S. E. Anderson states in his book, "The First Baptist," this amazing fact, "Over seven hundred millions of people in Christian churches are taught the deadening doctrine that baptism brings salvation to an infant."

This is an amazing thing!

Seven hundred million people are being taught in Christian churches that infants should be baptized, YET THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY ONE SINGLE SOLITARY WORD ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM.

This is fantastic!

More people have been deceived by this error than all other errors combined.

INFANTS SHOULD NOT BE BAPTIZED!

Let us look at some of the reasons why infants should not be baptized. These reasons should be obvious to those who have read this far in these lessons.

THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH INFANT BAPTISM. IT DOES NOT SAY ONE WORD ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM.

This should be enough to destroy forever the practice of infant baptism. Infant baptism originated with man, not with God.

INFANTS CANNOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BAPTISM

As we have already learned, only those who had repented and believed were baptized. An infant cannot possibly meet this requirement and thus is not to be baptized.

THE ORIGIN OF INFANT BAPTISM

The practice of infant baptism was born in error. It was the outcome of another error. When people began to depart from the faith, one of the first great errors they embraced was what is called "baptismal regeneration." This is the false teaching that an individual has to be baptized in order to be saved. When people began to believe this error, the next natural step was to baptize babies in order to guarantee their safety. One error led to another.

THE DANGERS OF INFANT BAPTISM

One can easily see the danger of infant baptism. The individual trusts in the fact that he was baptized as a baby and never feels his need of salvation. THIS IS A TRAGEDY. Millions have been deceived and given a false hope of salvation by infant baptism.

HOUSEHOLD BAPTISMS

Many have tried to justify the error of infant baptism by pointing to what is called "household baptisms" in the Bible. These are records where whole families were baptized. They try to reason from this that these baptisms must have included infants. Let us look at these scriptures.

"And I baptized also the household of Stephanas . . ." -I Cor. 1:16.

Paul states that he baptized the household of Stephanas. IT DOES NOT SAY THERE WERE INFANTS IN THIS HOUSEHOLD. Infant baptism could not be shown in this verse.

"And when she was baptized, and her household, -Acts 16:15.

This is the record of the baptism of Lydia, a seller of purple. It is another example of "household baptism." Again notice that it does not say that there were any infants present. Lydia was about 300 miles from home, on business. It is hardly likely any infants were with her in her household!

"And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his straightway." -Acts 16:33.

This is the record of the conversion of the Philippian jailor. The verse states that he "was baptized, HE AND ALL HIS STRAIGHTWAY." Those who try to justify the error of infant baptism will state that this meant his entire family, infants and all, were baptized. Let us look at the context. In verse 32 it says,

"And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, AND TO ALL THAT WERE IN HIS HOUSE."

"All that were in his house" were able to hear the word of the Lord. This does not sound like infants! Look at verse 34.

". . . believing in God WITH ALL HIS HOUSE."

All that were in his house believed! THIS IS NOT INFANT BAPTISM. All those in the household of the jailor heard the word, believed and then were baptized.

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE RECORD OF AN INFANT BEING BAPTIZED IN ALL THE ENTIRE BIBLE.

WHEN SHOULD A CHILD BE BAPTIZED?

The scriptural answer is simple. A child should be baptized when he repents and believes.