What are the differences between infant baptism and believers baptism?

Answer 1

Infant baptism is the practice of baptizing infants. It is performed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and some Presbyterian and Methodist churches. The method for this is often sprinkling.The churches that practice infant baptism claim that the verses in The Bible which mention the baptisms of a believer's whole household support infant baptism.

Believer's baptism is the belief that a person should only be baptized after he has repented of his sins and put his faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (been "saved," or "born again"). Many Protestant churches practice this form of baptism. It is generally done by immersion. Advocates of believer's baptism cite Bible verses that mention baptism after repentance and examples of believer's baptism in the Bible as proof for their beliefs.

Answer2: In view of the fact that 'hearing the word,' 'embracing the word heartily,' and 'repenting' precede water baptism (Ac 2:14, 22, 38, 41) and that baptism requires the individual to make a solemn decision, it is apparent that one must at least be of age to hear, to believe, and to make this decision. Associated with baptism were such things as hearing, believing, and glorifying God, things infants cannot do. At Samaria when they heard and believed "the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they proceeded to be baptized." Here the Scriptural record specifies that the ones baptized were, not infants, but "men and women."-Ac 8:12.

Answer 2

Infant baptism is commonly practised in churches such as the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. The infant is usually baptised at a font by "sprinkling", or the act of dropping water over the baby's forehead, baptising the child in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. As long as water and the Word are combined, it is considered a sacrament, or sacred act, which affirms the infant as an heir of God. The acceptance of this form of baptism hearkens back to when entire households were baptised by the disciples and apostles when they went out, following the Great Commission to "Go and make disciples of all nations".

Believers' baptism is a step of obedience which requires a statement of faith from the one being baptised. The term "sacrament" is generally not applied. The one undergoing baptism may be baptised with sprinkling at a small font, but he or she is more likely to be baptised by immersion, with the minister dunking him or her completely underwater in a large water receptacle called a "baptistry", or even outdoors in a river or lake. Many Protestant and pentecostal churches accept only this form of baptism.

Note to further contributors: please answer the question as it is asked. The question does not ask for a judgement on which is "right".

Answer 3

That depends on who you ask.

To Baptists, a believer's baptism is the Biblical choice. Baptist believe that the Bible always mentions baptism only after repentance and putting one's faith in Christ. They believe it is an outward symbol of an inward change in someone's heart.

For Catholics, neither mode of baptism is better than the other. Catholics recognize the validity only of a person's first baptism, provided that it occurs with the intent to baptize, is done using water, and is done 'in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit.' Other Christians' thoughts vary.

Answer 4

In the infant baptisms in a protestant church it is more of a dedication of the family and congregation to love, support and bring up the child in the church. Believer's baptism follow as personal committment by the individual and an outward demonstration of following Jesus as an individual. Baptism is an ordinance that doesn't save a person but a demonstration of obedience.

Answer 5

It wouldn't. Baptism is for the repentance and washing away of sins of believers. It is beyond an infant to repent. Therefore they are not accountable for their actions; meaning that it is pointless to baptize a baby.