There has been much debate and many words written on the subject of infant baptism. It is also referred to as paedobaptism among some theologians. Among all of the back and forth about this subject is the question, “Does an infant or baby need to be baptized based on what the Scriptures say?”
The Meaning And Purpose Of Baptism
Understanding the meaning and purpose of baptism and the role it plays in an individuals salvation goes a long way in answering the question of whether infant baptism is required or necessary according to the Bible. When you truly know what baptism is, you will also know what it is not.
God’s plan of salvation is for us to repent, be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, and then to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). With repentance being the first step to God, a person has to have an understanding of what repenting is and why it is necessary. The same goes for baptism. When a person tells God they are willing to change and turn away from their sins, getting baptized to have their sins washed away is the next step.
Baptism is for an individual who has come to realize that they are a sinner who is required to repent and be baptized in order to be saved. It is an obvious statement that an infant could and would not have any concept of their need for repentance. Nor would they understand why they would need to be baptized. When you put this together with the fact that infant baptism is nowhere to be found in the Bible, baptizing babies is clearly shown to be something that isn’t biblical.
Infant Baptism And Immersion
Another problem with infant baptism is the fact that for safety reasons a baby cannot be immersed under the water as is required for baptism to be done correctly according to the Bible. Those who practice infant baptism generally go through a ceremony that will include either sprinkling or pouring water over the baby. Sprinkling and pouring water on someone as a way to baptize an individual are both man-made traditions. These are forms of baptism that do not follow the biblical example of immersion. The word baptize itself is translated from the Greek word baptizo, which means to immerse or immersion.
While it is possible for some children at young ages to comprehend repentance and baptism, for infants and babies it is not.
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