A brief refutation of Baptist theology and a defense of infant baptism.

The first question needed to be addressed is what is Baptism?
The best brief description of baptism is found in the Westminster Confession of Faith, which states,
1. Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church; but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.

2. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.
3. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person.
4. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized.
5. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it; or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.
6. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time.

7. The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered unto any person.

Key references are, Matt. 28:19, 1 Cor. 12:13, Rom. 4:11, Col. 2:11, Gal. 3:27, Rom. 6:5, Tit. 3:5, Mark 1:4, Rom. 6:3-4, Heb. 9:10, John 3:5, Eph. 5:25, Acts 2:38-41
Read the above verses over before attempting to debate anything. The biggest problem with Baptism (among Baptists and Presbyterians) is that most people don’t even know what Baptism is, nor what it signifies, for if Baptists knew what Baptism actually was they would not continue to lie against the truth and deny it to their infants.
Therefore when the question is posed, “Can infants have faith?” We must emphatically say yes, for faith is inseparable with the promise of salvation. Jesus said to Nicodemus,
“You must be born again or you cannot see the kingdom of God.” And Jesus also says, “Of such is the kingdom of God.” referring to children. Now to clear things up for the unlearned, and slow of heart, although I shouldn’t even have to explain this, scripture being abundantly clear, and the scripture witnessing against the frailty of your faith,
when Jesus says to the disciples, “of such is the kingdom of heaven”, He is speaking literally of children, which is proved by the context, “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” (Matt. 19:13-15)
Only a great fool, or someone hardened in their idolatrous practices would look at this passage and say that Jesus was not speaking of literal children, for it was literal children that were brought to Him, and the disciples, much like the Baptists rebuked them. But Jesus in great disapproval of their false idea that children are restricted from access to Him, says to them, “Let them come to me, and do not forbid them. For of such is the kingdom of heaven.” First He gives a divine command, and then a reason annexed to it.
The command is, “Do not forbid these children from having faith in Me, and do not forbid them in your mind from having faith. For even children are partakers of the kingdom of God.” And how are children partakers of the kingdom of God apart from the work of the Spirit, and the righteousness by faith? It is certainly impossible to be forgiven of sins without being made partakers of Christ. Therefore the apostle says, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:27)
He does not say, “As many of you as have put on Christ were baptized.” This is the Baptist delusion. The doctrine of the method of Grace is yet more Biblical evidence of the regeneration of infants, and their common faith with adults. For who of any true Christian profession would say that faith precedes regeneration? How can one have faith without it being given to him from above? In the application of salvation to the elect soul, God is always known to act first. Before one can have faith, it must be implanted in them by the powerful operation of the Spirit, which application of grace was truly planned and decreed before they had faith, before they were born, before the foundation of the world. Baptist theology therefore which demands a profession before Baptism in all cases (although it is not to be administered to adults before they make a credible profession), is more similar to the Arminian method of salvation. But we know that since God works first, He has both power, and mercy enough to effectually regenerate an infant. For how can one be so cruel and perverse of heart to deny that infants can go to heaven? Is there an age restriction for heaven? No, but assuredly the prophet Isaiah says, ““No more shall an infant from there live but a few days,
Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days;
For the child shall die one hundred years old,” (Isaiah 65:20)
Matthew Henry comments,
“If an infant end its days quickly, yet it shall not be reckoned to die untimely; for the shorter its life is the longer will its rest be. Though death reign over those that have not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, yet they, dying in the arms of Christ, the second Adam, and belonging to his kingdom, are not to be called infants of days, but even the child shall be reckoned to die a hundred years old, for he shall rise again at full age, shall rise to eternal life.”
It is also spoken of the prophet Jeremiah that he was sanctified before he was born.
God’s almighty, and infinite power, love and mercy displayed in election, and redemption is not exclusive to adults, and it is an insult of His power to assert that infants cannot be saved. Can they go to heaven? Yes? Then can one go to heaven without faith? Certainly not. The Baptist delusion is a labyrinth of deception.
Therefore, judging rightly by these things, knowing that one cannot see the kingdom of heaven without being born again, that when one is born again, it is shown in them by faith, repentance and new obedience, and these are inseparable from each other, we must conclude that infants can have faith. For without faith it is impossible to please God. And the command for children to obey is annexed by, “for this is pleasing to the Lord.” No age restriction, no excuses. Children, obey your parents in the Lord. [Eph. 6:1]
“For this is well pleasing to the Lord.” [Col. 3:20] This also brings me back to the original argument that it is a contradiction to say that there are babes in the faith, but that infants cannot have faith. For who made infants the way they are, you or the Lord?
And whose majesty and sovereignty is displayed by infants? Whose praise is perfected by the mouth of babes? As certain as God has made all things for His own glory, and has created all things through Jesus Christ, so infants are made to demonstrate His goodness and kindness. Every life of every infant is a manifestation of God’s goodness and kindness to His children, when they are weak in the faith. To deny such is to deny that there is purpose to God’s creation, which is atheism. Why do you think Paul uses the expression, “babes in Christ?” [1 Cor. 3:1] Certainly it is not Paul speaking in scripture, but the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to hear Him speak? I know young children who are more obedient and pleasing to God in conduct than Baptist adults who would cut them off, and cast them to the devil. Just as the Israelites crossing over and being Baptized into the Red Sea entered not in the promised land because of their unbelief, and God gave it to their children, even so in many cases young children being raised to serve the Lord in truth have a stronger and more stable faith than weak adults.
Now this obviously raises the question, are all infants saved? Certainly not!
For God is not bound by any covenant promise to save the children of the reprobate. Their children are the seed of Satan, and will be destroyed having been born in sin.
And yet the wicked are still guilty of murder for aborting them, and will certainly be punished for it. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for those who believe, and their children as the apostle so clearly states in Acts 2. Further proof of this is found in 1 Cor. 7 when Paul declares that even if only one parent has faith, their child is regarded as holy and ought to be baptized, and raised in the care and admonition of the Lord.
They are not guaranteed salvation, because they are considered holy, but certainly this proves all who deny baptism to them to be great fools, who although they can read clearly enough that God calls the seed of believers, “holy”, even saying in Malachi, “I seek godly offspring.” Yet they will not baptize them, but they regard them as heathen.
I have scarcely heard of such pernicious and ludicrous doctrine. And yet Baptist theology is spread all across America. We must conclude therefore that because Baptism is pertaining directly to matters of regeneration, faith and salvation, it is a weak faith that does not believe the promise of God so evidently declared on the matter.
Why are there so many Baptist families that have so many apostate children departing from the faith, when even before baptism they are regarded as holy? Because they make shipwreck of their children’s faith, and are likened to the raven that plucks the seed of the word out from them, casting them to the wayside to perish in iniquity.
But surely, as God is faithful to His covenant, merciful and good, He has not only promised faith to His elect, that they might be saved from the wrath to come, but He has promised it to their seed, and as their children are declared holy by the Lord, it is madness to forbid them baptism, which seals and engrafts them into Christ, into the covenant of grace which is promised to them in Gen. 17, and Acts 2, and into the kingdom of God. God’s plan for building His church is to build stable and orderly families well nourished in Christian doctrine, and zealous for good works. So because our children have the benefit of partaking of this admirable and blessed covenant, do we then become slack in our service to them in teaching them the ways of God? Do we forgo preaching the gospel to them? In no wise! For as God surely commands all men everywhere to repent and believe, so parents who are trained by the word ensure the same for their children, that they repent from their sins, know themselves to be sinners, know God to be just, and bear fruit well pleasing to God.
“I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.”
(1 John 2:12)