Episode 6: Biblical Argument for Infant Baptism

Many protestant groups in America reject infant Baptism, such as the Baptists, Pentecostals, and so-called non-denominational churches. I would like to explain from Scripture why Christians should get their babies baptized.

Grace

Before we can address whether babies should be baptized, we need to understand what the Bible teaches about grace. Grace is a free gift (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-9), God’s undeserved love for us. While most Christians will recognize this as referring to the salvation won by Jesus’ innocent suffering and death, which made payment for our sins, grace also refers to God’s work of conversion. The Bible makes clear that because of our sinful condition (original sin) with which we are born, we cannot choose God or accept Jesus as our Savior, unless God Himself draws us. Faith itself is a gift from God, given by grace. Faith is not something human beings can achieve by their own strength or reasoning. Adults are not more capable than children to believe in Jesus. Saying babies cannot have faith is equal to saying that God cannot give faith to babies.

•  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:17
• “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” John 6:44
• St. Paul makes clear that by nature people cannot accept the Gospel by their own reason, but the Holy Spirit reveals it to them through God’s Word.  “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person cannot accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-14
• “No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3
• St. Paul states that we are born dead in sin and incapable of following God until He makes us alive. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—.” Ephesians 2:1-5
• Those who reject infant Baptism will often emphasize the importance of being born again. Being born again is essential to being saved; however, being born again is not our work, but God’s Work. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. … Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” John 3:3, 5-6 That which is born of flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:7-8), so a person cannot have faith in God unless God causes him to be born again. The sinful flesh cannot cause itself to be born again of the Spirit.
• “But to those who did receive Him, who believed on His name, He gave them the right to be called children of God, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:13

Baptism is God’s Work, Not Ours

A major confusion of those who deny infant Baptism have concerning Baptism is that they think that Baptism is man’s work. But Baptism is not man’s work; it is God’s work. We call Baptism a means of grace, because it is a means by which God gives us grace. This means that Baptism is Gospel, not Law.

• God always gives us grace through His Word. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I send it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
  • When God joins His Word to an element, like water, that element does not change the fact that it is still God’s Word working. We see this in the story of how God healed Naaman of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14). The prophet Elisha sent Naaman to wash in the Jordan River to be cleansed, but Naaman was offended, because he thought the rivers of Damascus were better than the Jordan. Naaman’s servants countered, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13 Naaman thought he was despising the water of the Jordan, but he was actually despising the Word of God. But when He did as God’s Word said, he was cleansed of His leprosy in the water according to God’s Word. Likewise, those who reject Baptism’s power to forgive think they are rejecting the water’s power to forgive, but they are really rejecting the Word of God joined to the water, which promises forgiveness.

What Is Baptism?

To show that Baptism is God’s Work not ours, we need to answer the question: What is Baptism?

• Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command, and combined with God’s Word. Jesus said, “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…” Matthew 28:19
• The Bible says that Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. Scripture promises things in Baptism, which only God can give.
  • Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16
  • St. Peter writes, “Baptism now saves you.” 1 Peter 3:21
  • St. Peter said on Pentecost, “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.” Acts 2:37
  • “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” Acts 22:16
  • “He saved us, not by works done by us through righteousness, but according to His own mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:5-6
  • “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…” Ephesians 5:25-26

Salvation is Gained, Given, and Gotten.

Some get offended when we say that Baptism saves, because faith alone saves and Jesus alone saves. But saying that Baptism saves does not conflict with either faith alone or Jesus alone saving. We must make a distinction between how salvation is gained, given, and gotten.

• Salvation is gained in no other way than through Jesus’ perfect obedience, His innocent sufferings and death, and His glorious resurrection, whereby He made atonement for our sins and won justification for all people. (Romans 5:9-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19 and 3:18; Colossians 1:22)
• Salvation is given through the Word. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation (Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47).
  • Baptism, which is not just plain water, but water joined to Christ’s Word, gives what Christ gained on the cross through the Word of Christ.
• Salvation is gotten (received) through faith alone. Faith alone receives the promise of salvation through the Word. (Romans 3:24-25; 10:10; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16)
  • Baptism does not save apart from faith (Mark 16:16; 1 Corinthians 10:5). Faith receives the promise, which Baptism gives.
• Baptism does not replace Christ; it gives you Christ. Baptism does not replace faith; the benefits of Baptism are received through faith.

Babies Can Have Faith!

A major objection to baptizing babies is the claim that babies cannot have faith. However, this is an opinion based on human reason, not a teaching of Scripture. The Bible teaches irrefutably that babies can and do have faith, because faith is a gift from God (grace).

