“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” - Psalms 127:3
Having a newborn baby is a life-changing experience. That
baby is a living eternal soul. Thus it is an awesome responsibility a mom and dad face in preparing that child for this life and for the one to come. The Bible makes clear that the duty of teaching children belongs to parents; Sunday schools can provide weekly instruction, but parents must seize the teachable moments that
arise throughout life.God has given parents the tremendous responsibility of raising their children in the ways of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). He entrusts parents with the responsibility of establishing a foundation built upon Jesus Christ early in the lives of their children.
The responsibilities God has entrusted to parents include continuously praying for their children, instructing them in the way of the Lord, (“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6), setting a godly example, and disciplining them as the Lord would discipline us. These responsibilities can only be fulfilled in Christ’s strength.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - “Philippians 4:13
DO WE BABTIZE INFANTS?
No, instead we perform a Baby Dedication service. In this service the parents pledge to raise the child in a Christian environment, the child is dedicated to God and prayed for, and the church pledges its support to the child and the parents. When the child is old enough to make its own decision, she or he may decide to accept Jesus as Savior and be baptized. For us it is important that becoming a Christian is a decision each person makes and is old enough to remember.BIBLICAL BAPTISM IS FOR BELIEVERS, NOT INFANTS
Let’s look at just one of the thirteen different stories of baptism in the Bible that are recorded for us.This story is found in Acts 8:29–38 - “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture, which he read, was this: ‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.’ So the eunuch answered Philip and said, ‘I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.”
It was adults who were baptized in the Bible. There is not one single story in all Scripture of one baby being baptized. The person who was baptized was to be a believer first. Of his own free will, he had to receive Jesus Christ as his or her personal savior.
The word baptism means to overwhelm, dip, submerge, immerse. It does not mean to pour or sprinkle.
In this story above “they both went down into the water.” Who? Two adults.
INFANT DEDICATION IMPLIED IN THE SCRIPTURES
“And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.” (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD’), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, ‘A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’” - Luke 2:21-24Jesus was not baptized until He was 30 years old. Hannah, the mother of Samuel dedicated her son to the Lord in this story: “Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, ‘O my Lord! As your soul lives, my Lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition, which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.’ So they worshiped the LORD there.” - 1 Samuel 1:24-28
GOD PARENTS
Sometimes it is custom for parents to choose godparents. Often viewed simply as an honorary title, its value however can be greatly enhanced by defining how this role will be carried out. Many godparents assume responsibility to provide cards and gifts of a Christian nature for the child on birthdays and holidays. Some periodically ask the parents how they are doing in training their child (Proverbs 22:6). Still others have arranged that in the event of the parents; unexpected death, the godparents will take the child into their home (this of course requires legal documentation).As a parent, your devotion to God or lack of it will make a resounding impression on the next generation. May your legacy be a Godly legacy.
Chick here to learn more about:
Water Baptism and Baptism in the Holy Spirit
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost
being will flow rivers of living water.’” – John 7:37-38
