Is Infant Baptism Biblical?

Before answering this question about infant baptism, we must first understand the purpose and meaning of baptism.

According to Scripture, water baptism (was and) is an act of obedience that follows a person’s repentance and salvation—serving as a public witness and testimony of their new life in Christ. In other words, baptism is an outward act that symbolizes the inward change that transpired when someone died to sin and rose to life after trusting Jesus for salvation (see Romans 6:3-7 and Colossians 2:11-14). For this reason, God’s Word commands born-again believers to be water baptized (see Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16).

However, water baptism was never a means to cleanse anyone from sin. Rather, Scripture makes it clear that only Jesus’ blood has the power to accomplish that feat. Hebrews 9:22 says, “According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Likewise, Ephesians 1:7 declares of Christians, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

Furthermore, water baptism does not possess any saving power. The only means for individuals to be forgiven and redeemed is by placing their faith exclusively in Jesus Christ for what He accomplished on the cross. This glorious fact is evidenced in many passages, including:

Galatians 2:16— “A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”

Ephesians 2:8-9— “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Romans 5:1-2— “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Therefore, considering these facts about water baptism and that it was never practiced on (nor commanded for) infants in Scripture, it is pointless and unbiblical to baptize infants because it accomplishes nothing of value.

Parents who desire for their children to be saved should “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4), and pray for them regularly. They should also live and walk according to biblical truth, modeling Christianity for their children in every way.

I hope this information was informative and helpful.