[Forest Keeper]

Basically, infant baptism most closely aligns with a belief in the absolute predestination of God's creation and His elect. Nothing is required of men to be saved, except God's sovereign decree. No oath, no pledge, no sprinkling of holy water, no sign of the cross, no payment rendered, no piety, no persuasion, no effort on man's part in the slightest. We are either numbered among the elect, or we're not.

Thanks very much, Dr. E.! I was hoping for an answer like this. Since I have spent my entire practicing Christian life as a Baptist, I never knew why (or even if) others of like minds practiced infant baptism. I have read through some of the answers in your most excellent link, and it will take me some time to really get deeply into it. I think it could easily support its own thread! :)

I hope no one is miffed at me for stirring up a hornets nest. :) I figured that since it wasn't salvational that it might be OK to mention. I was obviously under the wrong impression on the topic itself, so I learned something. Thanks again.

[Agrarian]

FK, what the Reformed doctrine holds is that when Ananias told St. Paul to "be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord...." -- well, he really didn't mean it literally that way. :-)

[jo kus]

I figured that since it wasn't salvational that it might be OK to mention.

Baptism is for the remission of sins - so says the Scripture. HOW IS IT NOT salvational?

I have let this go on several occasions, but this is important. Without sins being forgiven, how do Protestants of your ilk consider yourselves as being "saved"? And at what point DO you become saved??? "Lord, Lord" - that's it? "Be gone, I never knew you..." Frightful!

Regards

[annalex]

Also see in the Summa:

Whether children should be baptized?

Now children contract original sin from the sin of Adam; which is made clear by the fact that they are under the ban of death, which "passed upon all" on account of the sin of the first man, as the Apostle says in the same passage (Romans 5:12). Much more, therefore, can children receive grace through Christ, so as to reign in eternal life. But our Lord Himself said (John 3:5): "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Consequently it became necessary to baptize children, that, as in birth they incurred damnation through Adam so in a second birth they might obtain salvation through Christ.

[...]

The spiritual regeneration effected by Baptism is somewhat like carnal birth, in this respect, that as the child while in the mother's womb receives nourishment not independently, but through the nourishment of its mother, so also children before the use of reason, being as it were in the womb of their mother the Church, receive salvation not by their own act, but by the act of the Church.