For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Bruce Morgan
Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ”
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.”
Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household. Acts 16:29-34
Does the "entire household" include or exclude any youths or children?
Were the young people of the household of Cornelius refused baptism (Acts 10:44-48)?
Barry G Provard
Baptism is an outward display of an inward change. Baptism always follows repentance and acceptance of Jesus as savior. A person needs to have knowledge of sin in order to repent from sin.
Infants have no knowledge of sin.
Bruce Morgan
Knowledge of sin doesn't change the fact that "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." (Psalm 51:5) and "We were by nature children under wrath as the others were also." (Ephesians 2:3). Babies are born sinful and need to be saved by grace, as do older people.
mace Martir
Peter's call to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins...and this promise is to you and your children... Is an echo of the Abrahamic covenant. Circumcision was the sign of the old covenant. Paul says baptism is the 'circumcision of Christ' Col 2 It was easy for the apostles to grasp that baptism was the new covenant sign and seal (Paul's language in Rom 4).
Baptism is never presented as testimony. It always presented as something God is doing to and for us. Remitting sins, washing away sin Acts 22:16, putting Christ upon us Gal 3:27, Burying us with Christ Rom 6:4 , and raising us to new life Rom 6:5 Col 2:12, Regenerating us Titus 3:5, that pathway for rebirth John 3:5
It appears the effective nature of baptism is presented consistently and helps to explain why the early church baptized infants.
mace Martir
I used to think of Mt 28 the way that Michael does. But Paul and Peter don’t use the language ‘Trust Christ as your personal savior’. Peter says Repent and be baptized. Paul says repent and perform deeds in keeping with your repentance Acts 26:20. He testified to the efficacy of his baptism Acts 22:16.
So the early church did not teach the ‘sinners pray’ (all my prayers are a sinners prayer). They proclaimed the story of Christ, exhorted repentance and doing ‘deeds in keeping with repentance’. 'Teaching them all I have commanded you", they proclaimed Sermon on the Mount, Love God, love your neighbor, the story of the good Samaritan, and of course His resurrection. They ‘catechized’. For those willing to repent and walk the narrow path of life, they baptized.
You can see the way they approach gospel preaching in the Didache - written at the time of the epistles, commented on by Eusebius, historian ~ 320 AD, and Athanasious, Bishop of Alexandria ~360 AD. A short and edifying read.
Gary Wainwright
Mace, in response to your first comment, since the New Testament teaches one repents before they are baptised, then how is it possible for an infant to be able to repent, i.e. infant referring to a baby or young child who is unable to speak or is speechless?
In response to your second comment, how is it possible for an infant to be able to ‘perform deeds in keeping with (their) repentance’?
mace Martir
The NT teaches circumcision was the sign and seal of righteousness and baptism is the circumcsion of Christ. Rom 4 Col 2. The Abrahamic call to blessing echoed by Peter is for you and your children. These new Jewish believers in Jesus did not start excluding their children from covenant promise.
Yes the 'love of God us poured out within our hearts by the Holy Spirit' Rom 5 and ALL are enabled to do the good works we are call to do Eph 2. -- faith being the supernatural inclination to do the will of God. Children will grow into as they work out their faith.
Having put on Christ Gal 3, keeping the Mosaic law is of no account, but faith Working through love Gal 5:7 - love given by God's grace in the person of the Holy Spirit Rom 5, as promised in the instrument of baptism Acts 2:38
Gary Wainwright
Mace, a person becomes a Christian when they call on His name to be saved (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13) and their salvation is based on the work and the Person of Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12).
Baptism is an important step of obedience for the Christian after they have been saved (Acts 10:44-48).
As an infant is unable to comprehend the Gospel and to make a choice whether to receive or reject Jesus Christ at this point in time, it is evident that they are not ready.
Myron Robertson
Look at the root word here which is the Greek christus. This is anointing meaning this IS a baptism ritual. That means it is discussed in some way in the bible. Christians understand two forms of baptism but the bible actually has three. All three relate directly to one of the major feast days, Passover, Feast of Weeks (known in Christianity by it Greek name, Pentecost), and Tabernacles. All baptism represents a level of anointing of the Holy Spirit, and there are other prophetic examples of these in the OT beyond the feast days, most specifically the events of the flood and of the journey to the Promised Land. Also the major rights of passage are also prophecies of these, although only the circumcision ceremony is defined in the OT and only circumcision and adoption are mentioned. Adoption is not defined in scripture and we must look at other texts to understand how it actually worked. I have several posts on this site discussing this.
Christening is the equivalent of the circumcision ceremony and relates directly to the Passover anointing. The bible does not give us full details of this ceremony but there WAS a baptism and something with the pouring out of wine as well. I have heard there is some wine given to the child or new convert, but I don't know this to be the case. Passover is the only ritual in scripture in which wine is consumed by the supplicants. All others pour the wine (blood of the grape) on the side of the altar with the blood of the
other blood sacrifices symbolizing this is only for God's consumption, not ours.
During this ceremony the name of the child or new convert is written in the books of record of citizenship (representing the book of life). At this level of anointing we find Paul telling us that God calls what is not as though it were (Rom 4:17) and we say that we are saved, but there is still a process that must be completed to lead to the next two levels of anointing before salvation is complete and were are actually righteous, not simply declared righteous. This is a work God does in us not something we do ourselves, but it is a work that must be completed. If you do not believe this, please study the rest of scripture, not just Rom 4:17 and a few other cherry picked texts.
However, because God has placed this level of the Holy Spirit upon us and declared us righteous Jesus has begun this work within us and we can claim the promise of his prayer before the circumcision, none of those you have given to me have been lost (Jn 17:11, 12). He will keep us safe just as he kept those safe who were with him then (Judas was not actually "with him" in his heart), but a study of those "doomed to destruction" shows they are like the Gibbeonites and will have a special, though limited, role in the temple.
During the Passover level of anointing (baptism) the spirit cannot indwell us as shown by the dove returning to the ark, and the need for the ark of the covenant to hold the shekinah glory of the spirit. It is also symbolized by the outer court of the temple.
Those with a Pentecostal level of anointing are able to be indwelt at a minor level by the Holy Spirit. Paul calls this the earnest (or down payment) of the spirit (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5; Eph 1:14) proving the contracted redemption purchase intended for a later time. Here we see the dove returning to the ark having rested on an Olive tree and retrieving a leaf from that tree, and we see the tongues of fire falling on the heads of the 120 in the upper room and indwelling them.
Yet this does not illustrate the full anointing received by the priest having a half gallon of oil infused with cinnamon (fire) poured over his head and running down his beard and clothes. This is the Tabernacles anointing in which the full redemption is received (2 Cor 5). This is the adoption as fully mature sons. We receive the signet of God and act under his authority just as Jesus did, doing only what we see the father do and saying only what we hear him say.