Zone1 Where does it say in the Bible only adults can be baptized?

[ninja007]

Catholics have a strong faith in the power of the Sacraments and the redemption and salvation of our lives made possible by Jesus sacrifice/obedience to death on the cross. He taught us the forgiveness of sins. In obedience we have turned/repented from that old way of life, thus have been baptized, and now we, the Body of Christ, continue with baptizing our babies into this new way of life, brought to us by Jesus over two thousand years ago that has been life ever since. This is a life where the baptized are given the promises of grace, justification, and life as priest, prophet, king. And here, with each new life given us, we begin.

For reasons that make sense to them, some start their children out in that old way of life so that they may do their own individual repentance, and join into the new life Christ won for all back in Biblical times. Nothing wrong with starting out in the old way of life, but nor is there anything wrong with starting at the beginning of the new way of life.

HAVE FAITH IN JESUS ONLY. NOT IN WORKS OR TRADITIONS.

 

[Meriweather]

HAVE FAITH IN JESUS ONLY. NOT IN WORKS OR TRADITIONS.

Who said to baptize? Who is the power behind baptism? Have faith in Jesus, but not in his commands or teachings?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Who said to baptize? Who is the power behind baptism? Have faith in Jesus, but not in his commands or teachings?

You dont baptize babies they cant consent

 

[Meriweather]

You dont baptize babies they cant consent

Can grace, justification, and the power of the Holy Spirit still be at work within them, or can babies overpower the works of God?

 

[DStar777]

Where does it say in the Bible only adults can be baptized?​

It doesn't.

I would ask a different question:
Where in scripture do you find infant baptism and what purpose does it serve? If it isn't there, there's no reason to do it.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Can grace, justification, and the power of the Holy Spirit still be at work within them, or can babies overpower the works of God?

In vain do they worship Me teaching as doctrine the precepts of men

 

[Meriweather]

I know this is off topic, so I'll stop here. But when I kept seeing you say "Way of Salvation" while continually leaving out faith, repentance and the reality of going from death to life, I had to chime in.

It may be peripheral to the topic, but I wouldn't call it off topic. There is a view of faith where all one must do is believe Jesus "saves" all who believe that he died for them, his blood covers all their sins, and therefore all believers of this who have been baptized will be in heaven. Let's call this the minimum view. Students want to know the minimum that must be done for an 'A'; and the faithful want to know the minimum that must be done to be in heaven with God. I know a student (my daughter) who always had an A+ in all her high school classes, yet even still always did the extra credit even though one cannot get any higher than an A. It's who she is. If there is more, she takes it as a challenge and does more, because who knows when she might be able to use the lesson/technique she learned by doing the extra credit. It offers personal improvement when the top grade is already hers.

In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus' disciples were accused of not washing their hands before eating as the elders did. This custom came from early Temple days when the priests purified themselves by washing their hands before handling the bread of the presence, and by washing the utensil that would touch it. This symbolized purifying oneself and everything in the presence of God. So...why not extend all this washing to everyday life, this symbolism of purifying oneself since God is everywhere, and washing the exterior would prompt one to cleanse the interior. Not a bad idea, until one finds oneself criticizing how, when, or if their neighbor properly cleanses their hands before touching food. Jesus reminded everyone that it is not what happens on the outside of the body that matters, but what is happening on the inside of the body. What is the point of having a clean exterior when the interior is filthy.

Therefore, the minimum believer looks into his/her heart, sees it covered in Christ's blood and therefore clean. S/he is prepared to be with God in heaven for eternity.

Now let's look at those who not only have faith in the redemption and salvation Jesus brought to us, but are entranced by what he taught us along the way: Obedience to God, the beatitudes, ways of living this life in the eternal way (God's way) not just the fleeting life of time on earth. Our faith in the ways Jesus taught have us hanging on his every word, putting into practice his way of living eternal life, of having eternal life right now, today, purifying the very interior heart of oneself, not just the exterior. Along with redemption and salvation Jesus taught a way of living our present life so that which we are living right now is eternal life with God.

