Changes

Apologists for infant baptism respond that Jesus was countermanding his disciples' refusal of infants, babies, being brought to him for his blessing, and that even infants, babies, incapable of conscious choice, can receive the blessing of Jesus from heaven in baptism. They also point to [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=NRSVCE 1 Peter 3:21] and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A25-27&version=NRSVCE Ephesians 5:25b-27], teaching that according to the Bible baptism saves us now, and that Jesus sanctifies and cleanses his church with the washing of water with the word, to present the whole church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. They point to the fact that Paul teaches that baptism replaces circumcision, which is done when a child is only eight days old, which made that baby a member of the people of God, to be raised and taught the way of the Lord in truth. [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A9-14&version=NRSVCE Colossians 2:9-14]. Devout Christian parents who have their infants baptized, take upon themselves the duty to raise their children to understand that because of their baptism into Christ they are [[Duty|obligated]] to dedicate their whole lives to living the Christian life in obedience to Christ, and that to refuse to do so is a very serious sin against God himself, punishable by condemnation to [[hell]] for all eternity if, having known the truth, they do not repent of their conscious refusal to live a Christian life of holiness in obedience to Christ Jesus the Lord before they die.

Apologists for infant baptism respond that Jesus was countermanding his disciples' refusal of infants, babies, being brought to him for his blessing, and that even infants, babies, incapable of conscious choice, can receive the blessing of Jesus from heaven in baptism. They also point to [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=NRSVCE 1 Peter 3:21] and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A25-27&version=NRSVCE Ephesians 5:25b-27], teaching that according to the Bible baptism saves us now, and that Jesus sanctifies and cleanses his church with the washing of water with the word, to present the whole church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. They point to the fact that Paul teaches that baptism replaces circumcision, which is done when a child is only eight days old, which made that baby a member of the people of God, to be raised and taught the way of the Lord in truth. [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A9-14&version=NRSVCE Colossians 2:9-14]. Devout Christian parents who have their infants baptized, take upon themselves the duty to raise their children to understand that because of their baptism into Christ they are [[Duty|obligated]] to dedicate their whole lives to living the Christian life in obedience to Christ, and that to refuse to do so is a very serious sin against God himself, punishable by condemnation to [[hell]] for all eternity if, having known the truth, they do not repent of their conscious refusal to live a Christian life of holiness in obedience to Christ Jesus the Lord before they die.

[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=KJV 1 Peter 3:21] in the King James Version states that baptism is "the answer of a good conscience toward God". The Greek word here translated as "answer" is  '''έπερώτημα''' ''eperotema'' <ref>[http://biblehub.com/greek/1906.htm Strong's number 1906 '''έπερώτημα''' ''eperotema'']</ref>, which means much more than a mere answer to a question. It means primarily [https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/enquire-or-inquire “question,” “enquiry,” “inquiry”] as in a probing investigation or hearing and a trial by law before the examiners, the judge and the court. A true understanding according to ''[[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)#The literal sense of scripture|the literal sense of scripture]]'' is found partly in the [[Forensics|forensic]] use of the Greek word for '''question''', '''έπερώτημα''' ''eperotema'', as including, like our word “examination,” both question and answer. Substantive evidence as an "exhibit" brought before the court is presented to the judge as an answer to the charge of the guilt or innocence of the accused. The doctor can see for himself that the disease is cured.

[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A21&version=KJV 1 Peter 3:21] in the King James Version states that baptism is "the answer of a good conscience toward God". The Greek word here translated as "answer" is  '''έπερώτημα''' ''eperotema'' <ref>[http://biblehub.com/greek/1906.htm Strong's number 1906 '''έπερώτημα''' ''eperotema'']</ref>, which means much more than a mere answer to a question. It means primarily [https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/enquire-or-inquire “question,” “enquiry,” “inquiry”] as in a probing investigation or hearing and a trial by law before the examiners, the judge and the court. A true understanding according to ''[[Historical-critical method (Higher criticism)#The literal sense of scripture|the literal sense of scripture]]'' is found partly in the [[Forensics|forensic]] use of the Greek word for '''question''', '''έπερώτημα''' ''eperotema'', as including, like our word “examination,” both question and answer. Substantive evidence as an "exhibit" brought before the court is presented to the judge as an answer to the charge of the guilt or innocence of the accused. The doctor can see for himself that the disease is cured. The "answer of a good conscience" by baptism in 1 Peter 3:21 is the New Testament [[Typology|antitype]] to the Old Testament type in the book of [[Leviticus]], the examination by the Levitical priests of an Israelite healed of [[leprosy]] to establish proof of having been cleansed by God, after which the ritual of cleansing was performed.<ref>See [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+14%3A34&version=NRSVCE Leviticus 14:34] and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+24%3A8&version=NRSVCE Deuteronomy 24:8], also the whole context of [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+13-14&version=NRSVCE Leviticus 13–14.]</ref>

According to scripture the whole of mankind was defiled by the guilt of Adam and Eve ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A12&version=NRSVCE Romans 5:12]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Wisdom+2%3A23-24&version=NRSVCE Wisdom 2:23-24]). Moreover, not only are we born as members of the whole community of the fallen race of man defiled by the defect of this original sin, and for this reason every human being dies, even innocent babies in the womb, we also each of us as descendants of fallen man commit our own sins against God and our fellow human beings, against our own parents, children, friends, enemies, against truth, mercy and justice, and against ourselves whether we intend it or not ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A23&version=NRSVCE Romans 3:23]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A15&version=NRSVCE 7:15], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A19&version=NRSVCE 19]). Even little children have regrets about what they have done, and tiny babies display anger and stubbornness when they don't get what they want. As we mature in age and come to know the holiness of God we become even more aware of our inherent imperfection and our guilt before Him. Even [[Atheism and health|atheists]], against their will, struggle with feelings of guilt, knowing that they are not what they should be.  

According to scripture the whole of mankind was defiled by the guilt of Adam and Eve ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A12&version=NRSVCE Romans 5:12]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Wisdom+2%3A23-24&version=NRSVCE Wisdom 2:23-24]). Moreover, not only are we born as members of the whole community of the fallen race of man defiled by the defect of this original sin, and for this reason every human being dies, even innocent babies in the womb, we also each of us as descendants of fallen man commit our own sins against God and our fellow human beings, against our own parents, children, friends, enemies, against truth, mercy and justice, and against ourselves whether we intend it or not ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A23&version=NRSVCE Romans 3:23]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A15&version=NRSVCE 7:15], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+7%3A19&version=NRSVCE 19]). Even little children have regrets about what they have done, and tiny babies display anger and stubbornness when they don't get what they want. As we mature in age and come to know the holiness of God we become even more aware of our inherent imperfection and our guilt before Him. Even [[Atheism and health|atheists]], against their will, struggle with feelings of guilt, knowing that they are not what they should be.