You are grasping at straws. Baptism follows a repentance of sins. Babies cannot sin. Only when they are old enough to understand right from wrong, are they able to repent. You make assumptions that are not scripturally valid regarding whole households. Yes, if the children of those households were old enough to know right from wrong,and repented, then they could be baptized. However, to infer something is misusing the Word of God.
Water baptism is clearly a FIGURE or TYPE of something which already took place in the heart of the believer the moment he/she was saved (1 Pet. 3:21). Water baptism is the ordinance representing the identification of the Christian with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You are “crucified” (standing upright in water), you are “buried” (immersed into the water), and you are “resurrected into life” (raised out of the water). Water baptism then, is a picture of spiritual baptism as defined in Rom. 6:3-5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13. It is the outward testimony of the believer’s inward faith. A sinner is saved the moment he places his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is a visible testimony to that faith.
Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12
So then, water baptism is a picture of what transpired when you placed your faith and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins (Romans 6:3-5). It does not atone for sin. Only the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin (I John 1:7; Colossians 1:14).
Circumsion is not baptism. It was and is a Jewish custom to circumcise males at 8 days. It has nothing to do with baptism. Baptism comes from the Greek word, baptizo: “immersing”
Indeed, study your Bible, and find out what it really says. Baptism DOES NOT save anyone. You must compare 1 Peter 3:21 with all other scriptures relating to repentance and baptism. To build a doctrine on just one scripture is heresy.
Catsrus wrote:
“To build a doctrine on just one scripture is heresy.”
It could be, if that were the case here. But that is the question at issue here, not the conclusion.
What is not a question is this, to play certain verses of Scripture off against others is the precise reason why the visible church stands so fractured today - something that is not the will of God. And also not in question is this, to deny the plain meaning of 1 Peter 3:21 is to call God a liar.
Catsrus also wrote:
“You must compare 1 Peter 3:21 with all other scriptures relating to repentance and baptism.”
Yes, that is part of my point. But you are willing to do what you recommend only in one direction. In other words, the very self-criticism you so vehemently urge on Catholics, of whom I am not one (for the sake of full disclosure), you seem to think not a good idea for yourself. In addition, your “all other scriptures” comprises far, far fewer than you imagine. My friend, to be a Christian theologian is to stand humbly under the correction of the unchanging Word of God and expect to do a lot of repenting. It is also wise to consider against whom you may be arguing ... and by that I don’t mean me.