Infant Baptism: The "Believe and Be Baptized" Verses

[Scholten]

We are looking for Christians who are interested in asserting the validity of the practice of believer's baptism. Our goal is to collect the best pros and cons from both sides and make them available in a paper.

 

To view the paper as it currently stands, please Google "Dialogos Studies" and baptism.

 

The question now in front of us has to deal with the frequent Baptist references to the "believe and be baptized" verses. These include verses such as Mark 16: 16 and Acts 8:36-37.

 

Paedo-baptists maintain there is a reason to delve deeper into this matter. It is not an attempt to simply hold onto human traditions; there is a Scriptural precedent for their understanding of these passages.

 

In Romans 4:11 we read: “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith . . ."

 

For Abraham circumcision was a seal of the righteousness he had by faith. This is an Old Testament parallel to Mark 16:16. This is clearly a case of a sign which was the result of faith and was applied to a believer. Circumcision was for Abraham what baptism is for Baptists.

 

Now the Scriptural precedent for infant baptism can be seen in Genesis 17:10, 12 when God commands Abraham to circumcise his infant offspring. At this point a seal of righteousness by faith is applied to the infant of a believer.

 

What are the ramifications of Romans 4 in Genesis 17? Since circumcision was a seal of faith applied to the infant of a believer, then it is possible that the same could be true of baptism. In other words, it is possible that baptism could legitimately be applied to infant.

 

In order for Baptists to establish their position as Scriptural, they will need to go a step further than simply referring to these "believe and be baptized" verses. Even though at first glance, quoting these verses sound like they prove the Baptist argument, the above material shows these efforts fall short. Since the Reformed position consists in the belief that baptism is the New Testament sign of the covenant just as circumcision was the Old Testament sign, in order for Baptists to prove their position they will need to go a step further and hear out the case for the Reformed position and then prove that baptism is not the New Testament sign of the covenant.

 

One of two things must happen here. Either it must be shown that there is an error in the above thinking or else it must be acknowledged that Romans 4:11 teaches us that the believe and be baptized verses cannot be used as evidence in support of believer's baptism.

 

Please make your contribution to this dialog!

[pamela]

We are looking for Christians who are interested in asserting the validity of the practice of believer's baptism. Our goal is to collect the best pros and cons from both sides and make them available in a paper.

 

 

This is a science minded forum and many of our members are not Christian nor do they hold to religious philosophies. Having studied many religions and cults, I will at least give you some input

 

 

For Abraham circumcision was a seal of the righteousness he had by faith. This is an Old Testament parallel to Mark 16:16. This is clearly a case of a sign which was the result of faith and was applied to a believer. Circumcision was for Abraham what baptism is for Baptists

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Baptism is merely a physical sign here but the verbal statement of one's faith and acceptance of Jesus is the actual NT seal of righteousness

 

What are the ramifications of Romans 4 in Genesis 17? Since circumcision was a seal of faith applied to the infant of a believer, then it is possible that the same could be true of baptism. In other words, it is possible that baptism could legitimately be applied to infant.

Here again, it is the proclamation of faith and not submersion by water that seals faith. Reading through your total post, I would continue the same. What I find interesting is the arguement itself. A house divided by itself cannot stand. As long as this type of dissension occurs in Christianity, it lays the foundation for it's dissolution.