2011-08-23

Why are infants also to be baptized?

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Infants are to be baptized because
  1. They are included in all nations.
    Matt. 28:19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing...

  2. They too are spiritually dead, and must be born again through faith in Christ in order to be saved.
    Joh. 3:3,5: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

  3. The covenant of grace and the promise of the kingdom of heaven also belong to children. Therefore, the seal of the covenant and of the promise, Baptism, also belongs to them.
    Gen. 17:7: I will establish... an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

    Acts 2:38-39: Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children.

    Mark 10:14: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.

  4. The Holy Spirit creates faith also in infants.
    Mark 10:14-15: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

    Matt. 18:6: Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me...

    Matt. 21:16: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.

  5. Baptism replaced circumcision.
    Col. 2:11-12: In Whom (Christ) 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; 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.

  6. Through Baptism, the Holy Spirit creates faith and regenerates.
    Col. 2:12: Buried with Him in Baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God.

  7. Baptism belongs to the entire Church of Christ, to which also believing children belong.
    Eph. 5:25-26: Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.

  8. God has not given us any other means besides Baptism, through which infants can believe and become partakers of the redemption.
    Matt. 18:10-11: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven. For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.

  9. The Apostles baptized entire households.

    Assignment: Read Acts 10 and 11: the household of Cornelius, 16:13- 15: of Lydia, 16:25-34: of the jailor of Philippi, 18:8: of Crispus, and 1 Cor. 1:16: of Stephanas.

    The church father, Origen (182-254): “The Church has, from the Apostles, received the custom of also baptizing infants.”

    Luther: “Having come to be baptized and... as the officiant in the stead of Christ administers the Sacrament, Christ blesses infants, giving them faith and the kingdom of heaven.” (Church Postil)