| Infants are included in the Great Commission, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). The command is general. No age group is specified. There is no specific command to baptize old men, young women, teenagers, or children after they have reached some sort of age of discretion or accountability. Because the command is general, we must take it in a general way to include all age groups, unless the Bible itself would limit the command. We have such a scriptural limitation for participation in the Lord's Supper. The Bible tells us that a person must be able to examine himself and recognize the body and blood of Christ if we are to admit him to Holy communion (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). We find no such limitation for baptism.
Those who deny infant baptism usually do so for one or more of the following reasons:
- They do not understand original sin or understand that babies also must be born again to enter the kingdom of God.
- They deny that babies can believe.
- They deny that the Holy Spirit works through baptism to create or sustain faith.
The Bible, however, teaches that babies are sinful from the moment of conception.
- King David writes, "Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5). Since they are born sinful, they must be born again to enter the kingdom of God.
- As Jesus told Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:5-6).
The Bible also teaches that babies can believe.
- Jesus speaks of the "little ones who believe in me" (Mark 9:42).
- He told his disciples, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Mark 10:14-15).The only way anyone can enter the kingdom of God is by faith.
- In Luke's account of Jesus blessing the children, he uses the Greek word that specifically means babies or infants. "People were bringing babies to Jesus. . . Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me'" (Luke 18:15-17).
The Bible also tells us that the Holy Spirit works through baptism to bring a person forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
- On Pentecost, Peter declared, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children..." (Acts 2:38).
- The prophet Ananias told Paul, "Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away" (Acts 22:16).
- St. Peter writes, "This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God" (1 Peter 3:21).
- Paul writes, "He saved us not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
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