IS THE UNBIBLICAL PRACTICE OF SPRINKLING INFANTS A SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE?

Throughout the whole New Testament baptism always follows salvation. That’s the pattern. The command is “Repent and be baptized” Acts 2:38 – If you haven’t been baptized as a believer you are guilty of the sin of disobedience.

Sadly there is so much confusion about baptism in the various Christian denominations. However, this is not a result of the Bible presenting a confusing message on baptism. The Bible is abundantly clear of WHAT BAPTISM IS, WHO IT IS FOR , AND WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHES.

In the Bible, only believers who had placed their faith in Christ were baptized – as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after faith in Christ. It is a proclamation of faith in Christ, a statement of submission to Him, and an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.

With this in view, infant sprinkling is not a Biblical practice.

An infant cannot place his or her faith in Christ.

An infant cannot make a conscious decision to obey Christ.

An infant cannot understand what water baptism symbolizes.

The Bible does not record any infants being baptized. How does pouring or sprinkling illustrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Many Christians who practice infant sprinkling do so because they mistakenly have been taught that infant sprinkling is the new covenant equivalent of circumcision. In this view, just as circumcision joined a Hebrew to the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants, so baptism joined a person to the New Covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ.

This view is unbiblical. The New Testament nowhere describes baptism as the New Covenant replacement for Old Covenant circumcision. The New Testament nowhere describes baptism as a sign of the New Covenant. It is faith in Jesus Christ that enables a person to enjoy the blessings of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 9:15).

Baptism does not save a person. It does not matter if you were baptized by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling – if you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless.

Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience to be done after salvation as a public profession of faith in Christ and identification with Him.

Infant baptism does not fit the Biblical definition of baptism or the Biblical method of baptism.

Should Christian parents wish to dedicate their child to Christ, then a baby dedication service would not be unbiblical.

However, even if infants are dedicated to the Lord, when they grow up they will still have to make a personal decision to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved, and be obedient to the commandment to “Repent and be baptized.”

You will not find infant sprinkling in the Bible. You have to go to a seminary to be taught it, or read books on theology, or follow the traditions of men.