INFANT BAPTISM

Some say that infants should not be baptized, that baptism is only for those who have first "accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior." They say that when one makes this acceptance of Jesus Christ, or is "born again," then they could be baptized, but that baptism is not necessary.

For Catholics, Baptism is a Sacrament which produces the following effects:

1. Gets rid of Original Sin, and other sins.

   "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'" (Acts 2:38-39)

   "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)

   Original Sin is mentioned in Paul's letters to the Romans, and the Corinthians.

   "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12)

   "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

2. Gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

   Jesus said that baptism was necessary for salvation. "Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:5)

Jesus wants children to be brought to Him. "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 19:13-14)

Some say that infants should not be baptized.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Baptism is for adults only, and that children should not be baptized.

Does the Bible say that infants were baptized?

"And when she and her household were baptized..." (Acts 16:15)

"And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized." (Acts 16:33)

"Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas..." (1 Corinthians 1:16)

The words "household" and "family" certainly included children. The Church practiced the Baptism of infants from the beginning. Origen (185-254), Cyprian (d.258), and Augustine (354-430) are just some of the early writers who mention that infants were baptized.

In the Old Covenant, circumcision was the visible sign of membership. In the New Covenant, Baptism places an invisible sign on the soul. God said, "He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised..." (Genesis 17:12) St. Paul tells us that Baptism replaces circumcision [Colossians 2:11-12]. Since God decreed that eight day infants must be circumcised, surely He wants the same for us since He loves us the same.