TEN MYTHS ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM
MYTH #1: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT BABIES ARE SAVED BY INFANT BAPTISM.
But the Bible does not say that. First of all, there is no Infant Baptism listed in the Bible. Secondly, the Bible says that one must have a converted heart (and as a result, one will become childlike) to enter heaven. Infant Baptism is not even mentioned in this verse—but a converted (born-again) heart is:
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 18:2, 3)
Jesus’ statement is often taken out of context by advocates of Infant Baptism. Taken in context, Jesus was not talking about infant baptism in those verses. He said we must humble ourselves in order to enter the kingdom of heaven and not worry about who is greatest! AND we must have converted hearts.
This passage was actually introduced by the disciples who wanted to know from Jesus who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
(Matthew 18:1)
Jesus says that humility is an important quality for the one who desires to be important when he enters the kingdom of heaven. He uses the children gathered around Him as an example of humility. This verse does not say that one must be baptized as an infant in order to enter the kingdom of heaven:
Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)
It says that believers (young or old) must become like little children who are harmless and sincere in their mannerisms. It means quite literally what it says.
MYTH #2: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT INFANT BAPTISM IS GENUINE BECAUSE JESUS SAID PEOPLE MUST BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN IF THEY WANT TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
But the Bible does not say that. There is no Infant Baptism in the Bible. Even though this is often used to introduce an Infant Baptism ceremony in a church service, that is taking it out of context. Jesus originated the blessing of little children that is often done by certain churches. It is not referring to a water baptism of infants:
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
(Matthew 19:13-15)
This passage, too, means only what it says. Jesus wanted children taught about Him and brought into the kingdom of heaven at a tender age. It should not be taken out of context nor a “hidden” salvation message attached to it.
MYTH #3: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT INFANT BAPTISM IS A NEW TESTAMENT “TYPE” OF OLD TESTAMENT CIRCUMCISION.
But the Bible does not say that. Infant Baptism churches teach that Infant Baptism is a “thinly-veiled” type of circumcision. This is untrue. First, there is no baptism of infants found in either the Old Testament or the New Testament. And, second, the Bible does not say that Infant Baptism is a “thinly-veiled” form of circumcision.
MYTH #4: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT OLD TESTAMENT “CIRCUMCISION SAVES” AND THAT, THEREFORE, INFANT BAPTISM (AS A “THINLY-VEILED” TYPE OF NEW TESTAMENT CIRCUMCISION) CAN SAVE.
But the Bible does not say that. It says the opposite. It says that if one believes that a ritual is necessary to get to heaven (thus negating the benefits of Christ’s finished work on the cross), that person will lose their salvation:
Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. …you who attempt to be justified by law (ritual); you have fallen from grace. …For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
(Galatians 5:2-6)
AND
…For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
(Romans 4:9-10).
AND
[Therefore, I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]”
(Galatians 2:21 AMP (emphasis added)
MYTH #5: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT INFANT BAPTISM IS SCRIPTURAL BECAUSE “HOUSEHOLD BAPTISMS” ALWAYS INCLUDED BABIES.
But the Bible does not say that. In four out of the five examples given of household salvations in the New Testament, it clearly states that all believed and then were baptized. In the fifth example, it says the same thing but is a little more veiled. If those one who use ‘household baptisms’ as a proof for Infant Baptism had read a few verses further (or cross-referenced), they would see that household baptisms do not prove a baptism of infants:
JAILER’S HOUSEHOLD:
The Bible says that all of the jailer’s household believed “…and then were baptized: Acts 16:16-34 (see vs.34).
CORNELIUS’ HOUSEHOLD:
The Bible says that all of Cornelius’ household who were baptized, first heard the gospel: Acts 10:1-48, (see vs.1,44).
STEPHANUS’ HOUSEHOLD:
Regarding the faith of Stephanas’ household, the Bible says that all believed first. I Corinthians 16:15.
CRISPUS’ HOUSEHOLD:
The Bible says that all in Crispus’ household (as well as many Corinthians) heard the gospel, believed and then were baptized. Acts 18:8.
Now comes the one example given in Scripture that is less clear. The focus of this example is Lydia, seller of purple. However, it is not her household that is being baptized; it is her prayer group. The focus is on Lydia because she is the one who invites Paul and his entourage to stay at her house while they are in Philippi:
And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
(Acts 16:13-15)
We are told certain things in the above verses:
There are no men, children or babies mentioned because the Bible says ‘women’ were having a prayer meeting.
The women in the group were already “devout” believers in God.
Paul preached the gospel.
The women responded by being baptized, (Acts 2:38, 39).
Lydia opened her home to Paul and his entourage. She said, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay,” (vs.15). Paul said “yes.”
MYTH #6: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT BABIES MUST BE BAPTIZED IN CASE THEY DIE PREMATURELY BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY WILL GO INTO “LIMBO,” AN ETERNAL STATE OF DAMNATION BEFORE THE GATES OF HELL:
But the Bible does not say this: There is nothing about a doctrine of “Limbo” in the Bible. It was all made-up. In fact, the truth is quite the opposite. The Bible says that God considers the offspring of believers to be holy. This is the same word used in the Bible for the ‘Holy’ Spirit:
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
(I Corinthians 7:14, emphasis added)
The truth is that there never was such a belief as “Limbo” in the Bible. The Infant Baptism myth about babies dying and going into “Limbo” comes out of heathen mythology not the Bible. The reader of Greek and Roman classics will recognize “limbo” as a work of fiction by Virgil called Aenid.