• Scripture says that nursing babies trust God. “You are He who took me from the womb; You made me trust You at my mother’s breasts.” Psalm 22:9
• Jesus quotes Scripture, “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise” Matthew 21:16, quoting Psalm 8:2 in Greek.
• God gives faith even to little children. Jesus prays, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will.” Matthew 11:25-26; Luke 10:21
• John the Baptist leapt for joy at the news of Jesus while still in the womb.
  • “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. … ‘for Behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.’” Luke 1:41, 44
    • Some might object to this example, because John is a special case of being filled with the Holy Spirit. But every time a person is converted, it is a special work of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:13; 1 Cor. 12:3)
• Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2 Why would Jesus say that we must become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven if children cannot have the faith necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven?
• “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6 Little children can have faith.
• “And they were bringing even infants to Him that He might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Jim, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’” Luke 18:15-17 (See also Matthew 19:13-15 and Mark 10:13-16).
  • Jesus wanted infants to be brought to Him so that He could bless them. Why would He bless infants if infants cannot have faith to receive the blessing? Jesus says to such belongs the kingdom of God, but the kingdom of God can only be received through faith. So, infants must be able to have faith.

Can Babies Repent?

A frequent objection is that babies need to repent before they can be baptized. However, repentance is a work that God does in us. “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 11:19-20 Just as God grants faith, He grants repentance. Repentance means to change one’s mind. God is the one who changes one’s mind to faith.

The Bible Promises Baptism to Babies Too

• To whom does the Bible promise Baptism?
  • “All nations” Matthew 28:19
  • For children: “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. For this promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.” Acts 2:39 You cannot separate the promise of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit from Baptism, which is promised to children and to everyone whom the Lord calls to Himself. Remember, Jesus even called infants to Himself (Luke 18:15-17).
  • Everyone who is born of the flesh. See John 3:3-6.

But the Bible Does Not Record Babies Being Baptized

This is a frequent objection of those who oppose infant Baptism. However, the objection quickly falls apart when you consider:

• It is an argument from silence. The Bible does not record babies being refused Baptism.
• Rather, the Bible records that “all nations” should be baptized (Matthew 28:19). Babies are included in all nations.
• The Bible records that entire families were baptized. “And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.” Acts 16:33 And entire households (1 Corinthians 1:16), and never were babies said to be excluded.
• Jesus rebuked His disciples for refusing to let infants be brought to Him for Him to bless them, and said to such belongs the kingdom of God and that whoever does not enter the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.  (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17)
  • Some object that Jesus blessing the little children is not the same as Baptism. However, the concept is the same. Baptism is a means by which Jesus blesses us. Jesus rebuked His disciples for refusing His blessing to children. The disciples’ motives for refusing  to let the babies be blessed by Jesus is the same reasoning for keeping babies from being baptized. They thought the babies could not have faith. Jesus, however, insists that the babies are capable of even greater faith than they are.
• Most baptisms in the New Testament and in the early church were adults, because most Christians were adult converts. However, once babies were born into Christian families, the early church records babies being baptized.
  • There are many early church testimonies to infant Baptism, which I will share in another episode. However, many opponents to infant Baptism will cite an early Christian named Tertullian (Late 2^nd  to early 3^rd century), who cautioned against baptizing children too young. There are a few responses to that.
    • Tertullian did not deny the legitimacy of infant Baptism, but acknowledged it as a legitimate practice.
    • Tertullian’s caution against infant Baptism was not that the Baptism didn’t work, but it was based on a misunderstanding that Baptism only forgave past sins, but if sins were committed later, they would not be forgiven. This was a heresy later popularized during the Novation controversy. This caused many to wait even until their death beds to get baptized. This is not the reason people object to infant Baptism today. All Christians reject the heresy that sins committed after Baptism cannot be forgiven.
    • No one in the early church rejected infant Baptism, because they thought babies could not have faith.
    • Although Tertullian is important in early church history (he coined the term Trinity), he also became a heretic, who joined the Montanism sect, which claimed direct revelation from the Holy Spirit and denied the total corruption of the human soul.

Babies Need Baptism

Why is it important to baptize babies? Because Babies need Baptism. Baptism is what gives us certainty that our children are God’s children, that their sins are forgiven, and that they will go to heaven if they die.

• Babies are born sinners.
  • “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:5
  • “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit.” John 3:5-6
    • “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 15:50
  • “We were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:3
• Babies can die!
  • “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
• Baptism promises salvation to children Acts 2:38

Conclusion

• Baptism is God’s Work, not ours.
• Baptism has the power of God’s Word to forgive sins and save through Jesus.
• It is God who creates faith in our hearts by grace.
• Babies can have faith. God gives faith to babies.
• The promise of Baptism is given to babies.
• Babies are sinners in need of a Savior, and Baptism gives them that Savior.
• Babies have always been baptized and God has accepted Christians, who are Baptized.