Infant Baptism

Catholic Exchange ^ | February 2, 2009 | Denise Bossert

[Jaded]

mark

[NYer]

Perhaps Jesus had something in mind? His reference is to a spritual leader being referred to as 'father' which is precisely what Catholics do.

In the Bible the concept of fatherhood is not restricted to just our earthly fathers and God. It is used to refer to people other than biological or legal fathers, and is used as a sign of respect to those with whom we have a special relationship.

For example, Joseph tells his brothers of a special fatherly relationship God had given him with the king of Egypt: "So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 45:8).

Job indicates he played a fatherly role with the less fortunate: "I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know" (Job 29:16). And God himself declares that he will give a fatherly role to Eliakim, the steward of the house of David: "In that day I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah . . . and I will clothe him with [a] robe, and will bind [a] girdle on him, and will commit . . . authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah" (Is. 22:20–21).

This type of fatherhood not only applies to those who are wise counselors (like Joseph) or benefactors (like Job) or both (like Eliakim), it also applies to those who have a fatherly spiritual relationship with one. For example, Elisha cries, "My father, my father!" to Elijah as the latter is carried up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kgs. 2:12). Later, Elisha himself is called a father by the king of Israel (2 Kgs. 6:21).

[NYer]

So Christ never baptized with water as prophesied by John the Baptist. If you read verse 4 of John 3 you will see that Christ was talking of natural birth.

From Scripture we know that the baptismal rite instituted by Christ is a sacramental rite; it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace, a grace that sanctifies the soul and makes it pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:21; 2 Pet. 1:4). We also read in John 3:5 and Mark 16:16 where Christ says "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God," and "he who believes and is baptized will be saved." Then we read in Acts 19:1-6 and 22:16; Romans 6:3-4, 11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and 12:13; and Galatians 3:26-27, where Paul says baptism frees us from sin, makes us children of God, gives us new life, and incorporates us into the Body of Christ. In Titus 3:5, Paul again refers to baptism as the "washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit," for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one "can enter the kingdom of God" (CCC 1215). In Colossians 2:11-12, Paul declares that baptism is "the circumcision of Christ": "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead."

[Taxbilly]

Come on- John 3:5 does not speak to baptism. Mark 16:16 does not say that , "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but *whoever does not believe* will be condemned". And was never in Marks manuscript in the first place.

Acts 19

19:1

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples

19:2

and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

19:3

So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied.

19:4

Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

19:5

On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

19:6

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

If you read your reference You'll see that they had already received water baptism and Paul baptized them with the Holy Spirit.

Hey NYer thanks for your time God bless you.

[Stark_GOP]

Sorry but this verse states the exact opposite.
“not the putting away of the filth of the flesh”

[Stark_GOP]

Why would Paul say, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:”(1 COR 1:17)?
If baptism saves you then why wouldn’t Paul baptise?

Because baptism doesn’t save. It is a public profession of faith.