The main character in this tale is Aeneas. N the story, he visits the netherworld. Outside the gates of hell, he finds babies in torment who have ‘been torn from their mother’s breasts’ in death. According to this fictitious work, they must remain in these hot, sulphurous regions because their parents neglected to have them baptized:
“Before the gates the cries of babes new-born, whom fate had from their tender mothers torn, assault his ears.”
Virgil’s character in the play speaks of ‘wretched babes,’ whom fate has forever sentenced to spend their eternity next to foolish suicides who prematurely threw their life away. Many false ideas were added to Church doctrines by those who had previously been steeped in Greek mythology (the goddess/ Mystery religions).
“The next in place and punishment are they who prodigally threw their souls away, fools, who, repining at their wretched state, and loathing anxious life, suborned their fate.”
For centuries, the Roman Catholic church taught this belief as fact. But on December 5, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI called a new conference to announce that the Catholic church had changed their mind. Babies no longer go into “Limbo” if they died unbaptized.
The Pope said that, all along, “Limbo” was just a “hypothesis.” Because they were getting so many calls from distraught grandparents and mothers about what happens to aborted babies, he said the Roman Catholic church was dropping “Limbo” from Catholic beliefs.
MYTH #7: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT INFANT BAPTISM JOINS AN INFANT TO THE FAMILY OF GOD.
But the Bible doesn’t say this. This statement is not found in the Bible. Infant Baptism is usurping credit for something that is actually done by the Holy Spirit:
For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
(I Corinthians 12:13)
MYTH #8: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT A BABY RECEIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT DURING INFANT BAPTISM:
But the Bible does not say that. First, the Holy Spirit cannot be manipulated by a ritual. Second, there is no Infant Baptism found in the Bible. Third, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is given when we believe by faith. Faith comes from hearing the preaching/ teaching of the Gospel:
O foolish Galatians! …Did you receive the Spirit by the works of e law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? …For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
(Galatians 3:1-11)
MYTH #9: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT ‘BAPTISM SAVES’ BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS ‘HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED’ WILL BE SAVED.
But this is not true: Salvation comes only through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. There are two verses in Scripture that have been used to bring division into the body of Christ regarding baptism over all these centuries. It is sad that this has been allowed to happen. In his book, Love Not the World, Watchman Nee clears this up for the body of Christ. He examines the original meaning of the word, "save," in the original Greek language.
He says that if we go back to the original Greek language and study the word, "save," in a more honest way, we will see there is an entirely unified and cohesive meaning for all verses that refer to a baptism. There is no schism in the body of Christ when the word ‘saves’ is translated in a simple and straightforward manner.
One of the verses that has caused division within the Church is I Peter 3:21. It states that, "There is an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Christ,” (I Pet. 3:21). (Emphasis added.)
The second verse is similar:
He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved; [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
(Mark 16:16 AMP)
The root of both words, (saved, saves), is translated from the Greek word, "sozo,” which means that when one is saved, he experiences God's power to deliver from the effects and bondages of their past sin. At the same time, the Lord heals us; preserves us; helps us to do well; and makes us whole. All of this does not negate eternal life – it is in addition to God’s promise of eternal life!
When these two verses are correctly interpreted by examining the meaning given by the original, inspired authors—the correct meaning that has been lost in some translations due to doctrinal bias—harmony suddenly reigns throughout the Church. It brings understanding to the century’s long controversy over baptism.
Now the hitherto controversial verse in Jesus' Great Commission can be simply understood by those who want to understand. Note the spartan rendering of this same verse in the New King James translation:
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
(Mark 16:16)
The above verse, when interpreted according to the original Greek, means that he who believes by faith and is baptized will be continually being restored and made whole while he lives down here on earth and will eventually go to heaven. On the other hand, the verse continues, the person who does not believe (put his faith in Jesus) will be damned.
Understanding the true and full meaning of the word, “saves,” in these verses brings harmony to the body of Christ and makes the subject of baptism simple. Accepting this harmony and clarity can bring the denominations under one roof.
MYTH #10: IT IS TAUGHT BY SOME THAT BABIES RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN THEY ARE BAPTIZED BECAUSE JOHN THE BAPTIST RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT WHILE STILL IN HIS MOTHER’S WOMB.
But the Bible does not say this. John the Baptist who was anointed to be a prophet while still in the womb. Jesus had not yet shed His blood so this was the old covenant. It does not happen like this under the new covenant where all believers have access to the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, there are many examples of the Holy Spirit coming sovereignly upon prophets, kings and priests for a specific task because the Holy Spirit did not indwell believers under the old covenant. Samson was also unborn when it was told his parents that they would give birth to a prophet. Although the story of John the Baptist was written in the New Testament, he was still a member of the old covenant because Jesus’ blood had not yet been shed which would ratify the new covenant.
But once Jesus’ blood had been shed and He was raised from the dead, the new covenant was in place. Unlike in the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit is available to all members of the body of Christ who have had the born-again experience that Jesus commanded, (Jn.3:3,7; Gal.3:1-9):
Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
(John 3:3)
Do not marvel that I [Jesus] said to you, “You must be born again.” (John 3:7)
and
This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? … Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law [rituals], or by the hearing of faith?...but that no one is justified by the law [rituals] in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith.
(Galatians 3:2-11)
So from these verses one can see that the Holy Spirit is received as a result of one’s faith and that He does not come sovereignly on individuals if they have not had a born-again experience.
Believe. Be baptized. Be blessed.
Note: You can print this page to save your own
copy of the "Ten Myths of Infant Baptism". I have placed "The Ten Myths" under Creative Commons license because I belive that these
truths need to be spread.