Baptists and Their Baptism
Christianity is made up of a great number of denominations. Each of them professes to be following our Lord Jesus Christ as closely as they know how. In many things we all agree. On the subject of baptism, however, Baptists object to what their Catholic and Protestant friends are doing. Although other denominations baptize their infants, Baptists do not. Baptists refuse to baptize anyone who “cannot” or “will not” personally repent of sin and confess Jesus as their Savior. This means that Baptists do not, under any circumstances, baptize infants.
If God Wants Us To Baptize Our Babies; Baptists Are In a Lot of Trouble.
Only Catholics outnumber Baptists. Southern Baptists have 16 million members and more than 42,000 churches. The National Baptist Convention, the largest group of African American churches, has over 41,000 churches and 5 million members. Add to this number the Independent Baptists, General Baptists, Free Will Baptists, Old Regular Baptists, Primitive Baptists, etc – and the number of Baptists world wide swells to over 100 million. 100 million Baptists, and non of them baptize their babies.
My point is this: There are a lot of Baptists worldwide and all of them refuse to baptize their babies. If the Catholics and the Presbyterians and the Methodists are right about baptism; then Baptists are in a world of trouble.
If God Wants Us To Baptize Our Babies; He Should Have Told Us So.
You probably already know this, but Baptists are a peculiar bunch. For example, Baptists believe that the Bible is their only source for information about what they should teach and practice. This is why Baptists say, “If God Wants Us To Baptize Our Babies; He Should Have Told Us So.”
Baptists do not merely withhold baptism from infants, They believe that baptism is only for those who repent, believe, and do so without coercion. It isn’t just infants that Baptists do not baptize; Baptists do not baptize anyone, no matter what their age, who does not profess Jesus as their Personal Savior. This is their stand because this is what they read in the New Testament:
“ Those who gladly received his word were baptized … “ Acts 2:41
“ But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” Acts 8:12
You may think that this paper could not possibly be true. You may be saying to yourself, “Of course the Bible teaches that infants should be baptized; It’s in there somewhere. My church cannot possibly be so wrong.” If this is what you think then I challenge you to find infant baptism in the Bible.
If God Wants Us To Baptize Our Babies; He Should Have Done So Himself.
He was here on earth, you know. “ God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…”
2 Corinthians 5:19
He did baptize many people: " ... Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John ((though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), John 4:1-2
Throughout the New Testament we read about Jesus and His Apostles baptizing people. In each and every case the ones who were baptized were old enough to hear, understand, and believe the Gospel message.
Once again, you may think that this paper could not possibly be true. You may be saying to yourself, “Of course there are examples of infants being baptized in the New Testament. My church cannot possibly be so wrong.” If this is what you think, then I challenge you again. Find places in the Bible where Jesus or any of His Apostles ever baptized an infant. Your search will uncover the fact that Jesus and His Apostles only baptized “believers.”
How is it with you? Were you baptized after you came to faith in Jesus Christ, or is your baptism an event that you cannot even remember. True baptism is a baptism that believers request and remember with fondness.
If you have more questions about “Believer’s Baptism,” contact the person or church that gave this paper to you. If you want to be anonymous go to the web page listed below with your questions.
www.freegracetracts.com