(no subject)
Infant baptism is not biblical. This point can not be stressed enough from either side. For some, this truth is believed to be sufficient to ignore the largely accepted practice of paedobaptism (baptism of infants). But in order for one to make a valid conclusion concerning the justifiability of paedobaptism, one must openly consider the reasons why the practice is embraced by many sects of Christianity. These reasons include but are not limited to original sin.
The term original sin is used under two definitions: the sin that Adam committed, and an inherited sin we are marked with as a result of Adam’s first transgression. In a letter addressed to the Christians at Rome around 58 A.D., St. Paul speaks of this inheritance saying, “Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned…But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam …For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners…” As a result of the first person sinning, everyone else was made sinners, even if they hadn’t sinned like Adam had. If the many were made sinners because of Adam’s disobedience, then everyone would be born with the stain of Adam’s disobedience. Infants would be stained with that sin, and if they could not repent before they passed away, which infants are unable to do, their salvation would be subject to the absolute mercy of God.
But luckily, there is something that can be done for washing away of sins. After St. Paul was visited by Ananias, and healed of his blindness, Ananias said to St. Paul, “Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.” St. Paul, after regaining his vision, is commanded to be baptized for the remission of his sins. In a letter to the Christian communities in Asia Minor, St. Peter affirms this by saying, “This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” The baptism which saves us is not a cleansing of the body, but is a plea to God for a clear conscience. Both of these verses suggest that baptism is not simply a public profession of faith, but a request for a clear conscience through the washing away of sins made possible by Jesus Christ. Infant baptism fits here, because instead of the infant making the plea, the child’s God parents make the plea for the sake of the baby. The God parents do this not only as a response to original sin, but because it is commanded that we be baptized.
After St. Peter’s speech at Pentecost, the Jews who were listening were cut to the heart by his words, and asked what they are to do. St. Peter responds saying, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” In response to the Jews inquiry about what to do, St. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized, and that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter tells us that we are to be baptized, but does not tell us why, leaving us to search for the reason to this statement. We find the reason why in a statement made by Jesus. In a conversation with a Pharisee named Nicodemus, Jesus clarifies a misunderstanding on the part of Nicodemus by saying, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Jesus tells Nicodemus that unless you are born of water and Spirit, you won’t go to Heaven. St. Peter had commanded that all be baptized, because Jesus had said that it is necessary. We see in this verse that one must be born both of water and spirit. We have been told that being baptized with water will bring the gift of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus goes far enough to show us that baptism brings the gift of the Holy Spirit.
St. Matthew in his account of the Gospel, describes to us the baptism of Jesus; “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” After Jesus was baptized, St. Matthew recalls that he emerged from the water, and at that moment, the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon him, and God was pleased. Here, we see the ultimate example, the Word of God, receiving a baptism of water. Here we see the ultimate example, the Word of God, showing us that the baptism of water brings the gift of the holy Spirit. God is pleased with Jesus because of this. Like wise, if we receive a baptism of water, we will also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and because of this, God will be pleased with us.
After examining the reasons why infant baptism is practiced, we see that because of Adam’s trespass, everyone was made a sinner. In response to this belief, infants are baptized for the remission of sins by a plea made on the part of God parents for the sake of the baby. This baptism is also a response to the command to be baptized, because in order for one to enter the kingdom of God, one must be born of water and spirit. They are born of water through the baptism, and born of the spirit through the gift of the Holy Spirit that is received after the baptism.
The term original sin is used under two definitions: the sin that Adam committed, and an inherited sin we are marked with as a result of Adam’s first transgression. In a letter addressed to the Christians at Rome around 58 A.D., St. Paul speaks of this inheritance saying, “Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned…But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam …For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners…” As a result of the first person sinning, everyone else was made sinners, even if they hadn’t sinned like Adam had. If the many were made sinners because of Adam’s disobedience, then everyone would be born with the stain of Adam’s disobedience. Infants would be stained with that sin, and if they could not repent before they passed away, which infants are unable to do, their salvation would be subject to the absolute mercy of God.
But luckily, there is something that can be done for washing away of sins. After St. Paul was visited by Ananias, and healed of his blindness, Ananias said to St. Paul, “Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.” St. Paul, after regaining his vision, is commanded to be baptized for the remission of his sins. In a letter to the Christian communities in Asia Minor, St. Peter affirms this by saying, “This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” The baptism which saves us is not a cleansing of the body, but is a plea to God for a clear conscience. Both of these verses suggest that baptism is not simply a public profession of faith, but a request for a clear conscience through the washing away of sins made possible by Jesus Christ. Infant baptism fits here, because instead of the infant making the plea, the child’s God parents make the plea for the sake of the baby. The God parents do this not only as a response to original sin, but because it is commanded that we be baptized.
After St. Peter’s speech at Pentecost, the Jews who were listening were cut to the heart by his words, and asked what they are to do. St. Peter responds saying, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you…and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” In response to the Jews inquiry about what to do, St. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized, and that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter tells us that we are to be baptized, but does not tell us why, leaving us to search for the reason to this statement. We find the reason why in a statement made by Jesus. In a conversation with a Pharisee named Nicodemus, Jesus clarifies a misunderstanding on the part of Nicodemus by saying, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Jesus tells Nicodemus that unless you are born of water and Spirit, you won’t go to Heaven. St. Peter had commanded that all be baptized, because Jesus had said that it is necessary. We see in this verse that one must be born both of water and spirit. We have been told that being baptized with water will bring the gift of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus goes far enough to show us that baptism brings the gift of the Holy Spirit.
St. Matthew in his account of the Gospel, describes to us the baptism of Jesus; “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” After Jesus was baptized, St. Matthew recalls that he emerged from the water, and at that moment, the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon him, and God was pleased. Here, we see the ultimate example, the Word of God, receiving a baptism of water. Here we see the ultimate example, the Word of God, showing us that the baptism of water brings the gift of the holy Spirit. God is pleased with Jesus because of this. Like wise, if we receive a baptism of water, we will also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and because of this, God will be pleased with us.
After examining the reasons why infant baptism is practiced, we see that because of Adam’s trespass, everyone was made a sinner. In response to this belief, infants are baptized for the remission of sins by a plea made on the part of God parents for the sake of the baby. This baptism is also a response to the command to be baptized, because in order for one to enter the kingdom of God, one must be born of water and spirit. They are born of water through the baptism, and born of the spirit through the gift of the Holy Spirit that is received after the baptism.