Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Abomination of Holy Baptism?

For all of you Christians out there who agree with the Latter Day Saint who writes, "baptizeing [sic] a baby who is innocent until the proper age is also an abomination[(1), see numbered footnotes below]," please read on.

Our Lord's command to baptize all nations(2), see numbered footnotes below] is His command to baptize all sinful peoples(3).

All sinful peoples includes all ages because even infants--both in and ex utero--and children are in fact people. Apart from Christ the Son of God, all people are sinners(4) because they were born(5) and even conceived(6) of sinful parents. This makes them sinful even as children who have not reached some “proper” age(7) as determined by the thoughts of men(8) but never mentioned by God in His holy Word of the Bible to be His thoughts(9) on the matter.

Therefore, even though an infant in utero is not guilty of any particular sin of the parent or parents that may have been a proximate cause for conception—whether it be rape, incest, adultery, or any other unseemly, reprobate, wickedness born of vain imaginations that dishonor the body(10)—the child regardless of age is nevertheless a sinner by nature of fleshly inheritance.

To baptize such a little one who has been conceived and born into this world a sinner, a child of wrath dead in trespasses and sins(11), then, is no more or less perverse than to baptize any sinner into the forgiveness of sins(12), the life of the Spirit(13), and salvation(14). In truth, is the greatest act of love(15) this side of the crucifixion of Christ for the sins of the world(16).

Why? Because Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, baptizes those who have been sinful even from the time of conception into faith and Christ Himself(17)—and even into His very death and resurrection(18). It also renews the baptized with the Holy Spirit(19); gives them the mind of Christ(20), and raises them into the kingdom of heaven with Him(21).

If you have been taught that baptizing an infant is abomination, then whoever has twisted God’s Word to convince you of such blasphemy is to be chastised and pitied above all men(22). For, as we have learned from God Himself in His Holy Word, what is Baptism if not receiving sinners in Jesus’ name, and thus by His Father in heaven?

(1) This photo
linked here
reference the
aforementioned
abomination.

(2) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19, kjv

(3) Remembering that the New Testament was originally written in Greek, the word translated as “nations” in the King James Version is the Greek word, “εθνη,” pronounced ethnay. The word as used by the apostles of our Lord, who were Jewish, carries the meaning of heathen unbelieving sinners. Interestingly enough, in other places in the New Testament the English translates the same word into “Gentiles.” For example, Galatians 2:15, “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,” kjv

(4) there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:22-23, kjv

(5) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12, kjv

(6) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 51:5, kjv

(7) the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; Genesis 8:21, kjv

(8) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Matthew 15:19, kjv

(9) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9, kjv

(10) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:21-32, kjv

(11)And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Ephesians 2:1

(12)And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling
on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16, kjv

(13)Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38, kjv

(14)…even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:21, kjv
(15)Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13, kjv
(16)And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10, kjv

(17)For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26-27

(18)Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Romans 6:3-5, kjv

(19)Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5, kjv

(20)Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16, kjv

(21)But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:4-6, kjv

(22)And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! …Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:5-7, 10, kjv

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting article. In Acts 2:38 the greek word for repent is G3340
μετανοέω
metanoeō
met-an-o-eh'-o
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent. Peter tells us we have to "repent and be baptized", how can a baby repent?

I. M. Abaldy II said...

Good question.

This is essentially the same question asked by Nicodemus in John 3:4. And the answer is the same as that given by Jesus in John 3:8. By being turned away (which is the underlying meaning of μετανοησατε) from sin and born again (that is the regeneration of which Titus 3:5 speaks) by the Holy Spirit who is at work with the Word of God in the water and Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Repentance, like faith, is a gift proceeding from the Word, and Him made flesh to dwell among us, in His preaching and Sacraments.