During a recent online debate that I had with a Roman Catholic GP, the subject of infant baptism came up. This is an edited and revised copy of my e-mail to him, listing 14 errors with his churches doctrine:
1. Acts 2:38 does not apply to you or me or anybody else living today. a) It was a Jewish feast day for Jews, with no Gentiles present. That rules you and me out. b) How can an infant repent or do “penance” to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? c) You were never baptised by any proper Church in the name of Jesus Christ. Even your Church correctly baptises converts, using Matt. 28:19: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore this verse is not relevant to you or me when dealing with infant baptism or any body else for that matter.
2. 1 Pet. 3:21 is often cited by those who hold to “baptismal regeneration” but look a little closer at the passage, for it says: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (NOT THE PUTTING AWAY OF THE FILTH OF THE FLESH, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Therefore water baptism not only can’t save you, but it is only ever and outward work signifying an inward act.
3. Abraham, according to the Apostle Paul, is a picture of how every believer is made righteous with God. The following three points explain how this works: a) He was called by God in Gen. 12 (New Testament equivalent, John 12:32.) b) He was justified for his faith, Gen. 15 (New Testament equivalent, John 1:12.) b) He was then circumcised, Gen. 17 (New Testament equivalent, “if” we accept baptism replaces circumcision, which I don’t, Acts 8:36,38.)
i) So man is called.
ii) He is justified.
iii) Then he is baptised.
That is the correct order that God works in.
3. Irenaeus never stated that the Lord or Apostles baptised children or infants.
4. Tertullian states only adults are to be baptised (”De. Baptismo” - Baptist Magazine, Vol. V, pg. 210.)
5. Clement of Rome taught nobody should be baptised without instruction and examination (”Mornings,” History of the Baptists, pg. 2.)
6. Even the spurious epistle of Barnabus taught one is to put their faith in the cross before baptism (Wake, “Catholic Epistles and Barnabus,” No. 11, pg. 292.)
7. Justin Martyr never taught infants should be baptised in any of his writings.
8. Alexandra (254AD) did not baptise until a profession of faith was made (Danver, “History of the Baptists,” pg. 63.)
9. Hilary of Poitiers (360), Anthanasius (360) Jerome of Dalmatia 378) and Basil of Caesarea (379) all taught only those one with a personal faith in Christ should be baptised. This was also affirmed by Chrysostom
(400), Gregory of Nazianzen (386) and Ambrose of Milan 390) (G. H Orchard, “Concise History of the Baptists,” pgs. 38-44.)
10. Origen was the author of infant baptism, although he never practised this himself, (Philip Schaff, “History of the Christian Church.”)
11. Augustine later taught this as Catholic doctrine, with threats of anathemas and death to those that refused to carry out this non-biblical practice (G.H. Orchard, pg. 94, 95.)
12. Baptisms of ten and eleven year old boys commenced at Alexandria, in around 220AD.
13. Water baptism was always by total immersion according to Church historians Schaff, Liddon, Dean Goulburn and the Greek Orthodox Church. Even Calvin admitted that baptism was by immersion (”Institutes,” IV, Chap. 15, Sec. 19.)
14. Church Historians such as Mosheim, Robinson, Armitage, Vedder, Newman each state that the early Church, up till 200AD, only baptised adult believers (Johann Lorenz von Mosheim, “Institutes of Ecclesiastical History,” 1854.)
Duration : 0:10:18
If works save us, …
If works save us, Christ died in vain.
Acts 2:38 says …
Acts 2:38 says repent and be baptized FOR the remission of sins. The greek work “eis” means “unto.” 1 Peter 3:21 says baptism SAVES you. Cornelius and his household were baptized in WATER as commanded by Peter (Acts 10:47-48). Galatians 3:27 says we are baptized INTO Christ.
Jesus gave the …
Jesus gave the command in Matthew 28:19. “Baptizing in the name” (singular) of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” He did not command them to baptize in the name. Name here is used in the singular and is the object of the commission. It is not the titles, “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Ghost,” which show relationship.Why did he command to be baptized in the name? “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we mustbesaved
It is not baptism …
It is not baptism that saves us; however, Jesus said, “He who has believe and has been baptized shall be saved.” Everything we do, including believing, repentance and baptism, is obedience. We must obey God that He would save us. Obeying God is not trying to “earn” our salvation. Peter said, “…baptism now saves you…” (1 Peter 3:21) However, Peter would also say that it was “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Baptism has no significance apart from Christ’s resurrection.
You cannot be ” …
You cannot be “buried with Christ by baptism into death” unless you are “immersed.” Sprinkling won’t bury you; neither will pouring. Eternally unwise to try to change the pattern that God established.
Notice that AFTER …
Notice that AFTER Paul had fasted and prayed for 3 days, Ananias told him to “arise, be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16) How can you say Paul was baptized 3 days after he was saved? He still had his sins that needed to be “washed away.” Paul would later remind the Christians in Rome that they had been “baptized into Christ” and “raised to walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:3-4) “Newness of life” and “born again” (John 3:3) mean the same thing.
