"My grand daughter is 2+ years old. She has never been baptized. My wife and I have two different opinions on this. One of us says that she's too young to have sin, she'll go to heaven if she dies as a child, etc. The other thinks that baptism is important and "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
Input from all with biblical references to back up your statements will be appreciated."
Greetings I2.
The Holy Spirit has kept your question in my heart and in my mind for these last few days. Water Baptism has been an important and integral part of the Christian Faith for almost 2000 years. It is first and foremost a command of Jesus, and has been a fundamental sacrament for all mainline Christians during the entire Christian era.
It is only in recent years that a new and heretical teaching has arisen that teaches that Water Baptism is not essential for salvation. Water Baptism is an external act of faith that confirms the internal manifestations of the Holy Spirit--it is the final burial of the old man and the rising of the New Man. Until recently, all Christians of all persuasions have obeyed Jesus' Words on water baptism. It is the point in time when a Christian publicly confesses to having taken on Christ.
Hear are the relevant Scriptures on the subject of Baptism.
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Matt.28:
1) Jesus commands Water Baptism as an integral part of becoming a Christian. It is an act of faith that brings the other gifts of God after accepting Jesus in your heart.
18: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
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:
20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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2) Water Baptism is the symbol of being buried with Christ and raised in the newness of Life.
Chapter: Col.
8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
11: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
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3.)The Word commands water Baptism as a symbol of our internal Faith.
1Pet.3
20: Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
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4.0The Apostles taught water Baptism as an integral part and symbol of the Body of Christ.
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Rom.6
3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
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5.)The Apostles followed the command of Jesus and baptized the believers into the Body of Christ.
13: Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14: I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15: Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16: And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any
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6.) The Apostles commanded that new believers be water baptized.
Act 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.
39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand s
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7.The early disciples taught water baptism.
Acts 8:
12: But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13: Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
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8.) One of the earliest records of Christian conversion shows the new convert immediately receiving water baptism after receiving the word of faith.
Acts 8
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 bbelieve 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.
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9.) St. Peter commanded the whole house of Corneliusm to receive water baptism after their conversion.
Acts 10
46: For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48: And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
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Water baptism has been a part of the Christian Church for 2000 yrs. Only recently have certain false teachings arisen that are attempting to turn men's hearts away from the Word of God on the subject of water baptism.
Infant baptism is another subject, but I will point to "Cornelius and His whole house", Peter's "jailer and his whole house", etc. There is a certain authority given to parents over their children when the are in their youth.
Protestant's preach that God will not poor out His grace in infant baptism because the child is too young to make his own decision, and then they turn around and call down the grace of God in "infant dedication". Does the child make his own decision in "infant dedication"? Ceratinly not. The parents and ministers, through dedication prayers, bring a special anointing upon the child. The prayers are powerful and meaningful just as the prayers of baptism. If the child can receive the Grace of God in "infant dedication", he certainly can receive the Grace of God in "infant baptism". I believe that the Scriptures show us that the authority of parents over their children extends to making decisions for them in all spiritual matters until they are of age to make their own decisions.
Parents have the power to put the love of Jesus in their children and they also have the power to put the hatred of Jesus in their children. When the child reaches the age of accountability, they are responsible for the contents of their own hearts. |
