Should Believers baptize infants?

Question

Give me some good reasons why people baptize or don't baptize infants.

Answer 1

Baptism is a means of sanctifying grace and a gospel ministry to the people of God. It is a sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace illustrating what Christ has done for his people and sealing salvation to the same. Therefore covenant children of believing parents as well as unbaptized adult converts should be baptized. This is the view of the protestant reformed church.

Everyone, (adults and children), who has been baptized must be united by faith to Christ for salvation. Unbaptized, adult converts, profess their faith before baptism. Children of believers who received the sign in infancy profess their faith as soon as they are able. Both are responsible before God to be faithful to the grace represented by the sign and seal they have received.

by R. Scott Clark

Answer 2

I think people baptize infants so they wont go to hell if they die.. or stay in LIMBO as the Catholics call it. Although, for some reason the pope all of a sudden there will be no more LIMBO if an infant dies... What gives him the right to decide this? I never thought a baby would go any where but Heaven, they are innocent and are unable to control their actions.

On the other hand, some don't baptize because of the opposite of above. Children aren't accountable for their actions til a certain age ( I think the norm is 10).

Answer 3

Baptizing infants is not a correct practice. Baptism should take place after someone has developed faith in Christ and then repents of their sins. Infants and small children have no sin because they have not yet reached an age where they can be accountable for their decisions. How can an infant have faith or repent? They don't even know right from wrong. Some say that if an infant dies before he/she is baptized, then they go to Hell or Limbo or some terrible place. That is not true. Little children are covered by the Atonement of Jesus Christ and are considered sinless because they have not yet reached an age where they can be held accountable.

Answer 4

Jesus said "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16)

Peter taught in Acts 2 that they needed to believe ("know assuredly" verse 36) that Jesus was the Christ. After it was clear they believed and they asked what they needed to do to be saved, he told them, "Repent and be baptized". (Verse 38) Belief and repentance both precede baptism in this chapter.

When the eunuch recognized the need to be baptized, he asked "See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?" Phillip's response was, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." (Acts 8:36-37) Belief is required for one to be scripturally baptized.

Those who say an infant may, or even must, be baptized base their argument on the "households" that were baptized. They assume these households included infants that were baptized. Their idea is mere assumption rather than what the Word says.

Also the scriptures in some of these accounts say a certain individual believed with his whole house. If the whole house believes, then it can be concluded they were capable of believing, and therefore not infants.

Finally, the conversions of these households would not contradict the other verses that teach belief comes before baptism. Again "If you believe you may (be baptized)".

In addition to this, an infant has no need of baptism. Baptism is "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). A baby is not capable of sinning.

"Sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4) If a baby is guilty of sin, then which law has he transgressed? What law is he capable of transgressing?

Also, a baby is not guilty of inherited sin.

Notice Ezekiel 18:20; "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."

Since a baby cannot believe, cannot repent, cannot sin, and does not inherit sin, why would he be qualified to be baptized and why would he need baptism?

Answer 5

Christian water baptism is an outward symbol that the one being baptized has made a complete, unreserved, and unconditional dedication through Jesus Christ to do the will of God. Infants are unable to do this.
Religious historian Augustus Neander wrote: “Faith and baptism were always connected with one another; and thus it is in the highest degree probable . . . that the practice of infant baptism was unknown at this period [in the first century]. . . . That it first became recognised as an apostolic tradition in the course of the third century, is evidence rather against than for the admission of its apostolic origin.
But when they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be baptized, both men and women -Acts 8:12 ( Note men and women, not infants were involved)

Answer 6

Believer should not baptize infants. The meaning of baptism is: to testified that Jesus is Ur personal Savior. Since infants can not make that choice they should not be baptized because it would be meaningless. On the other hand, there is sum thing called dedication service. Where the parents of the infant testify to grow up the Child in the lord. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he gets older he will not depart from it"

Answer 7

Baptism is the new birth after you have given your life to Christ. Infants should not be baptized because one they haven't sinned and of course can't make the decision to fully live for Christ. If you would like to do something have your infant dedicated by the minister or pastor but you shouldn't baptize. Example is Jesus whom is God's son. he wasn't baptized until later in life by John The Baptist. If God's son wasn't baptized then that should be proof enough against infant baptism.

Answer 8

Baptism is a public declaration of faith that is a symbolic representation of a spiritual change that is supposed to have taken place when a person believes the gospel message and is born again.

Romans 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Paul is talking about the spiritual baptism in those verses.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

An infant should not be baptized just like an adult who has never believed the gospel shouldn't be baptized. Not only is the ceremony not warranted, it could lead to a false assurance of salvation where a person grows older, never comes to faith and repentence, but thinks that they are saved because they were dunked in water when a baby.

Answer 9

Infants are not baptized because they have not reached the age of accountability . However ; they can be taken to the alter during a service to be Blessed and Dedicated to the Lord by their Pastor , Mother and Father . Acknowledging to the Lord that they realize the infant is a gift to them from Him , and they will Honor His Holy name by raising the child by Biblical teachings and Godly standards ..

Answer 10

For Catholics, the sacrament of Baptism is the first initiation sacrament. We believe that by baptism, we are freed from the chains of original sin and brought into the family of Jesus. Why wouldn't we want that for our children? And don't forget, the Catholic church operates on theology and tradition right along side of the bible. That's just what we do. Sounds like this is a point were we will just have to agree to disagree. By the way, it's not unsafe to immerse an infant. There's a technique to it, but it can most certainly be done without harming the child. We just don't hold their heads under water or anything.

Answer 11

Baptizing infants is a profession of faith by the parents and the community - that foundations will be laid as the child grows up. But this does not stop there, a second sacrament is given to the child once he/she reaches the desired age - this is the sacrament of confirmation, where the person is reinforced in the faith.