What do you say baptism is?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Thom18
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Thom18

Guest
I’ve found myself more wrapped up in covenant theology lately and am looking to see how others on CAF discuss infant baptism with people who don’t believe in it. I’d like to improve upon my approach, if I can, to be more successful in these discussions.
 
what initially opened my eyes on infant baptism were the verses where Paul and Silas answer the jailer - believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Baptists stop here) but the rest of the verse is “and thy house.” This is the covenant theology - because of their belief, they and their house (children) were saved. KJV. NAB: Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved. Acts 17:31.
 
I know Protestants - do like it. Why ?
They say a baby doesn’t know fully about Jesus to accept him !
I think it’s a great tradition,

And let’s face it, kids get their guardian angels early
 
Thom18 said:
…
Click to expand...
St. John Chrysostom lived about 349 A.D. - 704 A.D and wrote this in Baptismal Instruction 3:6:
“You have seen how numerous are the gifts of baptism. Although many men think that the only gift it confers is the remission of sins, we have counted its honors to the number of ten. It is on this account that we baptize even infants, although they are sinless, that they may be given the further gifts of sanctification, justice, filial adoption, and inheritance, that they may be brothers and members of Christ, and become dwelling places of the Spirit.”
Click to expand...
Mentioned in 3:6:
  • 1 remission of sins
  • 2 sanctification
  • 3 justice
  • 4 filial adoption
  • 5 inheritance
  • 6 brothers of Christ
  • 7 members of Christ
  • 8 dwelling places for the Holy Spirit
Two more mentioned in 12:6:
  • 9 purity of soul
  • 10 kingdom of heaven
Ancient Christian Writers Baptismal Instructions, 1962, Paulist Press, p. 57, for 3:16.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top