Read the story of …
Read the story of Naaman the leper. (2 Kings 5:1-14) Did Naaman think there was power in the stinky little Jordan River to heal him? Absolutely not, but had Naaman not done as the prophet directed, he would have walked away with his leprosy intact. Naaman was not trying to “earn” clean skin; he was simply obeying. It is not baptism, in and of itself, that saves us. Christ saves us when we trust and obey Him. Beware of false teachers such as this who know just enough to be dangerous.
Wouldn’t it be …
Wouldn’t it be silly if a doctor attempted to deliver a baby before the woman had even conceived? In the same way, Paul said, “…for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” (1 Cor. 4:15) How did Paul become their father? “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” (! Cor. 3:6-7) Everything in its time. The people first had to hear the gospel (impregnating).
False accusation: …
False accusation: It is not the water that saves anyone, so be careful playing that card. We are saved by the blood of Christ. Christ requires us to obey Him and then He will save us. For example, we are required to repent of our sins. Yes? Are we trying to “earn” salvation by repenting? Or are we simply obeying God? Water baptism is not trying to “earn” salvation; it is simply obeying God. In Mark 16:16, there are two individuals mentioned - one will be saved and one will be lost.
Please watch my …
Please watch my video “Acts 2:38 correct understanding” for a firm grasp on this scripture.
“How do you know he …
“How do you know he wasn’t baptized prior to the cross?”
On the contrary, on what grounds do you ume that he WAS water baptized on the cross? The Scripture says nothing about that and the thought of the criminal being taken down from the cross and immersed is absurd.
So.. the thief was …
So.. the thief was baptised before he trusted in Christ? All that would do would make him a wet sinner…
I agree with much …
I agree with much that was said in regards to baptism. It is conforting to know that Christians everywhere are beginning to see these heresies. I have issues in regards to the receiving of the Holy Spirit, but thats ok. Thankyou for sharing!
It’s amazing how …
It’s amazing how people ignore the biblical PURPOSE of Holy Spirit baptism.
Holy Spirit Baptism confirmed the revelation of God which was being revealed in the 1st Century.
No where in the New Testament is the Holy Spirit Baptism used for conversion.
How do you know he …
How do you know he wasn’t baptized prior to the cross?
How presumptuous of you…
Four words: Thief …
Four words: Thief on the cross.
Hey ex-Catholics …
Hey ex-Catholics number one on your list of heresies should be Martin Luther’s Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide and all the chaos and anarchy it created. Still can’t belive how God waited 16 centuries before giving us our instrument of salvation. Or was it in the first 16 centuries in the RCC, the living word of God.
Know that Paul said …
Know that Paul said that this common used scripture was his prayer for Israel. He was saying if they only believed like he did they would confess with there tongues. The thief on the cross was saved under the last dispensation grace did not start until the day of Pentecost. Peter said on that day .Repent everyone of you and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins( REMOVAL) and ye shall recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Don’t analyze and …
Don’t analyze and doubt the word just do it. This man himself is heresies. Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth God. EVERY WORD!!!!!!! This mans learning is in vain and his teachings defiles every word of the mouth of God.
Your “refutation” …
Your “refutation” was just some words mumbling through. You simply didn’t deal with the Bible passages. What part of “baptism now SAVES you” don’t you understand? Or, “be baptized for the remission of sins?” Or as was told to Saul (Paul) “be baptized and WASH AWAY your sins…”??? Why did ALL — every single one of them — ALL of the early Christians teach that (water) baptism saves?
acts 2:38
And …
acts 2:38
And Peter said to them,(A) “Repent and(B) be baptized every one of you(C) in the name of Jesus Christ(D) for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive(E) the gift of the Holy Spirit.
FATHER, SON , AND HOLY SPIRIT ARE NOT NAMES,
THEY ARE TITLES. .
SO WE MUST BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUSCHRIST
to all these people …
to all these people that reject the counsel of God
Act 2:41 Then they THAT GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD WERE BAPTIZED: and THE SAME DAY there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
People are not baptized because they can’t GLADLY receive the word of God.
THE SAME DAY no long exegesis or thesis on baptism
three thousand baptized souls saved,
Paul preached baptism to Lydia and the Philippian Jailer and were obedient Acts 16
Only heretic is you
ExCatholic,
You …
ExCatholic,
You sound English why do u insist on following an American version of a Heritical man made faith(protestansy)? All the early christians were water baptised, Jesus himself insisted on being water baptised although John the baptist felt unworthy to baptise him. Jesus washed his disciples feet with water eluding to repentance that follows the water baptism, and Paul himself who protestants obey more than Christ even baptised the roman jailer’s family immediatly after they converted.
God bless the true …
God bless the true catholic faith!
Hmmm…yuck. Too …
Hmmm…yuck. Too bad.
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