If Christ repaid the debt of Adam's sin, why do Christians insist on baptism for babies?

Answer 1

Christians don't baptize babies, that's a tradition of the Catholic Church, the sprinkling of water on infants. What Christians do, when they reach an age of understanding, and can accept Christ for them selves, are baptized in what is a total body submersion. The symbolism, that they die to their old selves, they are leaned back into the water, representing that their old nature has been buried, and as they come out of the water, it's the Resurrection of their new lives.

The reason the Catholic baptism makes no sense, the baby has no ability to accept Christ.

Answer 2

Christians follow baptism because it is a symbol of the old life washed away when they are saved by Jesus. When you give your heart to Jesus, you are a new person. When you go under the water you go under as the old sin self, when you come out of the water you are a new, clean person. It is a public profession of faith. I am United Methodist, we christen our babys then when they are old enough they go through a confirmation class. It depends solely on the religious doctrine that you adhere to as to how and when you are baptized.
It has nothing to do with the forgiveness that God showed Adam and Eve in the garden for their "original" sins.
You are combining an Old testament event with a New testament event to form your question. They are two completely different events with two completely different meanings. Baptism was not ever practiced until Jesus came into the world and came of age to begin his ministry on earth.

Answer 3

Actually, the Christians that I know do not believe in baptism for babies, but rather, Christening for babies. There is a big difference. Baptism is an outward showing of an inward happening and represents the death, burial, of our sins and the Resurrection of our selves to walk in a newness of life. Christening is is the parents dedicating themselves to raise the child, with Gods help, in a christian environment.

Answer 4

The real question is if Christ paid the debt for all man's sins, why even have a church, prayer, or confession?

It should all be covered wether you believe or worship or not, just as the sun rises and sets. It's all a political tar pit trap for "intellectuals" to debtate on and make non points...
Sure there is a creator (or was) and yes him/her/it influences what happens and you may meet him/her/it when you die but all the tradition is just that, tradition and it's also a way for bums that couldn't do anything to make a living for themselves to rip off fearful people that have no faith.

Answer 5

There seems to be a confusion in understanding the reason for the Lord's crucifixion and the necessity for child babtism in Christianity. Jesus' crucifixion was for the sins man committed against God and God deciding to give his only begotten son as sacrifice against the sins committed by man so that man could live.

Baptism of a child gives him a Christian recognition, after which it becomes the responsibility of his/her parents to teach him the Good News in other words the Bible and God's Word.

Answer 6

As far as I know, only Roman Catholics baptize babies, well unless you convert to catholisism later on in life, and the many other things they believe in. Baptism is the act of realizing what Christ has done for you on the cross and it's a public way of saying, I hand my life over to Christ and want to live for him. Thus when you are old enough to realize this, one can be baptized and truly mean it.

Answer 7

I do not follow the tradition of baptism of babies. To me, that is simply a dedication of that child to God. Baptism is a symbol that when you get dunked and come up again, you come up a new creature. You are drowning the old and breathing life into the new. It is a public profession of your faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. Baptism does not save you. I too wish people would not bother with baptizing babies. Most of the parents who baptize their children do not bring them up in a Godly manner which is much more important.

Answer 8

People are completely clueless when it comes to baptism. Baptism follows accepting Jesus as your savior. Babies are sin free until they knowingly commit their fist sin,and when they do, they must turn to Jesus and invite Him into their hearts and lives and repent of their sins.

Babies automatically go to heaven as well as all children under the age of accountibility. And that age varies from child to child, depending what they have learned about God, and when they finally reached the period of time in their lives that they know what a sin is, and what the difference between riight and wrong is.

Baptism alone will not get you into heaven. Acceptance of Jesus as your savior is the only way to get into heaven. You must be born again by accepting Jesus as your savior.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Answer 9

Geez! this is a good question! Why didn't I think of it? Guess they (Protestants) are not thinking too clearly....not thinking too deeply about Baptism and what it does. Baptism washes away that orginal sin which impedes our entrance into Heaven......I don't know why they wouldn't want babies that die before they are old enought to speak and make one of those "altar calls" (being saved so-to-speak) to die without this assurance of salvation.

Answer 10

Baptism for babies is not a Bible teaching. It is a tradition.
Matthew 15; (Matthew 15:3) In reply he said to them: “Why is it YOU also overstep the commandment of God because of YOUR tradition?
(Matthew 15:6) he must not honor his father at all.’ And so YOU have made the word of God invalid because of YOUR tradition.