What does the Church of God teach about infant baptism?\u00a0I was christened as a baby in another church. Do I need to be baptized as an adult also?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
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You\u2019ve recalled a word not in wide usage among us these days: <\/span>christen<\/span><\/i>. It was used early on of anointing (<\/span>krismas, <\/span><\/i>Greek) with oil (laying on of hands) or with water at baptism, as when the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus at His baptism, <\/span>christening<\/span><\/i> Him as Christ, or Messiah. Later, <\/span>christening<\/span><\/i> was used in the Roman church for naming infants at their baptism (sprinkling or pouring). By extension, anything used for the first time may be named, or <\/span>christened<\/span><\/i>, like a new ship being launched. By infant baptism, newborn babes are supposedly launched (<\/span>christened<\/span><\/i>) as Christians.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Church of God\u2019s practice, on the other hand, is called <\/span>believers’ baptism<\/span><\/i>. We teach that water baptism is a Christian\u00a0ordinance designed only for those who come to the truth of the gospel\u00a0though personal faith in Jesus Christ and a conscious, decisive repentance toward God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Believers\u2019 baptism finds its main scriptural support in the close link between faith and repentance on the one hand and water baptism on the other. This link is seen in these primary texts that prescribe baptism, or describe it:<\/span><\/p>\n Matthew 28:19: By baptism in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and by teaching, faith is manifest and disciples are formed.<\/span><\/p>\n Mark 16:16: \u201cHe who believes and is baptized will be saved.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Acts 2:38: \u201cRepent, and . . . be baptized\u201d are proper steps for those who believe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Acts 8:36-39; 16:30-33; 22:16: Baptism requires believing on the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart, and \u201ccalling on the name of the Lord.”<\/span><\/p>\n Romans 6:3-10;\u00a0Colossians 2:12-14: Baptism presupposes conviction for sin as the disease and confession of Christ\u2019s death and resurrection as the cure.<\/span><\/p>\n 1 Peter 3:21: Baptism is\u00a0\u201cthe answer of a good conscience toward God\u201d\u00a0\u2014 impossible for those who know nothing of conscience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By positioning faith and repentance as preceding baptism, Scripture implies opposition to infant baptism. An infant is incapable of experiencing either faith or repentance, let alone giving them public expression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n None of the texts listed above raises the option of baptizing babies or the very young. If the households of Cornelius and the jailor (Acts 10:24, 48; 16:31-33), who were baptized, included infants, it is not at all clear that they were immersed with the rest. The dedication of newborns and blessing of children by the church (Luke 2:25-40; Mark 10:13-16) should not be confused with the extra-biblical practice of infant baptism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Faith and repentance, the two requirements for Christian baptism, are experienced and expressed by only those who understand the message of Christ and recognize their sins. Therefore it is inappropriate for infants to be baptized because they are unable to acknowledge\u00a0faith in Christ, repent of their sins, and\u00a0knowingly follow Jesus (<\/span>This We Believe<\/span><\/i>, p. 81).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n . . . those\u00a0baptized as infants should be ‘re-baptized’ once they come to understand its meaning for the first time. Likewise, those who experience sprinkling or pouring for baptism as\u00a0adolescents or adults are encouraged to be baptized in the proper biblical manner [immersion]. In neither of these cases would baptism be redundant. Other legitimate reasons for rebaptism may exist. Any reader who feels a need\u00a0either\u00a0for baptism or rebaptism is urged to consult a pastor or minister (<\/span>This We Believe<\/span><\/i>, p. 82).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Vital as it is in expressing our faith in Christ and repentance toward God, baptism does not assure us of God\u2019s forever smile. Knowing and trusting Jesus and turning from our sins do!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014 Elder Calvin Burrell\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Have a question you’d like answered? Submit it here:<\/strong><\/p>\n [contact-form-7 id=”23927″ title=”Submit a Question”]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What does the Church of God teach about infant baptism?\u00a0I was christened as a baby in another church. Do I need to be baptized as an adult also?\u00a0 You\u2019ve recalled a word not in wide usage among us these days: christen. It was used early on of anointing (krismas, Greek) with oil (laying on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":287,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[311,737,708],"yoast_head":"\n