We now turn our attention to another perversion of
God's word and that is infants are born sinners and must be baptized
in order to be saved. This contradicts God's word. In Ezekiel
18:20 we read, "The soul who
sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor
shall the father bear the guilt of the son." Here God is
telling us that children do not inherit sin from their parents, grandparents,
or any of their forefathers, all the way back to Adam. It says "The
son shall not bear the guilt of the Father." Each person
is responsible for his own sins. According to this verse, it is "The
soul who sins shall die." Does it say that the soul that
inherits sin, it shall die? No. It says the soul who sins.
What is sin? I John 3:4 says, "Whoever
commits sin also commits lawlessness: and sin is lawlessness."
We do not inherit sin; we commit sin; and we commit sin when we commit
lawlessness. An infant has not broken any law of God and thus has not
committed any sin.
An infant is completely innocent. Just as God says in Ezekiel
28:15, "You were perfect in
your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in
you." So we see that an infant is born perfect and without
sin until he becomes of an accountable age and then begins to sin.
James 4:17 says, "Therefore
to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin."
This is the sin of omission. An infant does not know to do good and
thus cannot sin. There are only two ways that man sins: by committing
sin or we sin by omission. An infant cannot sin in either way and has
no sin.
A little child is innocent and pure, as our Lord says in Matthew
18:3, "Unless you are converted
and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom
of heaven." Little children are not lost, but are safe until
they become accountable.
One error leads to another. Men say that since infants have inherited
the sin of Adam, that they must be baptized or they will be lost. This
is also false. Infants are not suitable candidates for baptism, since
they cannot believe. Our Lord says in Mark
16:16, "He who believes and
is baptized will be saved." Here one of the prerequisites
of being saved is to believe, which is impossible for an infant to do.
Also in Acts 8:36-37 the question
was asked, "See here is water; what
hinders me from being baptized?" And the answer is given
in the next verse: "And Philip said,
if you believe with all your heart you may." Here we see
the condition that must be met before a person can be baptized is that
he must believe with all his heart. Can an infant do this? No.
In Acts 2:38 (KJV) the apostle Peter
told a group of people, who had asked what they should do, to "Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of your sins." What is the requirement found here
that we must do before we can be baptized? Repent. Can an infant repent?
It would be absurd to think that an infant could believe or repent,
but it is just as absurd to think that an innocent infant, who is without
sin, must be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, which he does not
have.
Satan has many ways in fooling people into being lost. The lie that
Satan tells here to people who have become accountable is that since
you were baptized as an infant, you do not need to be baptized for the
remission of your sins now that you have become accountable and responsible.
Satan knows that infant baptism accomplishes nothing. He also knows,
that when people who were baptized as an infant become accountable,
that at that time they are lost. So who do you want to follow: God,
or men who are being led by Satan? Every person will follow one or the
other. Again we have to make the choice as to who we follow.
1) (Ezekiel 18:20) The son shall Bear (inherit) the iniquity (sin) of his father. Not bear (inherit) the iniquity (sin) of his father. Not be responsible for his own sin.
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2) Children inherit their father's sins.
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3) (1 John 3:4) What is sin? Lawlessness. Doing what others don't like. There is no such thing as sin.
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4) Infant children cannot commit lawlessness and cannot sin.
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5) (Ezekiel 28:15) The day we were created or born We were born in sin. We were perfect until iniquity (sin) was found in us. We were accountable for our parent's sin.
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6) We do not become sinners until we become accountable.
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7) (James 4:17) If we know to do good and don't do it It is not sin. It is all right. It is sin.
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8) Infant children know to do good and thus sin.
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9) (Mark 16:16) Those who need to be saved must be baptized With their parents making this decision. But do not have to believe. But must first believe.
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10) An infant does believe in Christ and should be baptized.
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11) (Acts 8:36-37) When one is baptized He must believe with all of his heart. He can be an unbeliever. He does not have to be able to believe with all his heart,
such as an infant.
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12) Before one is a subject for baptism, he must believe with all his
heart.
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13) (Acts 2:38) Those who are to be baptized for the remission
of their sins If they are infants they can have their parents repent
for them. Do not have to repent. Must also repent.
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14) Babies are capable of repenting of their sins.