Bible Questions Answered: Baptism-Infant

Bible Questions Answered:
I just began going to a church that baptizes infants, is this OK, by the Bible?
Jerome/ Augusta, Arkansas

Bible Answers:

Infant baptism was not found in the church until the last half of the twelfth century.

Why infant baptism? It is held by those who believe in baptismal regeneration.
That is baptism is necessary for salvation.

Such teaching is false, and certainly “not,” found in the word of God.

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works (Including any and all, religious works.), lest any man should boast.

Isaiah 64:6 KJV
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Titus 3:4-6 KJV
[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
[5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[6] Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

The early church, did not practice, infant baptism.
Their baptism was of adults who “confessed Christ, believers.”
Baptism is an outward confession of an inward possession, Christ.

Mark 16:15,16 KJV
[15] And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

In the Bible believing church, candidates for baptism, must give a public testimony of their faith in Christ.
Baptism is an outward confession of listening, believing in, and receiving Jesus Christ as one's Saviour.

Acts 2:38 KJV
Then Peter said unto them, Repent (Infants don't 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.

Acts 10:44-48 KJV
[44] While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on
all them which heard the word.
[45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
[47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized (Who, why of course those who “heard,” and received Peter's message), which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
[48] And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 16:16-31 NLT (Paul and Silas in prison.)
16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.
17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.
19 Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.
20 “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials.
21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.
23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.
24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.
26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!
27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.
28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household (All were old enough to hear and to receive the Word of God.).
33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized*.
34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced (Infants don't rejoice.) because they all believed (All listeners, became believers.) in God.

* Baptized; (Greek, Baptizo), To make fully wet, wash.

In the Bible believing church, new borns, and little children, are dedicated to the Lord, in prayer.

Matthew 19:13-15 KJV
[13] Then were there brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
[14] But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
[15] And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence.

Christ, blessed and consecrated children, that mothers had brought to Him.

Today, this is the work of the church.