INFANT BAPTISM

Ezekiel 18:1-3, 14-17

YOU CAN NOT INHERIT THE GUILT OF SIN

One of the biggest mistakes in the religious world is that man is born in sin. Here is the Biblical definition of sin: "Sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4). A newborn has not violated the laws of God. The infant does not know even the laws of God. Since sin is the transgression of the law, it is impossible to inherit.

The Catholic church and others believe and teach that all human beings are born with the guilt of the sin of Adam (original sin) staining their souls. The Catholic Catechism (Editorial Herder, Barcelona, ​​p. 49), says: "Because Adam sinned, as head of humanity, the stain of sin passes all his descendants [original sin is hereditary]" and " In baptism, Christ cleanses us from original sin "(p. 137).

No generation since Adam has escaped the consequences of the sins of its predecessor but the Bible teaches that you cannot inherit the guilt. "Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father sins which he has done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live" (18:14-17).

 If original sin is inherited, why has not God given a plan for the salvation of infants? In the Bible, there is no mandate for children. The apostle Paul said, "for Where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom. 4:15).

Jesus said, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them" (Matt. 28:19). In Acts 2:38 Peter said, "Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins." The repentant believer is the one to be baptized. This does not include infants, because they do not believe  nor can repent.

JESUS ​​PROCLAIMED THE INNOCENCE OF INFANTS

Jesus said: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3). He also said: "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19:14). Does this verse teach infant baptism? Certainly, this is the allegation of those who hold this view; but it is significant here that Christ did not say that little children were "in the kingdom," but that "to such belongs the kingdom"! There is a world of difference. The emphasis is upon child-like behavior and character. So Jesus used children to illustrate the purity and innocence of them and does not speak of them as sinners. Children are examples of what converted people should be like.

Let's make these observations:

1. They brought children to Jesus for a blessing.

2. The disciples rebuked the people (v-13). It would be very strange if the disciples scolded the parents for bring their sinner children to Jesus to be baptized. Rather, the disciples would have rejoiced.

No, these children were not sinners and they were not baptized. The infant is as pure at birth as Adam was  when  he was created.

EACH PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN SINS

The Lord said, " What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel."(v 2-3). And in verse 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. " If the children were not to blame for the sins of their parents under the law of Moses, now more so under the law of Christ. If the doctrine of inbred sin was true, would it not have a broken link?, however, this passage would be a broken link in the chain. Note: it is the soul that sins that shall die. When we are all standing before God to be judged, every one of us shall give account of our lives (Rom. 14:12).

INFANT BAPTISM IS NOT TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE

The unscriptural teaching of original sin, has produced the unscriptural practice of infant baptism. The Bible is our only guide in all matters of doctrine (II Tim. 3:16-17). There is not a single passage that commands the baptism of infants. There is not a single example in the Bible of an infant baptism. There is not a single argument in favor of infant baptism that can override the test of Scripture.

Martin Luther said, "You cannot prove from the Scriptures that infant baptism was instituted by Jesus, or that was begun by the first Christians after the apostles" (Vanity of the Infant Baptism, II, p.8).

THE BEGINNING OF INFANT BAPTISM

Origen was the first writer in ecclesiastical history that specifically taught infant baptism. He founded their arguments on two false assumptions:

1. That there is something sinful about physical birth (later it was called "original sin").

2. That infant baptism removes that sin.

Many who are in favor of infant baptism today base their beliefs on the same false assumptions. The doctrine of original sin is the foundation of the doctrine of infant baptism. Some who once taught the doctrine of original sin do not believe in it now, but still believe and practice infant baptism. That's like trying to hold the house up after removing the foundation. We can safely conclude that before the year 175, the baptism of infants was an unknown practice.

AFFIRMATIVE ARGUMENTS ABOUT INVESTIGATED

A. JESUS BAPTIZED CHILDREN

Some say that when Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me" (Matt. 19:14),  He baptized the children that were brought to Him. Let us make the following observations:

1. Jesus did not speak of baptism in this passage.

2. Jesus did what the parents wanted Him to do, put his hands on them (v. 13-15).

3. The disciples would not have rebuked the parents if they had brought their sinner children to the Lord that they might be saved.

We know that Jesus did not baptize these children because Jesus did not baptize anybody. " Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples" (John 4:2). But if blessed.

B. INFANTS ARE A PART OF ALL NATIONS

Some say that infants are a part of all nations and therefore should be baptized. Jesus said, "... make disciples ... baptizing them" (Matt. 28:19). You cannot teach infants. Furthermore, Jesus also said, "He that believeth and is baptized ... (Mark 16:16). Infants cannot be taught, cannot believe, cannot repent and therefore cannot be baptized.

C. WHOLE FAMILY BAPTISM

It is presumed that there were infants in the whole families that were baptized by the apostles. There was never any mention of one infant in the many examples of conversion in the New Testament. In fact it is clear that no infant was baptized.

In the family of Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), only those who were able to take comfort from the words of Paul were baptized (v.40). It is not sure if Lydia was married, nor had children, and that these, if they had such were infants.

At the home of the jailer (Acts 16:32-34), those who heard the gospel and believed, were baptized. This excludes infants because they cannot understand or believe the gospel.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH BAPTIZING AN INFANT?

There is no neotestamental authority for the baptism of an infant. God's plan is believing (Mark 16:16), repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). If they were baptized as infants this would upset the order of salvation.

Infant Baptism deprives the child the personal joy to obey the Word of God when they reach the age when they can believe. The infant is baptized without faith, without desire, without repentance, without confession, without love, without hope, without divine authority, without Biblical example and without permission.  

Christ came to be the author of salvation to all who obey him (Heb. 5:9). Many refuse to obey the Word of God by not being baptized, saying, "My parents took care of all that when I was an infant."

God does not authorize infant baptism, and this practice almost always prevents the obedience of the  person later.

Infant baptism does not fit the Biblical definition of baptism or the Biblical method of baptism. If parents wish to dedicate their child to Christ, then a baby dedication service is entirely appropriate. However, even if infants are dedicated to the Lord, when they grow up they will still have to make a personal decision to get baptized in order to be saved.