infant baptism: revisted

[B-A-C]

I know some churches practice infant baptism. but I really see scripture that supports this.
I know some churches have something called "confirmation" that requires a profession of belief after a person
reaches an age of accountability.

This thread is not about baptism at all. Whether or not you need to be baptized to be saved is not the point here. The point is can you be saved as an infant that hasn't made a profession of faith?

I know some universalists take verses like 1 Cor 7:14; to say children are saved simply by virtue of the
parents being saved. Of course this is only true if at least one parent is a believer.
There are multiple items of debate here.
1. Are they saved just because the parents are saved... or are they more likely to be saved because of the
influence of the parents.
2. Are they saved for their entire life, or are they saved until they reach the age of accountability?

That last question raises a dilemma for those who believe in once saved always saved.
Is a baby is saved because of innocence, saved forever? (In that case is everyone saved?)
Or does OSAS not apply to infants?

This should not be confused with infant dedication... which is simply the parents and congregation of a church promising to bring a child up in the teachings of Jesus/Bible.

In a way, the title of this thread is a little misleading.. but the question is...
Can someone else make the choice of salvation for you, or do you have to make it for yourself.
(I'm not talking about predestination of the elect here). What I mean is, can a preacher or family member "claim" you to be saved.

If it is a decision that you have to make for yourself... is there a "line in the sand" you cross over. What I mean here is... I've heard some people say, I was always saved.
I never really made the decision to be saved, I just was. In some cases, they believe it was because of infant baptism, but in other cases, they believe it was just because they always went to church.
For me personally, I remember the day, the minute I received Jesus. I remember where I was, I distinctly remember making the choice. There was an "altar call" at a church, I walked up to the front
of the church in front of my family and friends, and asked Jesus into my heart and life. I confessed I was a sinner and I needed a savior. I wanted Him to be Lord of my life.

Some people say they never made the conscious decision, they never confessed their sins to Jesus, they never actually asked Him into their hearts, and invited Him to be their Lord and Savior.
But they believe they are saved. I don't know if I am 100% convinced of this.

There are verses about confessing with your mouth. There are verses about "asking" for the Holy Spirit. There are verses about proclaiming the Lord in your life (indeed there are verses about denying Christ before men).
So if you've never done any of these things, why not?

 

[Sue D.]

Romans 10:9-10 -- belief in the heart and confession made unto salvation. That would be the inner belief by the person. No one can save another person.

And, yes, there are those who've been brought up in church -- know the Bible fairly well -- haven't done anything really bad -- but they haven't accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. They have a great Head knowledge, but not their heart's acceptance. I was like that for a few years.

And lots of people associate being baptized with being saved.

And there Is a time when a person is an infant -- Before they can distinguish right from wrong -- that - if they die -- they are with Jesus Christ. The 'age of accountability' -- and each person is different. Some children Do understand at a young age -- mostly it's when they are a little older.

There will be the conviction by the Holy Spirit -- how a person responds to That. There Will be a time in an individual's life when they Do respond and it will be a time they can look back on and say 'that was 'it' for me." It was settled in their heart.

 

[B-A-C]

I actually agree with what you say here. But being devil's advocate here.

Acts 16:31; They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

1Cor 7:14; For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

How do you take these verses?

 

[Sue D.]

Well -- sometimes husbands / wives marry when neither are believers -- then one accepts Christ and the other doesn't. The now-saved partner should be living a Christian example for the other spouse and any children they've had together. God Has allowed the one spouse To come to salvation, maybe to be the one who brings the other spouse To salvation, too. As well as the children. The 'unclean and now they are holy' part -- I've no clue. Now Maybe the person living in that situation sees it very clearly. I wouldn't need to. Maybe a pastors' wife or Christian counselor Would need to understand that more.

The other situation -- Acts 16:31. I've heard that explained. Maybe it's simply that in a household in that day / age were closer together. The family tended to accept individually And as a group. That Does happen. While a pastor or someone is visiting with one member of a family -- is able to present salvation and one accepts and then others in the family hear and accept and so forth in that family.

Some years ago -- there was a young couple in the church we went to. Neither had been saved. The wife was watching a TV evangelist who was pretty good -- he was presenting salvation -- she called her husband in to listen to what this guy was teaching. They both saw their need at the same time -- both accepted Christ at the same time. And both their lives showed it.

A Lot in life is determined by whether or not a person can tell right from wrong. Salvation is no different.

 

[Curtis]

It all depends on if the parents trained up their children in the way they should go.

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Jesus's own half brother did not believe in him until they were older.

Joh 7:4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.”
Joh 7:5 For not even his brothers believed in him.

Mar 3:21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
Mat 13:56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Later we find all of Jesus's family, became believers. I would say Jesus's sisters would be included with all the women.

Act 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.