and Anglicans practice Paedobaptism.

So your blanket statement that Protestants “stop children from going to him” is largely false since there are many Protestants that practice Paedobaptism just like the Catholic Church does.

For the Credobaptists that I know, we do not “stop children from going to him”. I have personally participated in the baptism of MANY children (as an Elder, not as the Pastor performing the baptism). What we Credobaptists have not done is to violate the command of Peter in Acts 2 by baptizing those that have not heard the Gospel or the unrepentant. Nor do Credobaptists claim that anyone that does not “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” is saved. [Romans 10:9-10]

Our children are saved just like everyone else: “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]

 

[Josiah]

I take it you will now renounce infant baptism as a non-biblical ceremony.

Perhaps your continued, persistent evasion is because you now renounce the new Anabaptist tradition on Baptism as non-biblical.


You presistently REFUSE to do as you demand of all but yourself:
"Let us not insert as truth, what God does not expressly declare as truth."

Don't say a word that Anabaptists do about baptism, don't repeat a claim or teaching or invention of ANYONE or ANY DENOMINATION that holds to credobaptism or anti-paedobaptism or immersion-only baptism. Do as you insist. Just repeat verbatim what Scripture "expressly declares as truth."

Admit your Anabaptist traditions fail your standard you demand or give the biblical reference where the words in the Bible "expressly declares" the Anabaptist inventions you echo:

"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath celebrated a certain birthday, but you won't be told which one that is." (Anti-Paedobaptism Tradition). Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath adequately proven they hath chosen Jesus as their personal Savior and hath correctly chanteth the Sinner's Prayer." (Credobaptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any unless you submergeth ever cell of their body entirely under water." (Immersion only baptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.


Do as you insist everyone ELSE do. Or admit the new Anabaptist traditions you endlessly parrot don't meet the standard YOU DEMAND. Stop echoing Anabaptist inventions, spins and tradition. And ONLY verbatim quote the words "Scripture expressly declares as truth." Not only do you NOT do as you demand, you actually quote Scripture to prove NO SCRIPTURE "expressly declares" your Anabaptist traditions as truth (or as anything).




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[atpollard]

GREAT!

So, just do as you demand: "Let us not insert as truth, what God does not expressly declare as truth."

Don't say a word that Anabaptists do about baptism, don't repeat a claim or teaching or invention of ANYONE or ANY DENOMINATION that holds to credobaptism or anti-paedobaptism or immersion-only baptism. Do as you insist. Just repeat verbatim what Scripture "expressly declares as truth."

Give the biblical reference where the words in the Bible "expressly declares" the Anabaptist inventions you echo:

"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath celebrated a certain birthday, but you won't be told which one that is." (Anti-Paedobaptism Tradition). Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath adequately proven they hath chosen Jesus as their personal Savior and hath correctly chanteth the Sinner's Prayer." (Credobaptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any unless you submergeth ever cell of their body entirely under water." (Immersion only baptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.


Do as you insist everyone ELSE do. Stop echoing Anabaptist inventions, spins and tradition. And ONLY verbatim quote the words "Scripture expressly declares as truth." Not only do you NOT do as you demand, you actually quote Scripture to prove NO SCRIPTURE "expressly declares" your Anabaptist traditions as truth (or as anything).

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [Act 2:38 NASB]

Quit skipping a step.

 

[Josiah]

Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [Act 2:38 NASB]

Yup. But Peter did NOT say, "Everyone must repent THEN be baptized." He did NOT say what you do. You are basing an entire new tradition, a whole new invention, on changing Peter's counsel to a specific group to a general mandate, and you are deleting the word he used ("Kai") and substituting any of 3 koine Greek words that imply or impose order, sequence, chronology (all 3 are usually translated into English as "then"). So, you have to ignore the context, delete a word in the text, and then impose the word you like in its place (to correct Peter and force Peter to agree with you). Friend, "kai" means AND, it is the most general, generic connecting word in the entire Greek language. Friend, I got up this morning and I went to the bathroom and made some coffee. Yup, AND. But if you just willy-nilly delete the word "and" and substitute instead the word "then" - now it's a lie, something not true, you entirely CHANGED what I wrote. Amazing to see such disrespect for God and His Word.



Here are the 3 Anabaptist traditions you parrot. Give the reference in the Bible for each of them:


"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath celebrated a certain birthday, but you won't be told which one that is." (Anti-Paedobaptism Tradition). Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath adequately proven they hath chosen Jesus as their personal Savior and hath correctly chanteth the Sinner's Prayer." (Credobaptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any unless you submergeth ever cell of their body entirely under water." (Immersion only baptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.


If you have verses that state the new Anabaptist traditions you echo, give them. But please don't CHANGE anything by deleting words you don't like and substituting entirely different ones to correct the Holy Spirit. TAKE from Scripture instead of changing Scripture to impose your new rare Anabaptist inventions/tradition on Baptism.







.

 

[atpollard]

Yup. But Peter did NOT say, "Everyone must repent THEN be baptized."

Peter said AND. Peter did not say OR.

Credobaptism teaches “repent” AND “be baptized” and you will be saved.
Paedobaptism teaches “be baptized” and you are saved.

