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I don't think infant baptism would be any more effective for salvation than circumcision was.
Baptism, of course, signifies circumcision of the heart, and is the entry point into the new covenant, just as circumcision of the flesh was to the old covenant.
I'm assuming that the logic behind infant baptism is that it brings a baby into the new covenant, just as circumcision of an 8-day old baby brought him into the old covenant.
Circumcision, though, didn't guarantee obedience, and without obedience there was no salvation. The same applies to the new covenant.
So basically, I think it's a vain exercise, however well intended.
Baptism, of course, signifies circumcision of the heart, and is the entry point into the new covenant, just as circumcision of the flesh was to the old covenant.
I'm assuming that the logic behind infant baptism is that it brings a baby into the new covenant, just as circumcision of an 8-day old baby brought him into the old covenant.
Circumcision, though, didn't guarantee obedience, and without obedience there was no salvation. The same applies to the new covenant.
So basically, I think it's a vain exercise, however well intended.
how old does one have to be, in order to be considered a believer?
notice it says here the children were brought TO HIM.
Matthew 19:14
13 Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed there
paidion: a young child
Original Word: παιδίον, ου, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: paidion
Phonetic Spelling: (pahee-dee'-on)
Short Definition: a little child, an infant
Definition: a little child, an infant, little one.
3813 paidíon – properly, a child under training; the diminutive form of 3816 /país ("child"). 3813 /paidíon ("a little child in training") implies a younger child (perhaps seven years old or younger). Some scholars apply 3816 (país) to a son or daughter up to 20 years old (the age of "complete adulthood" in Scripture).
i wonder why in this episode Jesus is not recorded as saying something like:
Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. And he said, That's right, the little children can not come to me, and should be forbidden from doing so, for even though of such is the kingdom of heaven, they must be adults to be saved (or baptised). So He sent them away, and departed there.
notice it says here the children were brought TO HIM.
Matthew 19:14
13 Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed there
paidion: a young child
Original Word: παιδίον, ου, τό
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: paidion
Phonetic Spelling: (pahee-dee'-on)
Short Definition: a little child, an infant
Definition: a little child, an infant, little one.
3813 paidíon – properly, a child under training; the diminutive form of 3816 /país ("child"). 3813 /paidíon ("a little child in training") implies a younger child (perhaps seven years old or younger). Some scholars apply 3816 (país) to a son or daughter up to 20 years old (the age of "complete adulthood" in Scripture).
i wonder why in this episode Jesus is not recorded as saying something like:
Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. And he said, That's right, the little children can not come to me, and should be forbidden from doing so, for even though of such is the kingdom of heaven, they must be adults to be saved (or baptised). So He sent them away, and departed there.
any more than it may be a vain exercise for adults?
if God is not working in baptism, what difference does it make?
if it's symbolic or a public expression of something (an adult's profession or the church family's commitment to raise the child in the scriptures (see 2 Timothy))...i don't see it being a vain exercise. or perhaps it is.
if God is not working in baptism, what difference does it make?
if it's symbolic or a public expression of something (an adult's profession or the church family's commitment to raise the child in the scriptures (see 2 Timothy))...i don't see it being a vain exercise. or perhaps it is.