Infant baptism is practised by some. In order to understand if this is acceptable or unacceptable to God, there is a need to understand what baptism really means and how the concept of infant baptism came about.
What is Infant Baptism?
There are people who practise infant baptism and claim that they have scriptural authority for doing so. Their methodology of infant baptism is holding the infant in one’s arms and then a priest will sprinkle or pour water on the infant, most of the time on the forehead. Subsequently, the infant is considered to be baptised.
One of the reasons that infant baptism came about was because of the concept of “Total Hereditary Depravity”. This means that all babies are born in sin inherited from their parents and originated from Adam. To them, since babies are born sinful, there is a need for them to be cleansed and have their sins washed away.
The late brother Wayne Jackson wrote that the first possible inclination towards infant baptism was what Irenaeus, a second century theologian in Gaul, said: “He [Christ] came to save, through means of himself, all who through him are born again unto God, infants, and children, and boys, and youths, and old men (Against Heresies 2.22.4).” (Jackson online). He noted that the above quotation showed that the idea of infants requiring baptism started to evolve back then. Some of the comments by Cyprian, a theologian from Carthage and Origen, a teacher, also in the third century, indicated that infant baptism had taken root in those times.
Brother Jackson noted that those who promote infant baptism defend it by referring to the need to be in a covenant relationship with God. They claim that God made a covenant with Abraham with regards to the seed promise and the covenant was formalised by circumcision. They further stated that “circumcision was an outward ceremony that provided visualisation and meaning for the original agreement”. A faulty analogy was then drawn between circumcision and baptism using Colossians 2:11. Subsequently, people reasoned that infants being baptised served as a form of New Testament dedication to the Lord. They defend infant baptism by saying that it was something expedient and served a practical purpose. Brother Jackson also quoted what McClintock and Strong said that “the ritual reflects a solemn, symbolic act on the part of the parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”.
The practices of infant baptism are slowly spreading and we need to examine if infant baptism is something which is authorised by God.
Infant Baptism is Not Biblical
There are several things about infant baptism which are not scriptural and can be refuted. Let us first consider what baptism is and its purpose.
According to Vines, the word “baptism” and “baptise” have its Greek form “baptizo” which means “to dip”. Thayer defined “baptizo” as “to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge”. As such, when a person is baptised, his whole body is immersed in water.
Martin explained that several things are connected to baptism. He gave the examples of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19), the death and resurrection of Christ (Luke 24:46), the gospel and belief (Mark 16:16), repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:47) and salvation (Mark 16:16) (Martin 262). We also understand from scripture that baptism is essential for salvation. After the apostle Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost and the Jews were pricked in their hearts, they asked Peter what must they do in order to be saved and Peter told them that they had to be baptised and repent for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). The apostle Paul, in recounting his conversion and salvation talked about the need to be baptised for sins to be washed away in Acts 22:16. We also learn that when one is baptised by immersion, he is baptised into Christ’s death and as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, one will also walk in newness of life after baptism (Romans 6:1-6). Finally, Mark 16:16 tells us that he who believes and is baptised shall be saved but he who believes not shall be damned.
The first reason that infant baptism is wrong is because of the method of sprinkling. We see clearly from the above mentioned passages that baptism involves the whole body being immersed in water. Neither pouring nor sprinkling is authorised. A clear example is given in Acts 8:38 whereby Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch went both into the water for Philip to baptise the eunuch. Subsequently, both of them came up and out of the water (Acts 8:39). We understand what “into”, “came up” and “out of the water” mean and it denotes an immersion in water and subsequently coming out of the water. There is no hint or indication of pouring or sprinkling. Colossians 2:12 speaks of one being “buried with him in baptism”. A person can only be buried together if his entire body is immersed or goes under something. It is also common sense that we are not able to immerse babies in water even for a short while as they may drown or have other respiratory issues. As such, some have resorted to the sprinkling of water on babies to indicate that they are baptised. This is clearly wrong as baptism is by immersion. Even if baptism of babies is authorised by the Bible, the method of sprinkling adopted is unauthorised.
