Should Infants Be Baptized?
It is a known fact that many religious groups baptize
babies. I ask, “Why?” Various reasons are given. However,
the New Testament teaches that before a person can be a
candidate for scriptural baptism, there must be certain
conditions having already been met. Jesus said, “He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved . . .” (Mark 16:16).
“Belief” comes before baptism. Babies are incapable of
believing. Peter commanded, “Repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:
38). Baptism is predicated upon repentance from sin. Sin is
a transgression of God’s law (I John 3:4). What laws of God
have babies transgressed that they need to repent of?
Absolutely none! Hence, babies are incapable of repenting.
Before Philip would baptize the Eunuch, he had to confess
Jesus as God’s Son (Acts 8:37). Babies are incapable of
confessing.
Sometimes, the scriptures mention households being
baptized (e.g., Acts 16:33). It is truly unfortunate that some
have read into the text that this included infants. Just
because a text mentions those within a household being
baptized doesn’t imply babies were baptized! Such is gross
perversion of the text and the teachings of the Bible
regarding scriptural baptism!
According to historical records, the first hint concerning
the practice of infant baptism occurred in the 2nd Century. A
man by the name of Albert Taylor Bledsoe, who himself
engaged in the practice of infant baptism, wrote these words:
“It is an article of our faith, that ‘the baptism of young
children (infants) is in any wise to be retained in the church,
as most agreeable to the institution of Christ.’ But yet, with
all our searching, we have been unable to find, in the New
Testament, a single express declaration, or word, in favor of
infant baptism.” A striking admission indeed! Would to God
that people would abandon their articles of faith and creed
books and get back to the Bible!
The simple fact of the matter is this when it comes to
infant baptism: There is no New Testament authority for the
practice!