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Question Why do Catholics baptize babies? Babies can’t accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior because they are too young. Since the days of the Apostles, the Catholic Church has always and everywhere baptized babies. Christ told us, ““Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (Jn. 3:5), Early Christians believed that to be “born again or born anew” (Jn. 3:3) meant receiving the sacrament of Baptism. They lived out this understanding by baptizing adults, children and even infants.

Why do Catholics baptize babies?

Babies can’t accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior because they are too young.

Since the days of the Apostles, the Catholic Church has always and everywhere baptized babies.

Christ told us, ““Truly, truly, I say to you, unless

one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (Jn. 3:5),

Early Christians believed that to be “born again or born anew” (Jn. 3:3) meant receiving the sacrament of Baptism.

They lived out this understanding by baptizing adults, children and even infants.

Infant Baptism They understood the sacrament of Baptism as the doorway of salvation. “ Baptism . . . Now saves you.” (1 Peter 3:21) Through baptism you become a child in God’s family. Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 5:17, that we become a “new creation,” we have been born again through the sacrament.

They understood the sacrament of Baptism as the doorway of salvation.

“ Baptism . . . Now saves you.” (1 Peter 3:21)

Through baptism you become a child in God’s family.

Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 5:17, that we become a “new creation,” we have been born again through the sacrament.

The Great Commissioning Jesus tells us in Mt. 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” When “ all nations ,” is examined as a Greek word it means “the whole race of mankind.” Certainly, all Gentiles and Jewish infants, children and adults would be included.

Jesus tells us in Mt. 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

When “ all nations ,” is examined as a Greek word it means “the whole race of mankind.”

Certainly, all Gentiles and Jewish infants, children and adults would be included.

Pentecost When Peter preached on the first Pentecost people asked him “What shall we do?’ Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

When Peter preached on the first Pentecost people asked him “What shall we do?’

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

2 Thess. 3:10 But how could a baby “repent?” Acts 2:38 said, baptism is for the “forgiveness of sins” and the reception “of the Holy Spirit” extends to all people “ For the promise is to you and to your children.” What parent would want to deny salvation to their children and especially their infant children. Some will still argue the command to repent can only be applied to people who have reached the age of reason. That’s a faulty argument. Let’s apply that same “logic” to 2 Thess. 3:10 “If any one will not work, let him not eat.” Babies don’t work, so should we deny them food? Of course not.

But how could a baby “repent?”

Acts 2:38 said, baptism is for the “forgiveness of sins” and the reception “of the Holy Spirit” extends to all people “ For the promise is to you and to your children.”

What parent would want to deny salvation to their children and especially their infant children.

Some will still argue the command to repent can only be applied to people who have reached the age of reason.

That’s a faulty argument.

Let’s apply that same “logic” to 2 Thess. 3:10 “If any one will not work, let him not eat.”

Babies don’t work, so should we deny them food?

Of course not.

Covenant For the Jews the outward sign of their covenant with God was circumcision. This was performed when? On the eighth day. The parents brought the new born boy to the synagogue, just as parents bring their children to church to be baptized. The baby certainly didn’t understand what circumcision meant. The infant boy’s parents then covenanted with God on behalf of the child and God accepted the child into the covenant as a result.

For the Jews the outward sign of their covenant with God was circumcision.

This was performed when?

On the eighth day.

The parents brought the new born boy to the synagogue, just as parents bring their children to church to be baptized.

The baby certainly didn’t understand what circumcision meant.

The infant boy’s parents then covenanted with God on behalf of the child and God accepted the child into the covenant as a result.

Mark 2:1-12 Baptism for the Christian would have the same effect as circumcision for the Jew (see Colossians 2:11-12). In the Gospel of Mark 2:1-12 Jesus healed the paralyzed man, not by the faith of the paralyzed man but by the faith of his friends. “ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mk 2:5) The parents and godparents demonstrate that same kind of faith when they bring the infant for baptism.

Baptism for the Christian would have the same effect as circumcision for the Jew (see Colossians 2:11-12).

In the Gospel of Mark 2:1-12 Jesus healed the paralyzed man, not by the faith of the paralyzed man but by the faith of his friends.

“ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the

paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mk 2:5)

The parents and godparents demonstrate that same kind of faith when they bring the infant for baptism.

Luke 18:15-17 Lk. 18:15 “Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “ Let the children come to me , and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” 7 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” There’s little doubt that this passage shows that Jesus wants parents to “ bring even infants ” to Him in the sacrament of baptism.

Lk. 18:15 “Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “ Let the children come to me , and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”

7 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

There’s little doubt that this passage shows that Jesus wants parents to “ bring even infants ” to Him in the sacrament of baptism.

Infant Baptism is Biblical