 

[Josiah]

Peter said AND

RIght!!! My whole point. And it's EXACTLY why your whole apologetic is baseless. You REJECT the word "and", just delete it, and replace it with a word the Holy Spirit NEVER (not once) used in connection to Baptism, the word "THEN."

Friend, any heretic can show Scripture says what he does if he employs your trick: Just delete the word in the text and substitute a different one.



Here are the 3 Anabaptist traditions you parrot. Give the reference in the Bible for each of them:


"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath celebrated a certain birthday, but you won't be told which one that is." (Anti-Paedobaptism Tradition). Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath adequately proven they hath chosen Jesus as their personal Savior and hath correctly chanteth the Sinner's Prayer." (Credobaptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any unless you submergeth ever cell of their body entirely under water." (Immersion only baptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.


If you have verses that state the new Anabaptist traditions you echo, give them. But please don't CHANGE anything by deleting words you don't like and substituting entirely different ones to correct the Holy Spirit. TAKE from Scripture instead of changing Scripture to impose your new rare Anabaptist inventions/tradition on Baptism.



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[atpollard]

Friend, any heretic can show Scripture says what he does if he employs your trick: Just delete the word in the text and substitute a different one.

[Acts 2:38 NASB] 38 Peter [said] to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


[Romans 10:8-10 NASB] 8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.


[Romans 10:13-14 NASB] 13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

I have added and deleted no words.
When will Paedobaptists obey them and stop baptizing infants that have not obeyed them?

 

[Particular]

Yup. But Peter did NOT say, "Everyone must repent THEN be baptized." He did NOT say what you do. You are basing an entire new tradition, a whole new invention, on changing Peter's counsel to a specific group to a general mandate, and you are deleting the word he used ("Kai") and substituting any of 3 koine Greek words that imply or impose order, sequence, chronology (all 3 are usually translated into English as "then"). So, you have to ignore the context, delete a word in the text, and then impose the word you like in its place (to correct Peter and force Peter to agree with you). Friend, "kai" means AND, it is the most general, generic connecting word in the entire Greek language. Friend, I got up this morning and I went to the bathroom and made some coffee. Yup, AND. But if you just willy-nilly delete the word "and" and substitute instead the word "then" - now it's a lie, something not true, you entirely CHANGED what I wrote. Amazing to see such disrespect for God and His Word.



Here are the 3 Anabaptist traditions you parrot. Give the reference in the Bible for each of them:


"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath celebrated a certain birthday, but you won't be told which one that is." (Anti-Paedobaptism Tradition). Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any until they hath adequately proven they hath chosen Jesus as their personal Savior and hath correctly chanteth the Sinner's Prayer." (Credobaptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.

"Thou canst NOT baptize any unless you submergeth ever cell of their body entirely under water." (Immersion only baptism Tradition) Just verbatim quote the verse(s) that "expressly declares" this. Don't echo something some Baptist "expressly declared", quote the verse(s) expressly declaring this invention of yours as truth.


If you have verses that state the new Anabaptist traditions you echo, give them. But please don't CHANGE anything by deleting words you don't like and substituting entirely different ones to correct the Holy Spirit. TAKE from Scripture instead of changing Scripture to impose your new rare Anabaptist inventions/tradition on Baptism.







.

Well... that's a big but. Josiah, you are demanding an exact wording by Peter, and if you see none, you declare "anything goes." Of course, that only applies to your pet traditions to which you hold. If a cult uses your same tactic, you would denounce them immediately.

I reject your contention that if God doesn't state a phrase exactly as you wish, that means your tradition is valid. Your contention is false.

What we see is that God never, ever, saves a person based upon the works that they do, so that the work causes God to act according to the work. Yet, you promote that very thing when you declare that God must save an infant via infant baptism as an obligation to extend grace.
What an utterly false teaching that is, Josiah. God tells us that we are all dead in our trespasses and sins and that God must make us (individually) alive with Christ. Never once does God say that the ceremony performed by parents and church leaders will remove the trespasses and sins and thus make a person alive with Christ by the actions of others on behalf of that other person. In fact, not only is it never stated, it is never, ever implied. You cannot, by Sola Scriptura, make such an assertion. Yet, here you are making the assertion anyway.
Josiah, your church tradition does not come from the Holy Spirit, nor does it come from the Holy Scriptures. It comes from a man-made assertion, apart from God's word. You trust in a human idea, not God's word.

 

[NewCreation435]

Some may say, what is wrong with baptizing an infant? Well we need to go to the word of God and to the requirements for baptism.

Baptism is for those that hear the Gospel message, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and repent of their sins. This must be done before a person can be baptized.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38.

"Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21.

Why do we need to repent to God?

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.

Only those that receive the Word of God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are fit for baptism.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:15, 16.

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12.

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:36, 37.

The question must now be asked, ‘Can an infant understand the Gospel, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and repent of their sins?’ Of course they cannot, so therefore according to the Bible they cannot be baptized and any church that condones infant baptism is not following the Word of God.

