Infant Baptism is not given in scripture.

[David Lamb]

Hey David,

Are you suggesting that since Scripture doesn't mention a replacement for James that they didn't replace James in the same manner that they replaced Judas? That their agreement at the Council of Jerusalem on how to replace an office holder (an Apostle) was only a 1-time deal and never to be repeated again?

Curious Mary

As far as the bible is concerned, yes. Nowhere in the epistles are we told about apostolic succession.

 

[bdavidc]

How does anyone know if an infant was baptized in the river and later I think that is an assumption on our parts adult only for some reason like a small child could never know God.Jesus absolutely loved all the children around him and even called us his children.Where in the bible does it say exactly that they should not be baptized because I can' find it.As a child he loved the temple himself with zeal Mary told stories of this in the bible.A blessing was said over Jesus and prophecy was told when it happened and he was a child.

According to the Bible, baptism is always connected to personal faith, repentance, and belief in the gospel, none of which infants are capable of. In every instance where baptism is described, it follows a conscious response to the message of salvation. Acts 2:38 says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Repentance is a command directed at those who can understand their sin and turn to God, something an infant cannot do.

Acts 8:36, 37 records the Ethiopian eunuch saying, “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” and Philip replied, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” He answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” That is the biblical pattern, belief first, then baptism. Baptism is described as the answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21), which again requires awareness and faith.

Jesus did love children and said the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as them (Matthew 19:14), but He never baptized children or instructed that they be baptized. He blessed them, He welcomed them, and He used them as examples of humble faith, but He never replaced belief with ceremony. Nowhere in the Bible is an infant baptized, and nowhere is baptism disconnected from belief.

The temple events in Jesus’ childhood, the prophecy over Him, and His zeal at age twelve are not examples of baptism but of fulfillment of the law and divine calling. Baptism is for those who hear the Word, believe it, repent, and respond in obedience. That is the plain teaching of Scripture.