What Does the Bible Say
About Infant Baptism?

Historical Background

For centuries, the Roman-Catholic Church practiced infant baptism.  In the 1500’s that mode was questioned as the Bible was being printed in the language of the common people.  Martin Luther, the reformer, was questioning various practices of the church.  Other groups of believers were asking if a person should be baptized as an infant or after they make a personal commitment to Christ.  Among these groups were the Anabaptists (meaning = again-baptizers) who began to rebaptize adults in accordance with their view that one should not be baptized unless he is a professing believer.

How do we decide the issue of baptism?  We look at scripture.  We ask, “How did they do it in the time of Jesus and the early church?”

Why Baptize at All?

• Because Jesus told us to.  The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 gives a clear command to make disciples and baptize them.
• Because the early church understood this as a command and did it.  Acts 8; 10:44 -48; 16:1-33; 18:8. 

Who Do We Baptize?

• Those who are disciples.  Disciples are followers or believers.  Matt 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 16:33.  These passages indicate that all who were baptized were believers.  The chronological order in these passages is: belief and then baptism.
• There is no recorded instance of a person being baptized before they become a believer.  Some argue that not only were some people baptized, but also their “household.”  See the accounts in Acts 16:15 (Lydia), Acts 16:33 (jailer) and I Cor. 1:16 (Stephanas).  That designation of “household” could imply that children or infants were also baptized.  But this could only be implied. There is no overt reference to non-believing children or infants being baptized and there is no other teaching in scripture that prescribes baptism for infants or those who have not believed.  It is unadvisable to create a doctrine or practice based on such tenuous accounts.  Some also argue that baptism is a New Testament equivalent to circumcision and as such infants are to be baptized as a sign of the covenant.  But again, questionable biblical evidence exists to support this view.  And if such were true, perhaps we should not baptize females.  In contrast, Lydia’s baptism is recorded in Acts 16:15.

How Should We Baptize?

• Jesus was baptized by immersion.  Matthew 3:16 states that when he came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.  Admittedly, this could be referring to Him walking up out of the water onto the shore, but the word “immediately” more likely refers to him coming up from being immersed.
• The early church baptized by immersion.  John 3:23 indicates that John was baptizing in a  particular location because “there was much water there.” Much water is not necessary for baptism by sprinkling, but would be necessary for immersion.
• There is no recorded instance of sprinkling or pouring water over the head.
• The word baptize (“baptizo” in Greek) is literally translated “dip, immerse, plunge, sink, drench, overwhelm, soak.”  When the word was translated into English, the King James translator chose to transliterate the word to make the English word “baptize” so as not to create controversy.

What is the Meaning of Baptism?

• It is an act of faith and commitment.  It expresses that one has been saved and now identifies with Christ.  (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27)
• It follows confession of sin and repentance.  Matt. 3:6; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:1-4
• Baptism does not save us.  The thief on the cross believed but did not have the opportunity for baptism.  Nevertheless, Jesus said that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:42 -43).

Why Would a Person Who Joins a Baptist Church Need To Be Baptized?

• We, as a church family, are committed to practicing our faith or “doing church” according to the scripture.  The scriptural pattern is: belief followed by baptism by immersion.
• Thus, our policy is that our church membership shall consist of believers who have been baptized by immersion as a believer.
• Some people were baptized by sprinkling as an infant or before making a personal decision to believe in Jesus.  Then, later in life they made a personal decision to accept Christ.  We do not in any way believe that their decision was incomplete or insincere.  We simply wish to have the church family participate in the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper according to the biblical pattern.  Thus, we require our members to have been baptized in such a way.