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Scripture shows that baptism is to be administered to believers as a covenant promise, applying to believers and their household. This kind of covenant was practices that way in the Old Testament, and there is no reason for it to stop doing so in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, there was circumcision, a mark which distinguished the followers of God from the rest of the world. "And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. " Genesis 17:9-13 God had no problem with applying the mark of his followers on an eight-day-old infant. Why would he have problems with the new covenant mark being applied to infants? This covenant legacy is supported by one of Peter's sermons in Acts: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one 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, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call."Acts 2:38-39 Less ambiguous examples are of household baptism. The head of the household believed, and his household was baptized. These houses very likely could have included infants, children, slaves, and the like.
"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." It makes clear that Lydia believed. It makes clear that her household was baptized. It does not mention her household believing. There is no reason to conclude that her household did believe. Belief always precedes baptism, but looking at the household baptism, you can see of that the belief of the head-members of the covenant are the only necessities of faith preceding baptism. Those that gladly receive the word of the Lord will be baptized, and their household. Whereas many good Covenant brethren today believe that certain verses indicate infant baptism (pedobaptism), the Scriptures always maintain belief proceeds Biblical baptism (credobaptism). "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41. Notice that it was those "that gladly received his word," who were baptized. Infants do not comprehend, in order to receive the truth.
The Ethiopian Eunuch asked after Phillip "preached unto him Jesus" from the Scriptures, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Acts 8:35,36. Phillip's answer was: "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." The Eunuch answered: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." v. 37. "And he (the Eunuch) commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptized him." v. 38. Belief in Christ was required for Biblical baptism.
While there are whole household baptisms in the Scripture, again it was those who heard and understood the Word of God, not infants, who were baptized. With the Philippian Jailer, it says of Paul and Silas, "They spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." Acts 16:32. After they believed, they were all baptized. The Jailer, and "all that were in his house", heard and responded to "the Word of the Lord." There is no justification to include infants in this cognitive response.
Lydia, a seller of purple, in Acts 16:13-15, was down "by a river side," where she and her business household were baptized. There is no indication of infants being there, as Paul and Silas "spake unto the women which resorted thither." Lydia afterward constrained Paul and his company (including Luke): "saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there."
The Covenant which God made with Abraham, of which circumcision was to become a sign for the Jew, does not justify calling baptism a sign of a covenant in New Testament times. There is no mention in the entire New Testament of such a relationship, carrying over the Old Covenant (Testament) sign into the New Covenant (Testament) in the form of infant baptism. Again, "they that gladly received his word were baptized." Acts 2:41.
Baptism, in the Scriptures, is always represented as being exercised after receiving the truth of the Gospel and belief, as Christ said: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19. In mark 16:15,16, Christ said: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
"Belief" is the main issue in baptism.
What else can I help you with?
What are some meaningful baptism quotes for adults that can inspire and guide them on their spiritual journey?
"Through baptism, we are reborn in Christ and called to live a life of faith and love."
What are some meaningful baptism quotes that can be used to inspire and reflect on the significance of this sacred ceremony?
"Through baptism, we are cleansed and reborn, united with Christ in his death and resurrection."
Does Michelle Obama have any quotes on child obesity?
'' Never kill the Infant by feeding it to much!!
What are some meaningful Catholic baptism quotes that can be used to inspire and reflect on the sacrament of baptism?
One meaningful Catholic baptism quote is from the Bible, in the Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus instructs his disciples to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Another quote is from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that through baptism, we are "born anew by water and the Holy Spirit" and become children of God. These quotes can inspire reflection on the significance of baptism as a sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith.
Where can one find some interesting quotes about music?
A good source for quotes about music is to look for quotes from professional musical artists such-as performers, songwriters, and music industry executives. Don't overlook Biblical references. The Bible is a great source for quotes, and it is indexed, and searchable by topic.
Can you use quotes in a literature review"?
Yes, you can use quotes in a literature review to support your analysis and arguments.
What is textual stability?
Textual stability is when you have quotes in a piece of writing to support the idea being explained. For example if you are writing an essay on a book then you will need to have quotes from that book to support your answer. Hope this helped =)
What is the famous line of St. Joseph?
I don't belioeve that we have any biblical quotes of St. Joseph.
How can you effectively use quotes in a research paper to support your arguments and enhance the credibility of your work"?
To effectively use quotes in a research paper, select relevant and impactful quotes that directly support your arguments. Integrate the quotes smoothly into your writing, providing context and analysis to explain their significance. Properly cite the sources of the quotes to enhance the credibility of your work and show that your arguments are backed by reputable sources.
Do a body paragraph have to have to quotes?
No, a body paragraph does not have to include quotes. Quotes can be used to support or provide evidence for the points being made in the paragraph, but they are not a requirement. It is also important to ensure that quotes are properly integrated and cited if used.
Can you use quotes in a summary"?
Yes, you can use quotes in a summary to provide direct evidence or support for the main points being discussed.
What are some meaningful baptism quotes from the Bible that can inspire and guide individuals on their spiritual journey?
One meaningful baptism quote from the Bible is from Romans 6:4, which says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." This quote can inspire individuals to embrace a new life and spiritual journey through baptism.
