jhaynes@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu (06/03/91)
INFANT BAPTISM I BELIEVE AND WHY
I know this is a highly debated subject but without proper use of the
scripture one could conclude that it is false. I will share with
anyone who is willing to listen to scripture reasoning NOT HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING.
From the point of the fall of man ALL human beings are born in the
likeness of Adam.
Gen 5:1-3 1 This is the written account of Adam's line. When God created
man, he made him in the likeness of God.
2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when
they were created, he called them "man."
3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own
likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. (NIV)
As the scriptures says Adam's son is born in the likeness of Adam. This
is the fallen state. That is why it was so important for God to guard the
tree of life for if Adam and Eve would have eaten from it they would have
been spiritual seperated from God forever.
David understood that he was born in the fallen state and sinful.
Ps 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother
conceived me. (NIV)
Job knew of this state:
Job 14:1 "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. (NIV)
And the prophet Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 31:19 After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I
beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore
the disgrace of my youth.' (NIV)
The new testament shows this in the gospel John
John 1:12-13 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his
name, he gave the right to become children of God--
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (NIV)
The very reason Jesus came into this world was to undo what the evil one
had done.
1 John 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil
has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God
appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (NIV)
Back in John 1:13 it says CHILDREN BORN NOT OF NATURAL DESCENT that means
just because we are born doesn't change that we are born in the likeness
of Adam, spiritually seperated from God. The text also says NOR OF HUMAN
DECISION OR HUSBAND'S WILL. This I believe makes it clear that if a slave
is bought or a man marries a woman doesn't change the statis that the
person still needs to be BORN OF GOD.
This is the key of the New Covenant in Jesus' blood. Jesus himself said:
John 3:1-5 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a
member of the Jewish ruling council.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are
a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the
miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can
see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked.
"Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to
be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
(NIV)
We must be born again and this happens when we come in contact with the
blood of Jesus. I understand this from scripture is that God predestined
us to be Holy and Blameless in His sight.
Eph 1:4-5 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to
be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus
Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- (NIV)
It is God's will for children to be baptized:
Acts 2:38-39 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who
are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will call."
(NIV)
The only way an infant can become Holy in God's sight is to come in
contact with the blood of Jesus.
Heb 13:12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the
people holy through his own blood. (NIV)
From my understanding not to forget the UNBELIEVABLE GRACE posting that
the new testament states that there are three ways to come in contact with
the blood of Jesus.
1 John 5:7-8 7 For there are three that testify:
8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in
agreement. (NIV)
Spirit = whoever calls on the name of the Lord or receives on of the least
brother of Jesus.
Rom 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
(NIV)
Matt 10:40-42 40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me
receives the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a
righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a
righteous man's reward.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of
these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the
truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (NIV)
Matt 25:37-40 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we
see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or
needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit
you?'
40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you
did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did
for me.' (NIV)
Water = Baptism
Mark 16:16-17 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my
name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new
tongues; (NIV)
Matt 28:19-20 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age."" (NIV)
Blood = Holy Communion
John 6:53-59 53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat
the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no
life in you.
54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal
life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me,
and I in him.
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of
the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of
me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your
forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this
bread will live forever."
59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
(NIV)
Back to the texts in John 1:12-13 which says to those who received him and
to them that believe in his name have the right to become children of God.
An infant I grant you can not believe on his or her own but the bible I
believe is clear that does not excuse the state in which he or she is born
in but I believe without coming in contact with the blood of Jesus they
are spiritually seperated from God. An infant in baptism comes in contact
with the blood of Jesus at that point becoming a new creation with the
seed of faith planted in them.
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's
SEED REMAINS IN HIM; he cannot go on sinning, because he has
been born of God. (NIV)
I welcome any comments on this topic but I do ask please reread what I
have written and use the scriptures to prove your point.
In His Hands,
Joel A. Haynes
Prov 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (NIV)
1 Thes 5:21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. (NIV)