Child Baptism

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Child Baptism

• This is not about figuring out a specific age. Questions we need to answer: 
  • Is there is authority in scripture for baptizing a child?  
  • “Is there any need for a child to be baptized? 
  • “Does a child have the ability and maturity to understand what is the true meaning of baptism? 

• Why are the majority of children who grow up on the pew worried about their “sins” and desiring to be baptized?

• Let’ begin with the “simple” texts and principles:
  • Acts 8:12 Men and women were baptized after believing “the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.
    ” If you were asked to explain the “good news (gospel) of the kingdom” and the “name” of Jesus, how would you answer?

• • Acts 8:35 Before the eunuch was baptized, Philip “preached Jesus to him.” I think we would all admit there is a tendency, especially in youth, to just “believe in baptism.” (And yes, this is happened entirely too much with adults.) 

• • Since baptism is “for the forgiveness of sins,” a primary question would be, “Is a child accountable for their “sins?” Or, “Can we even say that God even calls the faults of children “sin?” 
    • Romans 7:5-9
    • Deuteronomy 1:39

• Question: What was expected of people in the first century to believe before they were baptized?
  • We must be careful to not expect a mature knowledge of scripture? Cf. Acts 2:38-39.

• • Is there a difference between knowing facts and knowing Jesus? Cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34

• • Even simpler question: What does it take to have faith?
    • It takes evidence (Romans 10:17)
    • Belief in the resurrection
    • How does the death and resurrection of Jesus affect one’s understanding of baptism? (Romans 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:21
  • Discipleship principles that need to be understood?
    • John 3:5
    • Luke 14:26-33