Infant Baptism

Jesus said: "Forsake not the little children to come unto

me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 19:14

Infant Baptism

By Eric William King

The question amongst Christians regarding infant Baptism is one that needs to be properly understood. There are two main and most important doctrines that must be understood in light of the entire subject of Christian Baptism itself. Those two doctrines are the doctrine of original sin and justification. 

The doctrine of original sin found in Sola Scriptura (the Bible) teaches us that we are “dead in our trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1-3). We have nothing that can speak or move spiritually speaking. Not even our human will. It is the subject of the human will here that we must understand in light of the Scriptures. The Bible states that our human wills are fully corrupt. If you could properly use your human will to do everything correctly why would you need redemption, justification, salvation? 

In the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article II, 24 we read this statement which is agreement with Scripture: 

“Since nature in its weakness cannot fear and love God or believe in him, it seeks and loves carnal things; either it despises the judgment of God in its security, or it hates him in its terror.” 

Humanity inherited spiritual death after Adam and Eve made their decision (Gen. 2:17). This is where original sin began. Through one man sin entered this world (Romans 5:12).  We can all profess like King David; 

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5) 

There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10-12). Therefore it is through FAITH alone, not works or some idea of “self justification” that we are truly saved. “They that are in the flesh cannot please God,” Rom. 8:8; “Whatsoever is not of faith it is sin,” Rom. 14:23; and “Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing to Him (God),” Heb. 11:6. Thus not even the human will has the capability in and of itself to please God. Only faith (Sola Fide)! Conclusion? Salvation is the work of God alone and is received by faith alone. We have Christ’s righteousness by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. 

Is our faith something that we create or muster up? No. Faith itself is a gift from God. Does everyone have the true gift of faith? No. “…for not everyone has faith.” (2^nd Thess. 3:2) Thus true salvation, including saving faith, is a complete act and work of Almighty God minus us. 

St Martin Luther put it this way; “I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the True Faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.” 

Is it true that our fallen “wills” cannot make the proper decision to follow Christ? Yes. Ultimately we do not choose Jesus Christ, He chooses us. Jesus says; “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 15:16) 

Also we note that it is God’s will in us that works out our salvation, not our fallen wills: “…for it is God who works in you TO WILL and TO ACT according to His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) 

Commanded to Baptize

Having explained what our human condition is in the realm of original sin we can now begin to understand infant baptism. There are two sacraments given to the Christian church by Jesus Christ. It is very important to understand that the Sacraments are God’ work to and through us, not us doing some work for God. A sacrament is a sacred act that Jesus Christ established and instituted for Christians to do. Jesus says in Matthew 28:18,19; “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

Ultimately it is Jesus Christ who calls and does the work. 

“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with the circumcision done by hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11-12) 

St Martin Luther describes Baptism as God’s act this way: 

“To be baptized in God’s name is not to be baptized by men but by God himself. Although it is performed by men’s hands, it is nevertheless truly God’s own act.” 

So true baptism is not mans work but God’s. Many fallen churches teach that baptism is a mere “outward” symbol that man does. It is true that it is an outward symbol to the rest of the Christian congregation that your salvation is being accomplished…so there is an outward symbology in it…but that is not the ultimate work of true Baptism. 

What about Infants?

Regarding the baptism of infants Jesus Christ informed us to not prevent the little children from coming to Him (Matt 19:14). Those against infant baptism and that of young children do not properly understand that true baptism is an act of God and not an act of man. To deny children baptism is to deny the doctrine of original sin. Adults think that the child must be of an age where he or she can use the fallen will to properly accept Christ. 

Some believe that children are not born sinful and thus they do not need baptism. People think that children need no forgiveness of sin. Again, this is to deny the Biblical doctrine of original sin. To wait till a child is older is to say that the child is choosing his or her salvation as an individual “human work” or “human effort”. 

Others believe that Christian Baptism is merely an act of commitment that the believer makes to God which they claim children are unable to make. The fact is True Baptism is a complete act of God and not an act of man. Every human is sinful; including children and babies…thus, everybody needs baptism. 

Apostle Peter affirms that Baptism is for all and their children. A family includes children. St Peter confirmed this when he stated; “Repent and be baptized…The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38,39)

Notice that it is God who does the calling, not us. The very fact that Apostle Paul likened baptisms to circumcision shows that they understood the sacrament to apply to children. It was baby infants that circumcision was performed on by God’s decree in the Old Testament. On top of our Scripture record we have early church records which confirm the practice of infant baptism. 

So complete families were baptized including the children. In Acts 16 Lydia and her whole household were baptized. In the same chapter Apostle Paul and Silas baptize a jailer and “all his family”. 

To continue more studies regarding the Sacrament of Christian Baptism I urge you to continue your studies here and read my other articles posted on this very important subject. Thank you for taking time out to read this article and contemplate it. 

Remaining in my Saviors Word (Sola Scriptura),

Eric William King (April 20^th 2020)

The Sacrament of Baptism

*Christian Baptism

*The Water & the Word

*Baptized Once

*Baptism, a Supernatural Act

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