Jesus said to be perfect as his heavenly Father is perfect. Want to know the etymology of Jesus' Aramaic use of the word 'perfect'? (I'm going to tell you anyway ) Look at what Jesus said about the Father before he then taught us to be 'perfect' as our heavenly Father is. In the Aramaic, the root goes back to being 'all inclusive'. Jesus noted that the Father sent rain and sun on both the just and unjust. We, too, are to be all inclusive in our acceptance of others who may have different beliefs, different perspectives. God sends his rain and sun on all.

 

[Meriweather]

In vain do they worship Me teaching as doctrine the precepts of men

And who to say which is the "doctrine of men"--Baptizing later in life or at the beginning of life.

(Hey, here is another chance for you to use that cackling emoji! I think of it as the Kamala cackle!)

 

[Unkotare]

When you disagree with no reason posted, your disagreement is disallowed. It has no bearing on anything. Stop being lazy and explain your position however faulty it will be

Faith is not a debate. It's not a contest to be won or lost. Believe what you believe and leave others to do the same. That's it. Anything else, history shows us, leads to conflict.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

And who to say which is the "doctrine of men"--Baptizing later in life or at the beginning of life

Are you following the clear example of Jesus or ADDING TO...?

Baptism has a clear definition
Sprinkling babies is not baptism

 

[hadit]

It doesn't. I have read the Bible. I know it's a shock to hear a Catholic say that, but it's a true story. I've actually read or heard it over and over because the Catholic Church gives us scripture every day, not just on Sunday.

Anyhow, it does not say in the Bible you can't baptize infants and it is inferred that infants were indeed baptized. In Acts, it says "whole households" were baptized. Most households had infants and/or children.

Jesus said to let the children come to Him.

etc

The Bible also does not prohibit adults from being baptized, in fact adults are ROUTINELY baptized, yet my Anabaptist forefathers were persecuted by the Catholic church for doing so.

 

[hadit]

The passage that was left out was the one of Jesus being baptized. What repentance was needed? What sins were forgiven? Jesus was indicating the new beginning in his life. No sins and no repentance needed. Its the same with a new life entering the world. A new beginning, not only for the child, but the history of mankind--into a life where Satan has already been rejected and where sins are forgiven.

Protestants have a baby dedication service wherein the congregation pledges to pray for the family and the baby and do whatever they can to support raising the child in the faith.

 

[Meriweather]

Sprinkling babies is not baptism

Correct. No sprinkling.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

Repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins

Did the infant repent of his sins?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Can grace, justification, and the power of the Holy Spirit still be at work within them, or can babies overpower the works of God?

if one can not chose one can not be affected by the holy ghost or pick to allow Jesus as their savior.

 

[Cougarbear]

Faith is not a debate. It's not a contest to be won or lost. Believe what you believe and leave others to do the same. That's it. Anything else, history shows us, leads to conflict.

Actually, it does not. The times of peace were when people followed the God of Israel. This has lead to peace. It’s when people do not know the God of Israel (doesn’t mean all the people belong to His Church) and believe they can make up their own versions of good and right is when evil and wrong cause contentions. It’s called anarchy. “If it feels good, do it.” There will be no consequences. This strengthens evil which thirsts on conflict.

So, we preach and teach Christ which is about true faith, hope and charity (the pure love of Christ.) as Jesus did, teach the sinners. Even the bad ones in the house of ill repute. Then, we hope people follow the good and still allow for free moral agency to choose for themselves good or evil. However, there must be consequences for our decisions and there are.

 

[buttercup]

And who to say which is the "doctrine of men"--Baptizing later in life or at the beginning of life.

How can you say that with a straight face when JESUS Himself was water baptized as a grown adult and when there are TONS of clear examples of water baptism in the New Testament, and none of them were babies? They were all people who BELIEVED, repented and made the choice to follow Jesus.

I mean... I'm seriously stunned that you could say something like "who's to say which is the doctrine of men" ..... unless you don't believe the bible at all?

 

[The Irish Ram]

And when they sin after baptism?

What did you do when you sinned after baptism?

 

[RetiredGySgt]

What did you do when you sinned after baptism?

you pray and ask for forgiveness.

 

[The Irish Ram]

Who said to baptize? Who is the power behind baptism? Have faith in Jesus, but not in his commands or teachings?

His command wasn't to merely baptize. It was to repent and be baptized. The Catholic Church took repentance out of the equation and because they did, it brought about something that wasn't Biblical and followed a practice that Christ never said to do or practiced doing.

Deut. 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.