What is the difference between infant and adult baptism?

Question

aside from the fact that the age of the person to be baptized is different...

Answer 1

The New Testament itself, while it does not explicitly say when (or whether) believers should have their children baptized, is not silent on the subject.
Luke 18, 15-16 tells us that "they were bringing even infants" to Jesus; and he himself related this to the kingdom of God: "Let the children come to me ... for to such belongs the kingdom of God."
When non-Catholics speak of "bringing someone to Jesus," they mean leading him to faith. The fact is, the Bible gives us no way of bringing anyone to Jesus apart from baptism.
Thus Peter declard, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children" (Acts 2,38-39).
The apostolic Church baptized whole "households" (Acts 16,33; 1 Corinthians 1,16) a term encompassing children and infants.
Baptism is the Christian equivalent of circumcision, or "the circumcision of Christ": "In him were you also circumcised... the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead" (Colossians 2,11-12). Thus, like circumcision, baptism can be given to children as well as adults. The difference is that circumcision was powerless to save (Galatians 5,6; 6,15), but "baptism now saves you" (1 Peter 3,21).
The first explicit evidence of children of believing households being baptized comes from the early Church--where infant baptism was unifromly upheld and regarded as apostolic.
Origen
"Every soul that is born into flesh is soiled by the filth of wickedness and sin....In the Church, baptism is given for the remission of sins, and, according to the usage of the Church, baptism is given even to infants. If there were nothing in infants which required the remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superflous" (Homilies on Levitivus 8:3[A.D. 248]).
The Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. The apostles, to whom were commited the secrets of the divine, knew there are in everyone innate stains of [original sin], which must be washed away through water and the spirit" (Commentaries on Romans 5:9 [A.D. 248]).
Peace and every blessing!

Answer 2

Infant baptism was originally performed in an attempt to secure the baby's salvation, because it was believed that baptizing a baby at birth would save it, if it died young.

In some churches it represents a dedication or a commitment on behalf of the parents to bring the child up in the ways of the Lord.

The infant normally doesn't have a choice in the matter.

Adult baptism is an outward symbol of an inward transformation, a public declaration of faith/conversion and a turning away from sin and commencement of a new life in Christ. The baptism represents the dying of the old self with Christ's death on the cross and the raising of a new self with Christ's resurrection.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Hello Chained:

Child baptism (say from 1-13 years) is very common among catholic families.

Biblically speaking, baptism is about the individual making the choice, and public declaration that they are, passing form the old life (spiritually speaking) and following Jesus.

When your a child, it is the choice of your parents that cause this, i young child with little wisdom and spiritual understanding cannot make a genuine personal conviction to understand baptisms significance.

I was born into a Christian family, but i chose to be baptisedat the age of 23 when i came back to God.

Many people that were baptized at youth, have found the importance of doing it again in full understanding of its significance.

It is not a suggestion, but a required practice for the person who considers to follow Christ its not necessarily an issue of salvation but extremely important in one's spiritual growth.

Christ did not get baptized until he was approx 30yrs old, but this is not an excuse for us to also wait and do it.

Many in the bible were baptized the same day/week they believed in God.


(-:

Answer 4

The only time a person needs to be baptized is after they repent, Infant baptism was brought on by the catholic church, it is a man made ideal & not God's ideal.

Answer 5

In the Catholic Church, infant baptism removes the stain of original sin. There is no other sin to remove, since an infant cannot commit actual sins of his/her own.

But when an adult is baptized in the Catholic faith, it removes the stain of original sin (as it does for babies) as well as any actual sins that the person has committed up to that time.

.

Answer 6

For Baptists, this rite is a profession of faith and a symbol of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. For Catholics, the stain of original sin is removed. For Reformed/Presbyterians, original sin remains as condemning all, but the elect are under the sign of baptism as a covenant that replaces Old Testament circumcision.

Answer 7

Baptism is a thing people do, to confurn / promiss God to follow him and die from the old life and be reborn into the new CHristian life. Many think that baby baptism is wrong because they havent themselves actually made that choice, it is the parents who have done that. They think that a person should choose himself what promisses they do.

Answer 8

The baptism of a baby is basically a commitment from the parents, god-parents, and congregation to raise this baby in the christian/catholic/etc. faith.

Adult baptism is generally used to signify a person being "born-again"

Answer 9

infant baptism is totally unbiblical and against theteachings of christianity, however many people cannot see that cuz they r vrought up with a specialized theology that says that only this way of interpreting the bible is correct. the propper interpretation of the bible comes from the bible itself. i'd like to show a few examples of what the bible says about baptism. Act 8:35-38
(35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
(36) 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?
(37) 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.
(38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

the key verse here is verse 37, it says IF youi believe you may be baptized, an infant cannot believe because they have not heard and understood the preaching of the word wich is essential as seen in romans Rom 10:14-17
(14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
(15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
(16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
(17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
side note: the word preach and derivitives of preach means to declare or proclaim.
so you see one must have an understanding of the gospel either by written /spoken word, witness etc.

another example of misinterpretation of the bible involving baptism comes from oneness churches they love to use acts 2:38 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.
they say this means you should be baptized in the name of jesus. however when looked at in context of understaing the words. in the name of jesus is not referring to the formula set forth in matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: .. but in the name of jesus reffers to the authority of jesus for someone to be baptized. in other words it is saying by the authority of jesus be baptized. baptism in and of itself does not remove sin, that comes by faith. ephesians 2:8-9 (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
it says in this vers you are saved by grace through faith, not by grace through baptism
i love to speak about baptism because it is one of the most misunderstood doctrines there is...

Answer 10

The adult can decide if they want to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior.

Shalom.