Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 1/11/2005

Question
HI,
I am a life long Christian who was Baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church, then confirmed at 13 after two years of intense study of the Bible.  I now go to Calvary Chapel Huntington Beach, the believe in adult Baptism only.  A couple of years ago they were pushing me to get Basptized as an adult.  I said no, as a result of their request I delved into a study of Baptism for several months.  I determined and my pastors agreede that the Bible does not say one way or the other that infant Baptism is wrong.  I also remember reading somewhere that the Bible said you are to only be Baptized once.  If you fall from grace you pull yourself up with your bootstrings.  I was wondering if you could help me in this area buy giving me Biblical scriptures that clarify this topic more.  For example scriptures that show how often you shoud be Baptized would be greatly appreciated.
God Bless,
Don Crosby Jr.


Answer
Hi Donald,

Thanks for this great question.  Let us consider a few things.

1.  The Biblical pre-requsite for Baptism is personal belief.

Acts 2:41
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

First they received the Word...THEN they were baptized.

Acts 8:36-37
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Phillip was witnessing to the Ethiopian Eunuch.  What hinders his baptism?  WHat was required for him to be baptized?  He had to believe the message of salvation first...then be baptized.

Now let us consider the story of the Jailer.  Many use this to infer infant baptism...but again what was his question to the Apostle Paul? He asked what one does to be saved.

Acts 16:30-31
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

So....once he BELIEVED... then he and all those in his house WHO BELIEVED... were baptized, not as a means of salvation, but as a symbol of identification with the message of salvation.

Acts 16:32-34
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  The Biblical symbolism of Baptism requires submersion.

Romans 6:3-4
3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

You identify with Christs death - as you stand in the water
You identify with Christ's burial - as you go under the water
You identify with Christ's ressurection - as you come up out of the watter.


Based upon the above truths, I find it to be Biblically inconsistant to believe in infant Baptism.  I have no problem if a child is old enough to believe in Jesus as Savior....then let him or her get baptized...but the pre-requisite of belief is not met with an infant....and usually they are not really baptized...but rather sprinkled...which is not what the greek word means.  Baptizo means dip or immerse...it never means sprinkle or pour.

I hope that I have helped you in this matter.

In Christ,
Pastor Don