This may be covered in another thread somewhere, and if so, please direct me there, but if baptism does not save someone, than why are infants baptised as if it does save them?
In the meanwhile, do a search here for "baptism", or "infant baptism" and you will find LOADS of discussions that have taken place. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin[/img] This isn't to discourage you from asking the question or anyone answering it. But just in case you would like something to do to occupy your time waiting. <br><br>In His Grace,
Hello Kalled2Preach,<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"] if baptism does not save someone, than why are infants baptised as if it does save them? </font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>How would you answer the same question when it concerns the baptism of children after they make a credible profession of faith (or anyone else for that matter) ?<br><br>Sincerely in Christ,<br><br>~Jason<br><br>
Hey I have a good question, that you can tackle alone the same line. Why do many Bapstist dedicate their babies in the church? I seems to be almost the same.<br><br>Oh, in discussing this in the past. You will be amazed the people in a church who thought the dedication had some sort of spiritual effect. <br><br>(and Yes I attend a Baptist church)<br>
The Baptist child dedications I've seen seem to focus more on the parents than on the children. I sisn't realize that a substantial number think it has anything to with salvation!<br><br>When I went to the PCUSA church, the minister would use Matthew 19:13-15 during baptisms. He then would say that these children were entering into the Body of Christ. But I hear that the PCA churches don't say it this way.
True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
I Sorry! I did not mean a substantial number. I was just amazed on the individuals they I talked too, (who were part of the core of a local church) that I was refering too. I guess a survey in a couple of local churches might be in order to see how the local congregations view it is in order.<br><br><br>
I was a Baptist for 20 years, 30 of those years under the doctrines of grace. There is an exellent book written by a former Baptist Preacher who set out to prove the fallacy of infant Baptism yet in the process grasped the message of the covenant. It is called "The Children of the Promise", by Robert Booth. I enjoyed reading it seeing that it was from a Baptist with no mission to "prove" his side.
That is a good little book Linda .<br><br>It says of the author - " In his ten -year ministry, he had put off studying the topic of baptism. Then the Baptist pastor felt his heart sink as he began to see how scripture challenged his long held beliefs. What would prompt him to change his views - and find great encouragement in the doctrine of infant baptism ? "<br><br>First published in 1995, it is recommended by Jay E Adams, Douglas Wilson, Greg Bahnsen, Walter C Hibbard , Kenneth L Gentry Jnr and Vem S Poythress.<br><br>(How many baptists do you know who have "put-off" the study of baptism ...)<br><br>howard
The question is not how many Baptists put off the study of baptism, but how many pastors put off the study of......<br><br>It is a great book in that it is does not have the spirit of judgement, but rather one of entreaty.
Because, mostly, the people baptizing them do think it saves them. Sad, eh?<br>If that is the case, then the theology is wrong.<br>If the case is that the baptism ceremony is done w/ "identification" in mind, then they are only being baptized b/c they are being identified as being in the body of Christ b/c they are born into a Christian family. This, of course, doesn't guarantee anyone's salvation in that family, it only serves as a symbol that the child was born into a Christian family and therefore identifies himself w/ the family's beliefs - until he reaches the age of accountability when he can decide for himself. I guess it could be a she, too.<br>Later,
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<br><br>In His Grace,![[Linked Image]](http://www.the-highway.com/pilgrim/pil_sig2.gif)
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