I have read my Bible carefully, and I still do not find any case where babies were ever baptized. It does not contain one command to any preacher to baptize infants. Are we to base our faith (and practice) on what the Bible does NOT say, or what it says? I read that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17); it comes in no other way!
Many denominations support the doctrine of infant baptism; I quote from the Grace Lutheran church of Versailles, Missouri: “As sinners, infants need the great gifts of forgiveness and eternal life that baptism gives.”
Sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4); so sin is a violation of law. It is something one does (Ezekiel 18:20, 30). So what does the infant do to be so sinful? What sin does an infant commit by being conceived? Where does the Bible say that babies are sinners? Do you believe that babies who die at birth are eternally lost? Friends, the Bible teaches that “we are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:28); that God is “the Father of spirits” (Hebrews 12:9); and He “formeth the spirit of man within him” (Zechariah 12:1). The baby’s spirit comes from God, and if the baby is by nature a “sinner,” then God would be to blame; true or false? I want to say that God gives us our spirits (Ecclesiastes 12:7). God would NOT bring forth an unclean soul (Matthew 7:18a; Ezekiel 28:15). The wicked go astray (Psalms 58:3). Solomon said, “Behold, this only I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions” (Ecclesiastes 7:29).
The purity of little children is revealed in Matthew 18:3. And again Jesus said, “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no enter therein” (Luke 18:15-17). Infants do not inherit the sins of Adam or their parents (Ezekiel 18:20); they have no knowledge of good and evil (Deuteronomy 1:39). Through growth children learn to choose between good and evil (Isaiah 7:15-16).
One can locate many examples for the baptism of accountable persons in the scriptures. Please give us book, chapter and verse for the authority of infant baptism. The denominational world teaches that infant baptism is a scriptural practice, so where does God command every infant to be baptized? What verse?
Let's ask a couple of questions; those who believe in infant baptism teach that since the fall of Adam, all infants born are born in sin. They use Romans 5:19 as proof, “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners…” They use this passage as proof that man is indeed born a sinner. We need to keep on reading, “Even so through the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Now, here are the questions: If by way of Adam’s transgression all men inherit a sinful nature at conception (taught by those who believe in infant baptism), then why do not all inherit the righteousness of Christ who died to counter such effects? Is Adam’s transgression of greater power than that of Christ’s act of obedience in dying on the cross?
Let me ask another question: Who may be baptized? The Bible gives us the answer! One must be taught (Matthew 28:19); must believe (Mark 16:16); must be a penitent person (Acts 2:38); and a person who has confessed Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37). So, what do these passages teach us? It teaches us that to be a proper subject for water baptism, a sinner must be taught. Teaching must precede baptism. Faith must precede baptism. One must believe before he/she is ready to be baptized. Repentance must precede baptism. And confessing faith precedes baptism. Notice the order, one must be taught, must believe, must repent and confess Jesus to be the Son of God. Now I want you to notice, those who baptize infants have completely reversed God’s divine will, and are teaching, “Baptize them now and let them be taught, believe, repent and confess when they grow up.” WRONG! There is no way in the world for man to baptize infants without reversing God’s divine will and corrupting the word of God.
I had this discussion with this Lutheran “preacher” several years ago; he said, “The simple fact that infants are obviously part of 'all nations,' and are therefore included in Jesus’ command to baptize all nations" (Matthew 28:19). If this be true (and it’s not), then it proves that atheists may be baptized, for they too are a part of the “nations.”
He also used Psalms 51:5 as proof that infants are born sinners. The text says, “In sin did my mother conceive me.” It does not say “with sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalms 51:5 does not teach that David was born full of sin; read carefully (Psalms 22:9-10; 139:13-16).
Infant baptism is foreign to the word of God. History will show that it became a common practice not until the 5th century – way too late for the apostolic sanction. So, it must be rejected because it is not the will of God, but is a man made invention.