“According to the Scriptures”: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Wednesdays, January 15 th through February 26 th, at 7 o’clock Join with us we as explain how our expression of worship is rooted and grounded in the texts of the Holy Bible.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship The Calendar of the Bible Study January 15 th —The Foundation January 22 nd —“Eat First With the Eyes” January 29 th —“Sweet, Sweet Music”

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship The Calendar of the Bible Study February 5 th —“The Cheerleading” February 12 th —“Every Week? Really?” February 19 th —“The Eucharist” February 26 th —“Q&A”

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Why Does Your Church Baptize Like It Does? Or “The Question and the Answer”

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship First Question: Why on earth do you baptize babies?

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Unless you were raised in a liturgical tradition this can be a truly challenging issue for you. It is at the very best confusing.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Unless you were raised in a liturgical tradition this can be a truly challenging issue for you. It is at the very best confusing. For Evangelicals and Charismatics, Baptism is a rite where a mature Christian confesses their faith and belief before the community. Children cannot do that!

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship For the Evangelical and Charismatic, Infant Baptism seems, at best, pointless—a shallow act of hollow ritualism without any meaning.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship For the Evangelical and Charismatic, Infant Baptism seems, at best, pointless—a shallow act of hollow ritualism without any meaning. At its worst it is vaguely heretical and seems to reek of paganism if not even perhaps—dare we say—child sacrifice!

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship So why do we Baptize children, yes, even infants?

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship So why do we Baptize children, yes, even infants? We do so because we have always done it that way! But that is not just a traditionalist answer, it goes back to the only tradition that is actually worth upholding—Biblical tradition!

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Back in 2011, Archbishop Bates published an article on Infant Baptism (also called “Paedo-Baptism”). The article was republished on Church of the Messiah’s web-site and I have drawn largely from his essay, which can be read in its entirety on our web-site by searching “Infant Baptism”.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship The idea of only baptizing those who were old enough to make “a mature confession” only dates to the late 16 th century. It came along as the real swing of the Reformation was actually rather winding down. Even Martin Luther and John Calvin practiced infant Baptism. The Church had always baptized babies.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship There are no Scriptures which specifically state that any apostle baptized a child. However, there are five references to entire households being baptized. The Greek word “ ο ἶ κός ” can mean everyone living in one’s house including women, children and even slaves.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship There are five specific references in Scripture to the baptism of entire households: Peter baptized the household of Cornelius (Acts 11.14) Paul baptized the household of Lydia and the household of the Jailer (Acts 16.15,33) Paul baptized the household of Crispus, the ruler of the Synagogue in Corinth (Acts 18:8) And Paul baptized the household of Stephanas. (1 Corinthians 1.16)

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship St. Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians: “ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (2:11-12)

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Were there any doubt in your mind: “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.” Genesis 17:12-13

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship At the very heart of the issue is St. Paul’s words to the Church at Ephesus: “ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Those who argue that baptism requires a “mature confession” seem to be placing the emphasis on the wrong person. They say, “I accepted Jesus,” or “I made a decision for Christ,” or “I went forward today in Church,” which all can be truly and absolutely sincere life-changing, moments of faith in a person’s walk with the Lord.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship However…

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship However… that faith which is required to accept Jesus, to make that decision, or to go forward in Church, are Gifts of the Holy Spirit from God! It is God Himself who does all the “heavy-lifting”; our is the task of responding to his action.

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Notice the difference:

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Notice the difference: “I accepted Jesus.” “I was baptized.”

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Notice the difference: “I accepted Jesus.”—Active Voice “I was baptized.”

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Notice the difference: “I accepted Jesus.”—Active Voice I did something. “I was baptized.”

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Notice the difference: “I accepted Jesus.”—Active Voice I did something. “I was baptized.”—Passive Voice

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Notice the difference: “I accepted Jesus.”—Active Voice I did something. “I was baptized.”—Passive Voice Something was done to me!

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Ask these questions?

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Ask these questions? If you can only be baptized once you are able to make a “mature, public confession:

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Ask these questions? If you can only be baptized once you are able to make a “mature, public confession: What becomes of the handicapped person whose intellect never reaches that level? Are they excluded from the Kingdom of God or from a Covenant with their Maker?

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Why would the Savior who said, “unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 18:3) require you to arrive at a point where you stopped behaving like a little child before you could enter into a covenant with Him?

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Why would the God who said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” (Jeremiah 1:5) wait at least a decade if not a decade and a half to form a covenant relationship with His beloved?

According to the Scriptures: The Biblical Basis for Our Worship Baptism is not so much about what we do as it is about what God does to us. It is a gift He pours out to us. The rest of our life is a response to that gift. Because we did nothing to earn that gift, it matters not if we are 80 years old, 18 years old, 8 years old, 8 months old, or even 8 days old. The earlier we accept His gift, the longer we have to thank Him.

“ A Peek Inside The Devil’s Playbook” Church of the Messiah presents: A Lenten Bible Study Based on The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Beginning March 12 Through April 9, Every Wednesday 7:00.