I have been reluctant to say anything because the issue of baptism and infant baptism has been talked about through hundreds if not thousands of posts on this forum. It seems at this point a waste of time to even talk more about it. I was actually baptized as a baby and then confirmed as a young person in the Methodist church. I feel now that this was a waste of time and did nothing for me spiritually. Baptism is not for babies who can't be aware of what is happening and don't believe themselves. As I post this, I am aware that others will come along a point to church history (even though much of church history is marred by corruption) and/or the basic Lutheran doctrine that something spiritual is happening baptizing babies.

 

[atpollard]

I have been reluctant to say anything because the issue of baptism and infant baptism has been talked about through hundreds if not thousands of posts on this forum. It seems at this point a waste of time to even talk more about it. I was actually baptized as a baby and then confirmed as a young person in the Methodist church. I feel now that this was a waste of time and did nothing for me spiritually. Baptism is not for babies who can't be aware of what is happening and don't believe themselves. As I post this, I am aware that others will come along a point to church history (even though much of church history is marred by corruption) and/or the basic Lutheran doctrine that something spiritual is happening baptizing babies.

I have to snicker at this for several reasons. (but first let me say that I liked your post and agree.)

1. You were baptized as an infant, and apparently God did eventually save you. I went through something similar where I was baptized at a Lutheran Church to prevent a fight with the grandparents, raised atheist, and then was ultimately saved as an adult. So I can’t really claim that the Infant Baptism saved me, but I feel just a little guilty saying that it meant nothing. There is that whole thing about “all things“ working together for our good.

2. It is sad what most Methodist Churches have become. I have memories of the “social clubs” we attended for Easter Services because that was what was expected. I have read about John Wesley and how the Methodists started out with such fire for the Lord and evangelism and personal holiness. To read about what once was, and see what is today makes me sad. To hear you speak of going through the motions of “playing Church” with the Methodists brings back personal memories.

Anyway, thank you for your participation.

 

[NewCreation435]

I have to snicker at this for several reasons. (but first let me say that I liked your post and agree.)

1. You were baptized as an infant, and apparently God did eventually save you. I went through something similar where I was baptized at a Lutheran Church to prevent a fight with the grandparents, raised atheist, and then was ultimately saved as an adult. So I can’t really claim that the Infant Baptism saved me, but I feel just a little guilty saying that it meant nothing. There is that whole thing about “all things“ working together for our good.

2. It is sad what most Methodist Churches have become. I have memories of the “social clubs” we attended for Easter Services because that was what was expected. I have read about John Wesley and how the Methodists started out with such fire for the Lord and evangelism and personal holiness. To read about what once was, and see what is today makes me sad. To hear you speak of going through the motions of “playing Church” with the Methodists brings back personal memories.

Anyway, thank you for your participation.

I don't know that I was playing as much as my parents made me go whether I wanted to or not. If someone had actually sat down one to one with me and asked me questions they would have learned really fast that I didn't care one wit about being baptized.

 

[brian100]

Well I said Protestant do it.. and they do. But stopping children from infant baptism could be a belief its wrong and triggers the Jesus no heaven thing for you.

He didn't just say it, but promised it.

Mark10

15 I promise you that you cannot get into God's kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.” 16Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on them.

So never put yourself in that position. He said "I promise"

 

[atpollard]

15 I promise you that you cannot get into God's kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.”

Child, not infant. Try reading what it actually says rather than what you want it to say. We prevent no one from COMING to Jesus, we just CARRY AND SPRINKLE no one against their will. Can Catholics say the same?

 

[brian100]

A child is an infant, too.. A toddler is a child. Children groups them all into one category. If you stop them from being Baptized you will see Jesus "I Promise" so don't do it. Just believing in this might cause it.

People use the bible to say they know more than Jesus? Jesus speaks in parables to throw off these people.

Accept baptism like a child.

 

[Particular]

A child is an infant, too.. A toddler is a child. Children groups them all into one category. If you stop them from being Baptized you will see Jesus "I Promise" so don't do it. Just believing in this might cause it.

Brian, no one, besides you will ever take those verses and force infant baptism into those verses. It just isn't there. You are clinging to a fantasy in your own mind.

 

[brian100]

Go ahead and believe it if you want... Jesus promises you if you stop the kids from going to him you will not see heaven. I don't do that stuff. Simply believing it might be enuf to block you from heaven.

 

[Particular]

Go ahead and believe it if you want... Jesus promises you if you stop the kids from going to him you will not see heaven. I don't do that stuff. Simply believing it might be enuf to block you from heaven.

Brian, Jesus doesn't promise what you claim. You have entirely misunderstood the passage.
Not only that, you are effectively saying that God does not save by grace, through faith, but instead you are saying that God saves based upon the works one does.

I suggest you read the Bible and leave the church that is not teaching you God's word.

 

[brian100]

No he said if you block these children you won't go to heaven. I only know that Protestants do that.

 

[Particular]

No he said if you block these children you won't go to heaven. I only know that Protestants do that.

No, Brian. He doesn't. You think that, but you think wrong. You are so wrapped up in your church that you misinterpret what God is saying.
In your interpretation, grace is abandoned and salvation is by human works.

 

[brian100]

Go ahead and believe that kids shouldn't be baptized and see how that gets you to heaven.