I was brought up a Baptist and received Christ at 11 and was then baptised. I then joined the OPC just a few months ago. My conscience guided by scripture kept troubling me and I have told my church that Im leaving to go to a Sovereign Grace Baptistic church! Praise God! Instead of just removing my name off the membership list as I requested, the OPC is going to bring charges against me. Treating me like a heretic instead of allowing me to leave and pursue what I believe. Love one another?
I was brought up a Baptist and was baptized in the Baptist Church when I was 11 years old after receiving Christ. Believing in the sovereignty of God I joined the OPC just a few months ago. I came to my senses and told my church that Im leaving due to my conscience guided by the scriptures. Infant baptism is a tradition! Im now going to a Sovereign Grace Baptistic church. Meanwhile, the OPC is bringing charges against me rather than just taking my name off the membership list as I had requested.
According to John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Interestingly, he doesn't mention baptism. Otherwise John would have said, "whoever believes in him AND WAS BAPTIZED shall not perish but have everlasting life."
If you claim to be a Christian you must follow Jesus' example. Jesus was baptized as an adult. Baptism does NOT "infuse grace." God's grace was done at Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. It was given to the believer AFTER he believed. Baptism is done to show a Christian's OBEDIENCE to God. Baptism doesn't make anyone holy. "There is no one holy like the LORD." 1 Samuel 2:1-3. Yup we are talking about two different ideas. I am talking about the Bible and you are talking about tradition.
You have not presented a very convincing argument. If indeed children were not baptised in the early Church at what date was it decided that they would be baptised. This absence of evidence is crucial. Certainly whole households were baptised and it is understood this included children. Baptism is a infusing of grace into the soul which even children need to grow in the spirit and become holy.They confess sin at the age of reason.You may not believe this so we are talking two differnt ideas.
For example, a priest can baptize you by emptying all the waters of the river Jordan on your head, but if you haven't repented from your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you won't be saved by grace. In contrast, the thief on the cross in Luke 23 wasn't baptized but Jesus promised to bring him to paradise because he repented and acknowledged Jesus as His savior.
But an infant will not have committed sin. A parent will raise a child in the love of Jesus and teach him or her to accept Jesus. Meanwhile the child will grow in wisdom and fear of the Lord and grace will fill his or her soul. Surely this is a much more desirable doctrine and in accord with the mercy of God.
Parents' raising & teaching a child in the love of Jesus is precisely the purpose of a dedication or presentment of the child at Church. Raising a child to fear God and to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior doesn't mean you have to baptize him as an infant. Infant baptism doesn't involve free will and from Genesis, it is clear that God wants us to choose him according to our free will not as dictated by a Church through the sacrament of infant baptism.
I was brought up a Baptist and received Christ at 11 and was then baptised. I then joined the OPC just a few months ago. My conscience guided by scripture kept troubling me and I have told my church that Im leaving to go to a Sovereign Grace Baptistic church! Praise God! Instead of just removing my name off the membership list as I requested, the OPC is going to bring charges against me. Treating me like a heretic instead of allowing me to leave and pursue what I believe. Love one another?
banditomussolini 3 years ago
I was brought up a Baptist and was baptized in the Baptist Church when I was 11 years old after receiving Christ. Believing in the sovereignty of God I joined the OPC just a few months ago. I came to my senses and told my church that Im leaving due to my conscience guided by the scriptures. Infant baptism is a tradition! Im now going to a Sovereign Grace Baptistic church. Meanwhile, the OPC is bringing charges against me rather than just taking my name off the membership list as I had requested.
banditomussolini 3 years ago
According to John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Interestingly, he doesn't mention baptism. Otherwise John would have said, "whoever believes in him AND WAS BAPTIZED shall not perish but have everlasting life."
Jossher700 3 years ago
If you claim to be a Christian you must follow Jesus' example. Jesus was baptized as an adult. Baptism does NOT "infuse grace." God's grace was done at Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. It was given to the believer AFTER he believed. Baptism is done to show a Christian's OBEDIENCE to God. Baptism doesn't make anyone holy. "There is no one holy like the LORD." 1 Samuel 2:1-3. Yup we are talking about two different ideas. I am talking about the Bible and you are talking about tradition.
Jossher700 3 years ago
You have not presented a very convincing argument. If indeed children were not baptised in the early Church at what date was it decided that they would be baptised. This absence of evidence is crucial. Certainly whole households were baptised and it is understood this included children. Baptism is a infusing of grace into the soul which even children need to grow in the spirit and become holy.They confess sin at the age of reason.You may not believe this so we are talking two differnt ideas.
jockkearney 3 years ago
For example, a priest can baptize you by emptying all the waters of the river Jordan on your head, but if you haven't repented from your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you won't be saved by grace. In contrast, the thief on the cross in Luke 23 wasn't baptized but Jesus promised to bring him to paradise because he repented and acknowledged Jesus as His savior.
Jossher700 3 years ago
Abraham wasn't baptized but but "he BELIEVED God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Romans 4:3.
Jossher700 3 years ago
But an infant will not have committed sin. A parent will raise a child in the love of Jesus and teach him or her to accept Jesus. Meanwhile the child will grow in wisdom and fear of the Lord and grace will fill his or her soul. Surely this is a much more desirable doctrine and in accord with the mercy of God.
jockkearney 3 years ago
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.
Jossher700 3 years ago
Parents' raising & teaching a child in the love of Jesus is precisely the purpose of a dedication or presentment of the child at Church. Raising a child to fear God and to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior doesn't mean you have to baptize him as an infant. Infant baptism doesn't involve free will and from Genesis, it is clear that God wants us to choose him according to our free will not as dictated by a Church through the sacrament of infant baptism.
Jossher700 3 years ago