Which is more true to the biblical witness--infant baptism or adult baptism?

Question

Which is more true to the biblical witness--infant baptism or adult baptism?

Answer 1

Ask yourself this which would God prefer?.

1, A Child Baptised in his Name?.

2, A Child neglected in Spiritual growth and refused the Kingdom of God because the Child is a Child?.

The Lord Never turned away the little Children and Chastised the Apostles for doing so, and what did he say to those Apostles that turned Away the Children?

Exactly what ALLECAT just said,

Jesus said Matt 19:13

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them,

but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

There is your answer!.

Answer 2

Infant baptism

Jesus said so in Matt 19:13

    10 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them,

14

    but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

15

    After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Then Paul baptized entire households.  Acts 16:14

    One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, 5 listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.

15

    After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us.

Acts 16:33

    He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once.

Corinthians 1:16

    (I baptized the household of Stephanas also; beyond that I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

As you note, Household is the key word, it does not say this part of the household or that part, but the ENTIRE household.  Also you will note that Jesus wanted the children to come to him, and that anyone who prevents it would be better off having a millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea.

Answer 3

Adult baptism. The Bible says that you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, to be saved. Infants can do neither of these things. Infant baptism only became current post-Constantine.

Answer 4

baptism represents death to self and rebirth in the Lord.  It's a personal decision, one that an infant is incapable of making.  You could be baptized as an infant (as I was) but if you do not live your life according to God's word, it's useless.  When I became a Christian, I made the decision to be baptized again as I had a better understanding of what it meant.  Jesus wasn't baptized until He was an adult.  

Edit - many of you are using the example of Jesus asking the children to come to Him.  They came to Him, but He did not baptize them.  He laid his hands on them and prayed.  Children are saved when they are young because although they are born into sin, they are still innocent.  You can accept Christ, be saved, not get baptized and still get into Heaven.  In my church, we dedicate our children to God.  It's a ceremony where the parents agree to teach their children about God and His Son Jesus.  They are still in God's hands.  When the child gets older (they could be 7, 17, 27, etc.) THEY make the choice for baptism.

Answer 5

There is not one recorded of an infant being baptized in the Bible.  Baptism is a choice that saved people make.  It is not a choice that parents can make in order to make sure their infant is saved.  Our God is a merciful one and would not condemn a child to h**l for not being baptized.  Rather you are an infant or an adult, being baptised does not save you.

Answer 6

They are both true. Infant baptism is valid. Adult baptism is valid if the adult had not been previously baptized.  

Answer 7

Infant baptism has little Scriptural support. It is an emblem of membership to a particular church. Any spiritual benefit to the infant is dependent on promises made by parents and godparents.

Answer 8

Both are Biblical.

Many Protestants use Peter's speech in Acts as a way to say one must be of an age of reason to be baptized as you must first "Repent and be baptized, every one of you".

But looking at the Greek, that verse is actually "Repent and be baptized, you and all that are yours". This means not just a single person, but entire families and households. We also know this by Peter and Paul's letters of baptizing whole households--an entire household included the family, the extended family and any and all servants. To say that there were NO infants or children under the age of reason is idiocy.

We must also remember that Peter is speaking to the Jews, proclaiming the New Covenant and the fulfillment of the Old Covenant. Thus, his main goal is to convert Jews to Christianity and for adults, one must first repent and accept Jesus as the Savior and then be baptized.

But we know from Paul's explanation of baptism as a "circumcision without hands" that this includes children.

In the Jewish faith, male children were circumcised at 8 days old, their parents would stand before the rabbi and take the oaths for their children until they could be confirmed into the Jewish faith at an older age. The graces of the parents faith would be given to the child since the child cannot proclaim his belief in the One God.

This can also be seen through the many miracles performed by Jesus due to the faith of others and not the healed person's faith. We know, Biblically and Orally, that graces of faith can be given to those who cannot speak or make their own proclamation of faith.

For an adult wishing to become a Jew though, it was different. The adult had to proclaim his belief in God, the Almighty, and adhere to the Jewish customs and *then* be circumcised.

It is the same in the New Covenant. Adults can proclaim on behalf of their children their belief in Jesus as the Savior and in the Trinity and then the children are confirmed at a later age (also Scriptural), but adults wishing to convert to Christianity have to first repent and then be baptized, then they are confirmed.

Infants and children have always been included in God's Covenants, why would He suddenly decide to leave the children out of the everlasting Covenant?

As many others have said Jesus said "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The only way to Jesus Christ is through baptism, this verse shows Jesus saying "let them come", but *not* baptizing children and infants, you are hindering them from coming to know Christ.

This verse also proves what our faith must be like: Child-like, innocent and accepting even if we do not understand it. Notice Jesus says "such as these", not "to the children" does the kingdom belong, many Protestants like to use this verse to prove that children do not have to be baptized as Heaven already belongs to them. Again, this speaks of infant baptism and child-like faith.

