Infant Baptism

1. Infant Baptism • Catholic Beliefs as Listed on their Internet Web Site • What the Bible Teaches

2. Catholic Beliefs • Infant Baptism is a Sacrament • Infant Baptism accomplishes remission of original sin • Peter in Acts 2:39 teaches baptism of infants • Matthew 19:14, Luke 18:15 teaches that children should come to Jesus to - to be baptized • Colossians 2:11-12 states that baptism replaces circumcision; infants were circumcised, so infants should be baptized. Http:\\www.catholic.com\

3. References that Catholics Use • Acts 16:15 - “Lydia was baptized, with her household” • Acts 16:33 - “The Philippian jailor was baptized, with all his family” • 1 Cor.1:16 - “Paul did baptize also the household of Stephanas” Http:\\www.catholic.com\

4. Early Believers • “No one, apparently, was claiming that the practice was contrary to Scripture or tradition. It was as though they were saying, ‘We all agree infants can be baptized and that infant baptism was practiced from the first” Http:\\www.catholic.com\

5. Infant Baptism is a Sacrament (1) • Sacrament \Sac"ra*ment\, n. [L. sacramentum an oath, a sacred thing, a mystery, a sacrament, fr. sacrare to declare as sacred, sacer sacred: cf. F. sacrement. See Sacred.] 1. The oath of allegiance taken by Roman soldiers; hence, a sacred ceremony used to impress an obligation; a solemn oath-taking; an oath. [Obs.] • Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary • http:\\www.dictionary.com\

6. Infant Baptism is a Sacrament (2) • Baptism is a promise / an oath • Can an infant make a promise, when it cannot speak? • Can an infant of 8 days old reason? • Can an infant make a life long commitment? • Can an infant “Repent” Acts 2:38

7. Infant Baptism accomplishes remission of original sin(1) • “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 5:8 [A.D.248])

8. Infant Baptism accomplishes remission of original sin(2) • Roman 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” • This verse is understood to mean that Christ paid Adam’s debt by dying instead of the sinner. Therefore, salvation is offered by grace alone.

9. Infant Baptism accomplishes remission of original sin(3) • The statement “Christ died for us” does not mean “instead of”. See its usage 1 Cor.15:3; Gal.1:4; Heb.10:12; Heb.7:25 • If Jesus died as a substitute for me, paying my penalty, then why should I die? • If the sacrifice of Christ were a substitute, how can there be real forgiveness with God. Christ has paid, there is no debt. • If Christ’s death were a substitution, instead of the sinner, then the redeeming power lay in his death not in his resurrection but see Rom.4:25; 1 Cor.15:17 • The Scriptural language is that Christ died that he “should taste death for every man.” Heb 2:9 This is the language of representation, not substitution.

10. Peter in Acts 2:39 teaches baptism of infants • “For the promise is to you and to your children” • The promise here is thought to mean the sacrament of baptism. • The promise here refers to the promises to Abraham “If you are of Christ, then are you a seed of Abraham, even heirs according to promise.” - Gal 3:29

11. Matthew 19:14, Luke 18:15 teaches that children should come to Jesus to - to be baptized • “But Jesus said, Allow the little children, and do not prevent them to come to Me; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 19:14) • “They brought infants to Him also, that He might touch them.” (Luke 18:15) • These verses DO NOT mention baptism of infants.

12. Colossians 2:11-12 states that baptism replaces circumcision; infants were circumcised, so infants should be baptized(1). • “In him you have been circumcised, with a circumcision performed, not by human hand, but by the complete stripping off your natural self. This circumcision is according to Christ.You have been buried with him by your baptism; by which, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11-12)

13. Colossians 2:11-12 states that baptism replaces circumcision; infants were circumcised, so infants should be baptized(2). • “Put away… your former manner of life, the old man… and be renewed in the spirit of your mind… Put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:22-24). • Baptism is the sign that we have understood the Gospel. • Circumcision a reminder of the Covenant made with Abraham • Whilst Baptism did replace circumcision, baptism and circumcision symbolize different things, and baptism demands an individual to understand.

14. Whole Households Baptized(1) • “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” (Genesis 18:19) • “Household” Heb.1004 Y.g.  “Congregation”(Ges.) To be in the household you had to be at least 30 years old.

15. Whole Households Baptized(2) • 1 Cor1:16, Acts 16:33, Acts 16:15 all use same Greek Word (oikoj) Young.3624 • “The House where God was regarded as present… the tabernacle” - Thayer

16. Early Believers • Dr.L.Lange, (German theologian) “It must be granted by every unprejudiced reader of Holy Scripture and Christian antiquity that the baptism of new-born children was altogether unknown to primitive Christianity” (History of Protestantism, p. 221). • Dean Stanley “The practice of immersion, apostolic and primitive as it was… was peculiarly unsuitable to the taste, and convenience and the feelings of the North and West… Not by an decree of Council… but by the general sentiment of Christian liberty, this great change (to infant sprinkling) was effected… It is a striking example of the triumph of common sense over the bondage of form and custom” (The Nineteenth Centuary Review, Oct. 1879).