Y
Yelsew
Guest
We have some agreement here, but there is nothing in the bible that prohibits infant baptism. In fact there is nothing that prohibits the baptising of livestock! The bible is simply silent about any prohibitions. We, based on knowledge and reason, limit in our own minds that Christian baptism is reserved for believers only. Yet we get baptised in accordance with John's baptism, which is the practice of total emmersion. John's baptism was unto national repentance, that is calling the jews to repent for the Messiah cometh.
Fact is, there are some words that very easily can be interpreted as being inclusive of infants being baptized. Will you concede that "the household" could and would indeed include infants, if infants were part of the household? Especially since there exists no teaching against it.
In the scriptures it says that our works will be judged and rewards will be given. Though not judged unto salvation, our works will receive commensurate rewards that we will lay at Jesus' feet. Since the scriptures do not contractict it, that includes the works of unbelievers as well.
Those works that come through the fire as refined gold, silver and precious stones we will lay at the Saviors feet. Those works that are consumned in the fire like wood hay and stubble, net us no rewards, leaving us empty handed before Jesus. So, there are Good works that unbelievers do that will have a resultant value in God's eyes.
The point to this is that sharply defined dividers do not exist between Calvin's teaching and Armineus' teachings. It is we mere mortals that put up the dividers, not God!
Fact is, there are some words that very easily can be interpreted as being inclusive of infants being baptized. Will you concede that "the household" could and would indeed include infants, if infants were part of the household? Especially since there exists no teaching against it.
In the scriptures it says that our works will be judged and rewards will be given. Though not judged unto salvation, our works will receive commensurate rewards that we will lay at Jesus' feet. Since the scriptures do not contractict it, that includes the works of unbelievers as well.
Those works that come through the fire as refined gold, silver and precious stones we will lay at the Saviors feet. Those works that are consumned in the fire like wood hay and stubble, net us no rewards, leaving us empty handed before Jesus. So, there are Good works that unbelievers do that will have a resultant value in God's eyes.
The point to this is that sharply defined dividers do not exist between Calvin's teaching and Armineus' teachings. It is we mere mortals that put up the dividers, not God!