It’s my understanding that early princes of the church opted for infant baptism as a life long guarantee. Later, though, they came believe that sins committed in a state of grace, i.e. post-baptism, were more serious that sins committed while unbaptized.
To counter this, they moved baptism up until older age so as to have less of a spiritual burden at death. That worked until someone fell of his horse, smacked his head into a rock, and died unbaptized.
The solution was to go back to infant baptizing, but to ‘discover’ a post-death/pre-judgement period where sins committed in a state of grace could be worked off. Thus, purgatory.
The solution was to go back to infant baptizing, but to ‘discover’ a post-death/pre-judgement period where sins committed in a state of grace could be worked off (through the Sacrament of Confession). Thus, purgatory.
Coming from a tradition that practices infant baptism we believe neither. Christ commanded to baptize all nations. In Acts entire households were baptized no mention of an age. We baptize infants in response to our Lords command to baptize all nations. This does not impart immediate or lifelong salvation. The baptized child is brought up in the knowledge of God and makes their decision to be confirmed as an older teen, repeating the vows made for them at baptism This does not save either. The only thing that saves is being born from above through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. All else is done in obedience to our Lord. The individual decision is just that — an individual decision. Flame away.....