t is sometimes argued that, surely, there were infants in at least some of the whole households that were baptized in the book of Acts. But not only is there no conclusive evidence in the book of Acts that any infants were ever baptized, the evidence is decidedly against that conclusion. Let us consider the most popular supposed cases of infant baptism.

The household of Cornelius

eter asked, ”Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:47-48).

id Peter here command infants to be baptized? Those whom he commanded to be baptized had received the Holy Spirit as the apostles had. Who had received the Holy Spirit as the apostles had? It was those who were "heard [to] speak with tongues, and magnify God" (verse 46). Surely, this could not have included infants but it included "all them which heard the word" (verse 44). Since Peter had not preached to infants, he did not command infants to be baptized.

The household of Lydia

uke reports, ”We went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us” (Acts 16:13-15).

ho was baptized here? "Lydia and her household" were baptized. We have seen [in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16], that the apostles were to baptize those whom they had taught or those to whom they had preached the gospel. Whom had they taught on this occasion? They had taught "the women which resorted thither." Whom, then, did they baptize? They baptized "the women which resorted thither," whom they had taught. Thus, Lydia's household was composed entirely of women who had been taught the gospel.

The Philippian jailer's household

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

otice: Paul and Silas preached "to all that were in his house" before baptizing them. Thus, "all that were in his house" were old enough to hear and understand the preaching. Inasmuch as the jailor "rejoiced, believing in God with all his house," everyone in his house was both old enough to believe and did believe. Thus, all those baptized were believers.

Didn’t Jesus Say, “Forbid Them Not”?

t is true that Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14), but these little children were not coming to Jesus for baptism. They were being brought to him "that he should put his hands on them, and pray" (verse 13). There is no record of Jesus saying, "Suffer infants, and forbid them not, to be baptized." An infant cannot even request baptism. They are brought to the "baptismal font" with no knowledge or understanding of what is going on.

TO SUM UP:

. Most modern cases of "infant baptism" do not involve baptizing infants, at all, because baptism is a burial.

. The terms of the Great Commission imply that only those who can be taught to hear and believe the gospel need to be baptized.

. The first invitation offered in the book of Acts makes it clear that only those who need to repent - so as to obtain the remission of sins - need to be baptized.

. An examination of the three most popular cases of "household baptism" reveals that all those baptized were first taught the gospel.

. The statement of Jesus to "forbid them not" does not refer to baptizing infants.

n view of the foregoing, what purpose would be served by sprinkling or pouring water upon a newborn infant? Why not be the best example you can be, teach your children about Jesus as they grow, and encourage them to obey the gospel when they become aware of their own guilt and spiritual responsibility before God? &

“COME AND YOU SHALL SEE"

By Hollis Creel

n the first chapter of the Gospel of John two of the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus a question, "Master, where abidest thou?" Jesus responded to their question by saying, "Come and ye shall see” (John 1:39). Jesus could have told them but He obviously thought things would be better served if they saw first hand.

erhaps you have heard many different things about this church. Some of the things may be true and some of them may be false. This writer could tell you a great number of good things about this church, but then you would have only his word for it. If you have heard any unfavorable things against it you still have only the word of him or her who told you.

o, the only sure way, and the only fair way to know the truth about this congregation is, "Come and ye shall see."

ou will find a friendly group of Christians who are dedicated to the Lord in work and worship. You will find a great spiritual emphasis is placed upon God's only revelation to man to regulate his worship and service to God. This revelation is the Bible. You will find no Discipline, Creed, Manual or any other rule of men imposed upon you. The Word of the Lord is their only guide.

f you have doubts about what we are or do, don't take another's word for it. In the words of Christ, "Come and ye shall see." & [Via Words of Life]