This [is] why I believe when a Church baptizes,] is telling [us] about what they believe about ‘the fall.’ Infant Baptism Churches seem to understand baptism as “fixing” mankind’s separation from God. While the reformation -Age of reason- Churches seem to understand baptism as fixing personal sin which separates them from God; therefore ‘the fall’ has little to no meaning for them.
Some truths mixed with errors. First of all, I can’t speak for other churches. They must speak for themselves. Martin Luther, who started the Reformation, accepted infant baptism; so we are not exactly following Protestantism to reject it. Secondly, you are right in saying that we don’t believe that baptism “fixes what went wrong at the Fall”. What went wrong at the Fall is automatically fixed by the Atonement. Just as the Fall (and its consequences) did not come about as a result of any voluntary action or decision on our part; God also does not expect us to do anything to fix it. It is automatically taken care of by the Atonement. Baptism only fixes what we put wrong ourselves—hence it is not applicable to infants. The Bible makes it clear that baptism is
unto repentance for the remission of sins:
Matthew 3:
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits
meet for repentance:
Mark 1:
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan,
confessing their sins.
Luke 3:
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits
worthy of repentance, . . .
Acts 2:
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 13:
24 When John had first preached before his coming the
baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 22:
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Common sense would tell you that infants cannot repent, therefore baptism is meaningless for them. There is no instance of baptism being given to infants in the Bible. Baptism is only given to adults, after faith and repentance, and for the remission of sins. None of these apply to infants, therefore there are no infant baptisms.
These are all clear signs of the Apostasy of course. When the church apostatizes, then all kinds of things start going wrong with it, both in its doctrines as well as in its practices.
zerinus
