WHEN SHOULD MY BABY BE BAPTIZED?

 The apostle Peter stated, when asked what shall we do by some who were lost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38). Notice the purpose of baptism "For the remission of sins", that is for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, for one who is not a Christian to receive the forgiveness of sins, baptism is a must.

 As we search the scriptures, we can not find a single command or example of infants being baptized. There are three prerequisites to baptism that an infant cannot do. He cannot believe (Mark 16:15-16), he cannot repent of sins (Acts 2:38), he cannot confess Christ with the mouth (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:10). These points prove that baptism is not necessary for infants. Is it not strange that the Bible does not mention, or command, or illustrate a practice so widely believed and practiced in religion? The silence of the scriptures on the point of infant baptism speaks loudly. Infants evidently are not born in sin, or they would be subjects for the New Testament baptism.

 Sin is personally committed. The very fact that the judgement day will be based upon the deeds each person has done disproves the theory that we inherit someone else's sin. Notice what Paul said,"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Cor. 5:10). “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). No one will answer for another's sin, but only for his own. Again God's word says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son..." (Ezekiel 18:20).

 Therefore, your baby is in a saved relationship with God, and does not need to be baptized until he has reached the age of accountability. Yet it is sad that many today are being deceived, believing that they are going to heaven because they were sprinkled as infants. Please search the scriptures for they will judge us in the last day. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). No man has the right or authority to change God's word. The Lord would have all to be saved (II Pet. 3:9). But if we are saved it will be on God's terms and not on man's. ---Charles E. Burch