Why do Protestant Christians, who claim to go by the bible alone, have opposite beliefs about Baptism?

Question

The bible says that through Baptism we are saved. I just got back from having my 4 month old daughter baptized. She is now a born again Christian.

By the way, I'm not going to hold anyone's hand if they are too lazy to google up the bible passages or Protestantism divisions that I'm talking about. If they don't want to find it for themselves then they wouldn't care if I provided the quotes anyway.

Answer 1

There is no such thing as going "by the Bible alone", as though the book itself had some sort of authority. You either go by the teaching of God's Church, recognizing it as the authority set forth by Christ; or you go by your own personal interpretations of the Bible, in which case you, not the Bible, are the final authority, since you define what the Bible means.

Answer 2

I am happy that you have celebrated something so dear to you in your daughter's life.

You are asking about credobaptist (believer's) and paedobaptist (infant) Protestants?

Hmmmm...for us it is something of an in house debate. But here is a somewhat simplified perspective on the subject. (I know there are others who can do better job than I can.)
Protestants do not, historically, believe that baptism and salvation are the same thing, rather that for one group it is the profession of salvation and for the other that it is an inclusion in the covenantal community and that, by God's grace, a profession of salvation will come later.

The credobaptist thought comes from a concern that people would equate baptism with salvation (already suggested this above). It is a valid concern. Much, though not all, of their discussion points come from the New Testament. They will generally require another baptism should an adult, who was baptized as an infant, come to them seeking membership in their congregation.
A paedobaptist sees scripture as one long revelation of God's covenant with His people. Both Old and New Testament are cited in defence of their postition. They would say that a child is born into the Covenant Community, salvation is between the child and God, but the community is responsible to help the parent's instruct the child. (Think a sort of spiritual circumcision.)The concern here is that a believer's baptism might be construed as a work of salvation. (Which it has been by some.) Baptism is not equated with salvation, either. This group will accept the infant or believer's baptism of any professing Christian wishing to join their congregation.

You see that in both "camps" there is agreement that baptism and salvation (born again) are not the same thing. It is more a discussion of mode and motive. On this we can agree to disagree (I grant it can get heated, but then many families have those sorts of discussions, don't they).

Most importantly what both groups do agree on is the source of our salvation...the finished work on the Cross of Jesus Christ. That Jesus is one part of a Triune Godhead. We can agree that "...If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved..." Romans 10:9-10 (New Living Translation, not my favourite but the one at hand).

Answer 3

Mark 16:16 does state "whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." I think people interpret this wrong. Jesus did not say you will be condemned for not being baptized, just for not believing. When babies are baptized it is more considered a dedication. You are announcing to the world that you are dedicating your child to God. This alone will not secure your daughter's place in heaven. When she is old enough to make the decision on her own she will still need to accept Jesus in her life. Usually baptizing for older peopl is a symbol that you are washing away your old life and sins so you can start life again as a Christian.

Answer 4

Hulk, your some what misinformed. A Christian isn't unavoidably a Protestant [or] a Roman Catholic. there are a number of 'denominations' of Christian church homes, the factor is, are they retaining Jesus Christ on the midsection of their worship? Fr. Martin Luther did no longer {eliminate} any books from the Bible, He purely interpreted them in a greater creditable trend. Luther felt that Salvation did no longer come from 'indulgences' or from self denial or from procuring your thank you to heaven in the process the Pope [Catholic church]. Luther outfitted his doctrine on scripture at the same time with Ephesians 2:8 " that's via {grace} which you have been saved by using faith and this no longer from yourselves that's a {present} of God." The e book of 'Galatians' is principally stated with the aid of fact the e book that Fr.Luther used with the aid of fact the main to his theology. "Grace no longer the regulation." The fruit of the Holy Spirit. you're able to desire to envision it, that's in basic terms six chapters. Fr.Luther had no longer something to do with the absence of the "Apocrypha." maximum Bibles different than the Roman Catholic Bible exclude the 7 books of the Apocrypha. they do no longer look to be probably that important on your faith, they are in spite of the incontrovertible fact that exciting historic books to envision. My very own opinion is that if a individual or church accepts the Apostles Creed as their statement of religion, then they have organic doctrine.

Answer 5

Because they are not with the Holy Spirit on many things, including baptism. Its a pick and choose situation basically. Take what you like and leave what you hate pretty much.

A single contradiction is enough to show that they do not have the Spirit of God. "He cannot deny Himself" (II Timothy 2:13)

Answer 6

I would challenge you to show me ANYWHERE the Bible says you are saved through baptism.

Ephesians 2:8-9
"8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. "

We aren't saved because we got baptised. Baptism is a public showing of your faith, it is nothing more, nothing less. You say your 4 month old is born again now? What decisions has she made to believe in Christ? None. Faith saves us.

Answer 7

The Bible says Believe and be Baptized, does she believe? She had no decision, you can't save someone, they have to choose to accept Christ. She is not a born again believer!
Baptism is symbolic of the relationship you have when Christ was accepted as savior, it does not save you.

Answer 8

The Bible says Believe and be baptized....you're taking the other scriptures out of context as do the catholics.

EDIT: AMEN Kent!

Answer 9

well 1st of all your daughter din't need to be babptized she did not sin.When you are old enough to know Gods word from the Bible and understand that when 1st you hear the word of God,2nd you bealeave in the word of God and then you ask for forgivness and then get baptized to wash away all your sins.we all are God's children.

Answer 10

probably for the same reason that they pay homage to the pope for changing Gods Holy Sabbath Day(saturday) to sunday