The second reason that infant baptism is not scriptural is that there are no approved examples of such in the Bible. The examples recorded in the Bible are that of those on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41), the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39), Saul (Acts 9:1-18), Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48), Lydia (Acts 16:12-15) and the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:25-33) amongst others. We note that all these mentioned were not babies and there are no records of babies being baptised.
The third reason is because infants are not born in sin and are not totally depraved. Ezekiel 18:20 states plainly that the son shall not inherit the sins of the father and the father does not have the sins of the son. Each of us is accountable for our own actions. Sin is the transgression of God’s laws (1 John 3:4) and it is committed. It is not inherited. Romans 3:23 also tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yet again, scripture tells us that sin is committed and not inherited. As such, babies are born sinless as they will not inherit any sins from their parents and neither have they committed any sins. Since they are sinless, there is no need for them to be baptised because baptism is for the remission and forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16). When king David’s child with Bathsheba died, he said that he (David) will go to him (the child), but the child shall not return to him (2 Samuel 12:23). We understand that the child, being sinless, would have gone to paradise and thus, David would be able to go to his son but his son would not be able to come back to David. This is another example of a child being born without sin. We can then conclude from the above that baptism of an infant is unscriptural because the infant is without sin.
There is also a need to recognize the cognitive ability and state of accountability of a person in considering whether infant baptism is scriptural. I once heard a lesson taught by brother Keith Mosher on how to decide if a child is ready to be baptised. He said that he would ask the child if he knows what he has done wrong and if the child can say that out and what he would do to repent of that wrongdoing, that meant that the child is ready to be baptised as he was aware of what sin is and what repentance of sin means. The question we should ask ourselves is whether infants are able to know what sins they have done and what they need to do to make it right. We know that it is impossible and they would not be able to tell us.
There is also a need for one to be taught and to have faith in Jesus Christ. Will infants be able to understand the plan of salvation based on their cognitive ability at that age? Of course not! Infants will also not be able to have that faith in Christ Jesus which is required of anyone who wants to be baptised and added to the Lord’s church. Their attachment at such a young age will be to their parents, in particular to their mothers. Infants will have to be able to confess Christ prior to baptism. We know for sure that they are not able to do that! Nichol phrased it well when he wrote that “Unless infants are lost, and need to be saved; unless they are guilty of having sinned, and need to be pardoned, there can be no ground on which baptism can be administered to them by the authority of the Lord. That baptism preceded by faith and repentance is a condition of salvation is clearly stated” in Mark 16:15-16 and Acts 2:38 (Nichol 72).
Nichol also wrote that there are some who argued that infants were baptised when the Israelites walked through the Red Sea (Nichol 77). He said that if infants were baptised simply because they were with their parents when crossing the Red Sea, then it would mean that livestock or whatever the Israelites had with them would also have to be baptised and this does not make sense.
We need to bear in mind also that when one is baptised, he is a new man and the old man is put away (2 Corinthians 5:17). The baptised person will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and be committed to the cause of Christ. Is an infant able to do this? We know that babies and children are childish and need to be taught and admonished. They will not be able to understand what commitment to Christ is. Thus, this is another reason why infant baptism contradicts scriptures.
Conclusion
We have understood what baptism is, who baptism is for and that infant baptism is unscriptural. A short insight into how infant baptism started was also given. It is necessary that we follow what the scriptures teach us on baptism.
References
Martin, Clay, “Authentic Christianity And Baptism For Today” in Authentic Christianity In Modern Times. Edited by Rick Brumback, 2005
Nichol, C.R., Sound Doctrine Vol.5. 1952
Jackson, Wayne, A History Of The Baptism Apostasy. (online) https://christiancourier.com/articles/a-history-of-the-baptism-apostasy
Jackson, Wayne, Baby Dedication Ceremonies: Expediency Or Innovation?. (online) https://christiancourier.com/articles/baby-dedication-ceremonies-expediency-or-innovation
Jackson, Wayne, What About The Baptism Of Young Children?. (online) https://christiancourier.com/articles/what-about-the-baptism-of-young-children