Catholics always wondering why does INC members not baptized when they are infants? They even show bible verses that they say, “PROOFS” that even Christ demonstrated that little children/ infants should be baptized.
The verses that consider by nonmembers as proofs:
"People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them." Luke 18:15
"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them." Matt. 19:13
Notice what Christ did to the infants or young children who were being brought to him—He laid his hands on and prayed for them. This is not baptism and is different from what is done to one who is baptized (Matt. 3:13-16, Acts 8:36-38)
Baptism is not for infants, but for those who have been taught the gospel and believed in it as the Lord Jesus Christ himself taught:
"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16
Having no capacity to understand yet, infants and little children can not believe in the gospel. Faith or belief in the gospel is attained by listening to the message preached by the messenger of God (Rom. 10:17, 14-15). For the listener to have genuine faith, he should have the faculty to comprehend and believe, which infants do not have. Hence, infants should not be baptized.
Thus, in the Church of Christ today, infants are dedicated to God through prayer as set by the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the very verses that the nonmembers say as being “PROOF”:
"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there." Matt. 19:13-15
But when they grow up and reach the age of 12, Iglesia ni Cristo children are given instructions in biblical doctrines and they baptized , in consonance with the Lord’s command that all those who are made disciples should be baptized
(Matt. 28:19).
Moreover, since baptism is to be administered for the forgiveness of one’s sins (and to commit a sin is to transgress God’s law of which little children are not capable of doing) infants, therefore, should not be baptized at the age of their lives (Acts. 2:38; I Jn. 3:4). AGAIN, Baptism is not for infants or children who have not reached the age of discretion.
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