Using scripture to explain the unbiblical practice of baby baptism.
By: Aquila
Tags: Baby, Bible, Water, Catholic, Christianity

Baby baptism is it biblical?

And if not why? Most will in ignorance say it’s ok for babies to be baptized. And don’t understand the meaning of baptism. Let us take the time to see in God’s word as we examine the scriptures from the book of Acts chapter 16.

The meaning of baptism

It’s a public profession of faith made in front of witnesses, it’s an outward expression of the change which has already occurred within a person, the inner man. And last but not least it’s a declaration of association with the Lord Jesus Christ linking ourselves in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12).

It’s an association with the Lord Jesus, a confession that you follow Him, that He’s your Lord and Saviour. It’s a burial of the old man by becoming baptized (fully submerged underwater) we’re saying the old man is dead and buried with Christ.

It’s also in the likeness of Jesus Christ death burial and resurrection. He was buried and raised from the dead, so is our baptism a picture of that. We’re fully submerged (dead) under the water (buried) as the old man and we come up out of the water (resurrection) in newness of life.

Baptism in lake

After understanding what baptism involves for the individual we see that a person must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They don’t have to understand the doctrine of baptism but they should be saved placing their faith in Christ before baptism, that’s a conscious decision on the part of the believer. A baby cannot make a decision to follow Christ, therefore, baby’s should not be baptised.

Does the following verse prove baby baptism?

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.” Acts 16:14, 15

After reading the above some believe “there’s a lady called Lydia that was baptized and her household” keyword is household. They believe this must mean Mrs Lydia and her household believed and was baptized also. The bible never mentions her being married. And if she’s not married and has a baby, then by imagination we’re charging her with sin. And we shouldn’t imagine what the word of God doesn’t say. Lydia’s baby, in many people’s imaginations but never found in the bible.

The word household is used widely there are several talks of households in the epistles to the Romans. You have slave households formed of many men and women who were slaves and there called households. In the epistle of Philemon, a man has a household of domestic servants, slaves and soldiers, a household.

The Greek biblical definition of household: oikiakos

one belonging to the house one under control of the master of a house, whether a son or a servant

†οἰκιακός oikiakós, oy-kee-ak-os’; from G3614; familiar, i.e. (as noun) relatives: — they (them) of (his own) household.

Lydia’s and all those in her household they all believed the Gospel and were baptised, but you’ll search a long time there to find a little baby.

The Phillipian Jailer

“And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” Acts 16:33, 34

And so they say in the house of the jailer there was a little tiny baby and so because the rest of the family got baptized so also the little baby. For argument’s sake let’s say that’s true. Here’s Paul the Apostle and he preached the word to the jailer and all in his house. So there’s the little baby that Paul put on the sofa and preached the word of God too.

Are you thinking this is sounding foolish yet? But remember the Bible says he preached to everyone in the house. Therefore the baby’s eyes got as big as saucers and it believed every word Paul said! How do we know that? Because the verse says they all believed in the house including the little baby.

But we all know perfectly well little babies can’t understand the preaching of the Gospel, and therefore we know that a little baby can’t believe. Therefore we know that little babies shouldn’t get baptized.

Why do people baptise baby’s then?

There are those who practice infant baptisms such as Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodox Church a sec of Catholicism. It seems to have first come about from one of the early church fathers.

The heretical practice of infant baptism by Roman Catholics

Not long after the death of the apostle John unbiblical teachings started to creep into the church through some of the early church fathers. Some of the heresies which were introduced forced the early church to hold councils in order to combat specific heretical teachings and to remove heretics.

HER’ETIC, noun 1. A person under any religion, but particularly the christian, who holds and teaches opinions repugnant to the established faith, or that which is made the standard of orthodoxy. In strictness, among christians, a person who holds and avows religious opinions contrary to the doctrines of Scripture, the only rule of faith and practice. 2. Any one who maintains erroneous opinions.

The Roman Catholic church and others continued with the practice today even though it’s not taught in God’s word. The Catholics believe that if a baby is baptised it removes “original sin”. However, water baptism cannot remove sin only the blood of Jesus Christ can save us. 1 John 1:7 “…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”.

If you want to baptise a baby just know it won’t save them and it’s not biblical, the word of God says nothing about baby baptism. Only those who received salvation are to be baptised afterwards.

Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

God bless.