@tribesman
Actually Circumcision is not replaced, it is still here and performed, however we are now circumcised spiritually by the Holy Spirit
Colossians 2:11-12
Yes it is still performed, but it is no longer used covenantly (is that a word?). Circumcision today is done for aesthetic or hygiene reasons. Now as tribesman pointed out earlier baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign of the covenant between God and His people.
John leaped out of her mother's womb? where is the bible reference?
Luke 1:41-44: 41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth
(John's mother) heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
The bold faced portion was added by me.
Yes children can be baptised if they know the reason why. Acts never mentioned the age of the children so you can't really use Act as an evidence. It is a weak source/backup. Basically 20% fact and 80% opinion.
It is true that Acts never mentions the age of the children, but ancient families often had infants in the home. It is, in fact, more unreasonable to assume that the households had no infants
Yes but the point is, why baptise someone when they don't know what they are being baptised for?
Because the Sacrament makes the person a part of the Body, imparts grace, and marks their souls.
it is like going to the street and saying "we are in the spiritual warfare, with the heavenly realms, demon realms and spirit realm. You need to be baptised to be saved".
The person says "ok cool" but doesn't even know the reason why he's being baptised. And then go on to his worldly living.
A person can squander their baptismal gift through willful sin. Catechisis is a not a pre-requisite to baptism, and the grace imparted in not conditional on our understanding. Also it's highly unlikely any grown adult would jump into baptism without the faintest idea of what he's getting into.
This is why Jesus said, "and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded"
You think baptising a baby can obey Jesus Commands?
Actually yes. The child should be brought up in the Faith and that is the responsibility of their parents. Baptism does not suddenly impart perfect moral rectitude unto a person.
ok we can say when they grow up you can teach them. But wouldn't the teaching be too much? thus this is EXACTLY why people turn to Atheist.
So your saying because we teach them the Faith it turns them Atheist? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Over the years they grow reason and doubts and start questioning all their belief and just loose faith.
Doubt comes to us all at one time or another, but how you can link infant baptism and catechisis to Atheism is beyond me.
We HAVE to be saved by Jesus so we should be released from our slave sin.
I know that once we are born, we are in sin. But if we commit a sin then we are a slave. We need to be a slave in order for Jesus to free us.
We're a slave to sin from the moment of conception, because every soul bears the guilt of Adam and Eve (Original Sin).
When a baby is born into sin, and you try to save the baby, it doesn't work that way. The baby needs to grow up and live his/her life as a sinful person THEN needs to Repent to be born again and for Jesus to free.
That's where me and tribesman would probably differ. Because that makes God's grace and power conditional upon our repentance. To both of us (correct me if I'm wrong here tribesman) there need not be a single moment where we "Accepted Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour". Some of us grew up in faith and have spent our childhoods being the best Christians we can.