1. The Bible does not exclude children, but includes them within larger summaries of those who were baptized, or in sections to whom the promises of Baptism are included.

a. Matthew 28:19 – We are called to “make disciples of all nations…baptizing them….” – No qualifiers.

b. Acts 2:38 – Peter proclaims that “the promise” of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit, which the hearers were to receive through Baptism, was for “you and your children” [teknois; can mean children or little children, or in the plural even descendants] – While age is not expressly mentioned, again there are no qualifiers or limits mentioned.

c. Acts 16:15 – “with her household” (Lydia’s) – No qualifiers. General term for the members of one’s immediate family; could include servants, but does not have to.

d. Acts 16: 33 – “with all his family” (jailer’s) – No qualifiers. Lit.: “he and all his” (as rendered by the KJV) – RSV: “all his family”; NIV: “all his family”; Amplfied N.T.: “and all [the members] of his [household].” See also vs. 31 where the word for “household” is the same as 16:5.

Summary: Everyone was a candidate for baptism regardless of nationality, gender, or age. None of these are expressly excluded. If our Lord could foresee the possibility of these promises being extended to all, but actually intended them only for people of a certain maturity, why would he not have indicated such?

2. Children, even infants, can have faith.

a. Matthew 18:1-6 – Jesus says that the “little children” [paidion – word that caries the sense of undeveloped understanding; small child, infant – could be a child before his second birthday, c.f. Matt. 2:16], which he also refers to as “little ones,” actually “believe” in Him. The word, pisteuo means “believe (in), have faith (in) (with God or Christ as object); trust, to adhere to, rely on” --Note that this word is frequently used of the faith of adults throughout the Gospels. Children are said to “receive the kingdom of God,” which can only be a matter of faith, since no one enters the kingdom without faith! (Heb. 11:6)

b. Matthew 19: 13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18: 15-17 – People bring children to Jesus to have Him bless them. Jesus tells his hearers that they must humble themselves and become like children. Matt. and Mark use the word paidia, while Luke uses this word and brephe (vs. 15) which is a word that is especially used for infants and the newly born, even referring to the unborn. With “a.” above the picture of who Jesus was blessing seems to strongly favor the very young, rather than more mature children.

c. Luke 10: 21 – Jesus thanks the Father that he has “hidden” the truth from “the wise and understanding” (those who rely on mere human logic and reason; see 1 Cor. 1:18-25) and instead revealed it “to babes” [brephe – a baby without full power of speech.].

d. 2 Timothy 3:14-16 – Paul says that Timothy has known the Scriptures “from childhood” [from brephous, from infancy].

e. Psalm 8:3; Matt. 21:16 – God has ordered praise out of the mouth of “babes and sucklings.” How can one properly praise God without faith?

f. Psalm 71: 6 – David writes: “For thou, O Lord, art my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon thee I have learned from my birth….”

g. Luke 1:41 – John the Baptist “leaped” in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary greeted her cousin. John already was aware of the presence of the incarnate Son of God – even before birth!

Summary: The preponderance of examples here shows a connection between children and faith. Several words are used in the Greek for children, but it is noteworthy that words showing the very young are also used, indicating that no particular age is excluded. *At issue, also, is the nature of faith. Do we understand how God creates faith in the heart of a little one? Not really, any more than we can understand the mystery of faith in general. Note, too, that faith still exists even when our powers of reason are not active or are impaired, as in sleep, or in metal illness and mental disability. Faith is not dependant on our natural reason, but on the power of the Spirit. In fact, our natural reason often gets in the way of faith, instead of helping it! (1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 10:5)

3. Children, just like adults, are sinners and therefore need to be saved.
a. Psalm 51: 5 – We are sinful from conception. We are born in sin.

b. Ezek. 18:20 – “The soul that sins shall die” – There is judgment on sin, and without the righteousness sacrifice and substitution of Jesus, we will die in our sins eternally (Matt. 1:21).

c. John 3:5-6 – No one can “enter the kingdom of God” unless he is “born of water and the Spirit.” We cannot enter as we are. We need to be transformed into “new creations” by faith in Christ.

d. Acts 2:38 - Baptism brings forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit (thus faith).

Summary: We baptize infants because we believe that through this Sacrament, which is the Word of God with the water, children can be saved by faith. We believe that all people must be saved through Christ, and in Baptism a child is united with Christ. *One issue: What about children who are not baptized? -> Faith comes from the power of the Spirit through the living Word. The Word is present in Baptism, but it is also present outside of Baptism. Can faith be created even apart from Baptism? Yes. We are not given a means of salvation apart from Christ and His Word. But if there be doubt at all that such a child died without any benefit of hearing this Word, we simply leave that child to the will of the Heavenly Father who is merciful. We have no word of God beyond this.
The Early Church practiced Infant Baptism as can be demonstrated from the Fathers going back to the earliest years of the Church’s history. Infant Baptism has been with the Church from the beginning.

Pastor Engebretson