What Must I Do?
What Must I Do?
In this lesson we are examining whether infants should be baptized. We have discussed their state of innocence. Now we look at the question of nature.
Some texts seem to teach that human nature is corrupt, and every human being inherits this corruption. Peter speaks of redemption "from your futile conduct handed down from your fathers" (1Pe 1:18). Paul says, "You were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Eph 2:3). "The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God... nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned" (1Co 2:14). However the "nature" in these verses is not inherited by procreation, but acquired by experience in a sinful society. "Nature" refers to the world and environment one grows up in, the traditions and culture one acquires, and the things one absorbs.
One can live in a society whose ways are futile and wicked. One can learn and accept those ways and become darkened by them. Culture may influence a person's thinking and behaviour enormously. Yet one can turn to a belief system based on the ways of the Lord, being re-educated so that a new nature supplants the old nature (Rom 6:4-6).
Paul believed that human "nature" is as much capable of upholding God's law as it is capable of perverting and rejecting it.
The people in Romans 1:25-26 had grown up in a world where the knowledge of God was clear. They had gone "against nature", having suppressed and perverted what, by nature, was theirs.
Romans 2:14 says people "do by nature the things written in the law". Their lives and thoughts were obviously influenced by God's law which was present in their environment. What's more, they did not suppress or pervert that truth but chose instead to live by it. Thus one can "by nature" do right (Rom 2:14) and one can "by nature" do wrong (Eph 2:3).
Everyone is able to abhor what is evil in their environment and experience. Everyone is able to cling to what is good. And everyone should (1Th 5:21).
An infant has not yet acquired such a nature, having not yet been taught right from wrong. Therefore an infant cannot to do either right or wrong "by nature".
We have considered the state of innocence and the question of nature. Finally, we will look at who is a proper candidate for baptism.
In the Bible, baptism is always "a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4, Acts 2:38). Furthermore, baptism is to be entered into with faith (Mark 16:15-16).
Infants do not understand enough to believe, nor do they have sins to repent of. First they must grow and learn. Then they will know how to believe and repent.
The Bible teaches six steps of obedience to Jesus, including baptism. Because an infant cannot yet take the other five steps, an infant is in a state of grace and not ready for baptism, or required to be baptized.
THE SIX STEPS 1. Hearing God's word Rom 10:8-17, Mtt 7:24. 2. Believing (faith) Rom 1:16-17, Jhn 3:16. 3. Repentance from sin Rom 2:4-5, Rom 6:1-2, Lke 5:31-32. 4. Confessing Christ Rom 10:8-10, Mtt 10:32. 5. Being baptized Rom 6:3-4, Mrk 16:15-16. 6. Ongoing commitment Rom 12:1-2,11-12, Lke 9:62.