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Added: Suzanne: Um...God NEVER mentions infants??? You do know that 8 day old infants had to be circumcised to be included in the Old Covenant, right??

Hmmm....that would mean God mentions infants.

Answer 9

Adult baptism for the already saved, not to get saved.

Water baptism cannot save, and water baptism is not required for salvation.

"Infant baptism" is totally unbiblical and is a false gospel.

The only way to be saved, is by believing that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose from the dead.

Once saved, a person can celebrate by getting water baptised.  But if they never get water baptised, they're still saved by believing the above truth about Jesus.

Answer 10

There's nowhere in the Bible that infant baptism is explicitly prohibited.

We know of at least four complete households that were baptised when the leaders of the household were converted:  Lydia (Acts 16:15); Crispus (Acts 18:8); the Phillipian jailer (Acts 16.33); Cornelius (Acts 10:47) and Stephanus (1 Cor. 1:16).  Given that entire households were baptised, it is likely that if there were any exceptions (like for infants) then that would have been made quite clear.



In Acts 2:38, Peter says the promise of baptism "is for you and your children". Luke 18:15 "People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'"  These babies couldn't repent, yet the kingdom of God belongs to such as them.  If baptism is connected to salvation (which it is, eg 1 Pet 3:21), then the Church is correct to not hinder infants from being brought forward for baptism Col 2:11-13  ÃƒÂ¢Ã‚€Â” Paul makes a connection between baptism and circumcision (which was applied to 8-day-old babies).

No children in NT make decisions for Christ upon reaching the age of reason. The practice of the early Church: [Jesus] came to save all through himself; all, I say, who through him are reborn in God infants, and children, and youths, and old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, sanctifying infants; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that age . . .  [so that] he might be the perfect teacher in all things, perfect not only in respect to the setting forth of truth, perfect also in respect to relative age" (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 2:22:4 [AD 189]).



"Where there is no scarcity of water the stream shall flow through the baptismal font or pour into it from above; but if water is scarce'', whether on a constant condition or on occasion, then use whatever water is available. Let them remove their clothing. Baptise first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them" (Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition 21:16  [AD 215]). "The Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. The apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of divine sacraments, knew there is in everyone innate strains of [original] sin,  which must be washed away through water and the Spirit" (Origen, Commentaries on Romans 5:9 [AD 248]).

What the universal Church holds, not as instituted [invented] by councils but as something always held, is most correctly believed to have been handed down by apostolic authority. Since others respond for children, so that the celebration of the sacrament may be complete for them, it is certainly availing to them for their consecration, because they themselves are not able to respond (Augustine, On Baptism, Against the Donatists 4:24:31 [AD  400]).

Even the early reformers (like Luther and Calvin) were in favour of infant baptism.  The issue did not become controversial until quite late in the history of Christianity. IE the Current relevant Protestant Church's of today as you know with respect Pastor Frank.

And as a parent wishes to love nurture and educate their child within the World, a parent is also Concerned about their childs spiritual  welfare too. A child will grow up in that loving environment  and make there own choices when they become of age, but they will have the educational love and spiritual guidance received from the parents as we receive from our Father God!.

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Answer 11

those who do repent....but for me it worked the other way. I was baptized at 5 and then called 17 yrs later. God can do anything..

Answer 12

adult baptism.   it is a personal choice and cannot be made by a parent or we would all have our children baptized.  water baptism is not necessary for salvation but an act of obedience.

Answer 13

Definately adult baptism.  The Gospels are clear that a person must repent and believe in order to be saved.  How can an infant do either of these things?

Secondly, if you look at the Old Testament references to salvation under the New Covenant, you'll notice something very interesting:  God NEVER mentions infants; He only mentions adults.  For example, Isaiah 44 prophesies about the Holy Spirit being poured out on the Jews:

1 “Yet hear me now, O Jacob My servant,

      And Israel whom I have chosen.

       2 Thus says the LORD who made you

      And formed you from the womb, who will help you:

      ÃƒÂ¢Ã‚€Â˜ Fear not, O Jacob My servant;

      And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

       3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,

      And floods on the dry ground;

      I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,

      And My blessing on your offspring;

Notice that verse 3a clarifies that this "pouring" will ONLY occur on those who are "thirsty."  How can a child thirst for God?  It's impossible.  Isaiah 55:1 tells us the same thing:  those who thirst are given the water of the Gospel; verses 2 & 3 state that those who hunger are given the bread of righteousness; verse 4 states that they will enter into the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34.  This is why Jesus stated at Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."  It's just not possible for a child to hunger or thirst for righteousness.

Answer 14

Baptism is by choice.  Infants cannot make those choices...Love one another...God Bless