Not only did the early church embrace infant baptism without controversy. So did the Reformers: Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, Martin Bucer. John Wesley. Others.
Paedobaptism has no salvific value, and indeed leads the individual to think they are Christian by virtue of it, when they are not. Period.
See also: The Sacraments: Lecture 3A - The Biblical Case for Infant Baptism Dr. Kim Riddlebarger
No it doesn't teach that at all. Ezekiel 18 clearly explains that children do not inherit the sins of their fathers. Salvation is also predicated on having understanding to understand the Gospel and obey it by being baptized. An infant can not do that on his/her own. Such "...children are born in sin." is false and should not be taught.
“Suffer the little children to com unto me for such is the kingdom of heaven”- Jesus of Nazareth. No need to baptize children for such “is the kingdom of heaven” and those in heaven need no baptism. A dying infant and child is automatically saved. Can any of you state with a straight face that a two year old unbaptized child is thrown, by Jesus, into raging the fires of hell? Nonsense. Frighten a small child with the threat of Hell and one risks violating the other warning “If any of you offend one of these little ones I say that it is better for that man that he had never been born.”
I have had my catholic relatives foaming at the mouth over this and have not had contact with them for 20 years. No loss. You can threaten to kill me or burn me alive and I would not concede the point. Let it rest.
Within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) —
Disciples practice baptism by immersion, but also honor other baptism traditions from other denominations. The use of the specific form of baptism; that is, baptism by immersion is seen as powerfully symbolic. As such, it mirrors Jesus’ own baptism; it acts out dying with Christ, and emerging to new life; it is a “putting on” of Christ.
“Disciples of Christ” churches do not practice infant baptism. Rather, infant dedication is practiced and cherished as a time honored tradition among Disciples. An infant so dedicated confirms that dedication with a personal faith response usually during the early teenage years, about the same time when most Disciples are baptized.
I forgot to add my thanks to you for posting this article. Pastor Bucher makes the case for infant baptism quite clear and understandable.
Repent and be baptized every one of you for the forgiveness of your sins...but of course such a clear statement obviously means something else...
And as the Bible does not tell us to celebrate Christmas or Easter, we shouldn’t do those things either.
Mat_28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
There's Matthew's version...
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
That's Luke's version...No babtism...
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Conversion without baptism...
Act 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
No baptism...
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Again, no baptism...
Act 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance and Faith...Obviously baptism wasn't profitable for Paul...
There are some common things that are required for salvation...One is God's grace...The next is repentance (turning to Jesus), and the last is Faith (not in a religion)...
Without all three of those, baptizing a baby is a waste of perfectly good holy water...
My, oh my! And I thought that all Bible-believing Protestants believed the same thing from the plain words of the Bible.
From the Catholic POV: good article; thanks!
Sure lets baptize them in the womb too, and make 2 year olds priests and pastors. Actually I like that idea for those who can’t understand the bible and yet claim to follow Jesus. All church leaders must be under the age of 8, brilliant!
Thank-you and God Bless.
I know that in the Acts of Apostles when whole households were baptized, that meant the little babies also because even they need the forgiveness of their sins.
A baby cannot make a decision to follow Christ so baptism is not needed. Baptism is only for those who have repented and given their lives to Christ as a public confession of faith in Him. Throughout the Bible, from John the Baptist on, the cry is to “repent and be baptised...”