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new Sections: Where do unbaptized departed infants go? and Baptism for the dead
The doctrinal stand of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] (SBC) is strongly opposed to Catholicism. In 1852, Robert Boyt C. Howell wrote a paper he delivered to the Southern Baptist Publication Society "The Evils of Infant Baptism" in which he set forth in nineteen chapters the following arguments against infant baptism: <ref>[http://www.reformedreader.org/history/howell/evilsofinfantbaptismtoc.htm The Evils of Infant Baptism, By Robert Boyt C. Howell, Charleston, SC: Southern Baptist Publication Society 1852.] </ref>
The doctrinal stand of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] (SBC) is strongly opposed to Catholicism. In 1852, Robert Boyt C. Howell wrote a paper he delivered to the Southern Baptist Publication Society "The Evils of Infant Baptism" in which he set forth in nineteen chapters the following arguments against infant baptism: <ref>[http://www.reformedreader.org/history/howell/evilsofinfantbaptismtoc.htm The Evils of Infant Baptism, By Robert Boyt C. Howell, Charleston, SC: Southern Baptist Publication Society 1852.] </ref>
CHAPTER 1<br>
:CHAPTER 1<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because its practice is unsupported by the word of God
Infant baptism is an evil because its practice is unsupported by the word of God
CHAPTER 2<br>
:CHAPTER 2<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because its defense leads to most injurious perversions of Scripture
Infant baptism is an evil because its defense leads to most injurious perversions of Scripture
CHAPTER 3<br>
:CHAPTER 3<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it engrafts Judaism upon the gospel of Christ
Infant baptism is an evil because it engrafts Judaism upon the gospel of Christ
CHAPTER 4<br>
:CHAPTER 4<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it falsifies the doctrine of universal depravity
Infant baptism is an evil because it falsifies the doctrine of universal depravity
CHAPTER 5<br>
:CHAPTER 5<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because the doctrines upon which it is predicated contradict the great fundamental principle of justification by faith
Infant baptism is an evil because the doctrines upon which it is predicated contradict the great fundamental principle of justification by faith
CHAPTER 6<br>
:CHAPTER 6<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it is in direct conflict with the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration
Infant baptism is an evil because it is in direct conflict with the doctrine of the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration
CHAPTER 7<br>
:CHAPTER 7<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it despoils the church of those peculiar qualities which are essential to the church of Christ
Infant baptism is an evil because it despoils the church of those peculiar qualities which are essential to the church of Christ
CHAPTER 8<br>
:CHAPTER 8<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because its practice perpetuates the superstitions that originally produced it
Infant baptism is an evil because its practice perpetuates the superstitions that originally produced it
CHAPTER 9<br>
:CHAPTER 9<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it subverts the scripture doctrine of infant salvation
Infant baptism is an evil because it subverts the scripture doctrine of infant salvation
CHAPTER 10<br>
:CHAPTER 10<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it leads its advocates into rebellion against the authority of Christ
Infant baptism is an evil because it leads its advocates into rebellion against the authority of Christ
CHAPTER 11<br>
:CHAPTER 11<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because of the connection it assumes with the moral and religious training of children
Infant baptism is an evil because of the connection it assumes with the moral and religious training of children
CHAPTER 12<br>
:CHAPTER 12<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it is the grand foundation upon which rests the union of church and state
Infant baptism is an evil because it is the grand foundation upon which rests the union of church and state
CHAPTER 13<br>
:CHAPTER 13<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it leads to religious persecutions
Infant baptism is an evil because it leads to religious persecutions
CHAPTER 14<br>
:CHAPTER 14<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it is contrary to the principles of civil and religious freedom
Infant baptism is an evil because it is contrary to the principles of civil and religious freedom
CHAPTER 15<br>
:CHAPTER 15<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it enfeebles the power of the church to combat error
Infant baptism is an evil because it enfeebles the power of the church to combat error
CHAPTER 16<br>
:CHAPTER 16<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it injures the credit of religion with reflecting men of the world
Infant baptism is an evil because it injures the credit of religion with reflecting men of the world
CHAPTER 17<br>
:CHAPTER 17<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it is the great barrier to Christian union
Infant baptism is an evil because it is the great barrier to Christian union
CHAPTER 18<br>
:CHAPTER 18<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it prevents the salutary impression which baptism was designed to make upon the minds both of those who receive it, and of those who witness its administration
Infant baptism is an evil because it prevents the salutary impression which baptism was designed to make upon the minds both of those who receive it, and of those who witness its administration
CHAPTER 19<br>
:CHAPTER 19<br>
Infant baptism is an evil because it retards the designs of Christ in the conversion of the world
Infant baptism is an evil because it retards the designs of Christ in the conversion of the world
==Where do unbaptized departed infants go?==
Among believers in the necessity of [[baptism]] for [[salvation]] there is no universal consensus on the fate of dead infants who have not been baptized, the souls of those whom the New Testament Greek text of Luke 18:15-16 calls '''βρέφη''' ''brephe'', "an unborn or a newborn child, infant, babe, child in arms".<ref>See [http://biblehub.com/greek/1025.htm Strong's number ''1025'' '''βρέφη''' ''brephe'' "infant".] <br>Compare the [http://biblehub.com/interlinear/luke/18-15.htm interlinear text of Luke 18:15]. Compare the [http://biblehub.com/luke/18-15.htm parallel versions of Luke 18:15]. </ref> There are three conflicting doctrines:
*They go to [[Hell]].
*They go to [[Limbo]].
*They go to [[Heaven]].
===They go to Hell===
This is based primarily on [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mark/16-16.htm Mark 16:16] "'''He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.'''" (KJV) An unborn or a newborn child, infant, babe, child in arms, who does not and cannot understand, does not believe. And that little child shall most certainly be damned by dying because that child did not believe and was not baptized. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and ''of'' the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5. Therefore, according to a literalist "plain, simple and obvious" reading of the Bible ''[[sola scriptura]]'', unbaptized infants are damned.<ref>Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5%3A25-29&version=NRSVCE John 5:25-29.]</ref>
[[John Calvin]] in his '''''Institutes of Christian Religion''''' states most clearly that only those [[Predestination|predestinate]] souls [[Eternal security (salvation)|elected irrevocably]] to the blessed glory of salvation by the irresistible grace of the Sovereign Will of God alone will attain heaven and stand in the presence of Almighty God. All others, men, women, children, babies, infants, the unborn in the womb, who die, are destined by their unregenerate wicked nature of total depravity for the ruin of hell apart from the presence of God, because "''Thou art'' of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity". [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/habakkuk/1-13.htm Habakkuk 1:13] Thus, the [[ordinance]] of baptism avails nothing for those who are not already appointed unto salvation, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_thessalonians/5-9.htm 1 Thessalonians 5:9]. [[Saint Paul]] says in his ''Epistle to the Romans'', chapter 9:{{cquote|<sup>18</sup> Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will ''have mercy'', and whom he will he hardeneth.<br><sup>19</sup> Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?<br><sup>20</sup> Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed ''it'', Why hast thou made me thus?<br><sup>21</sup> Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonor?<br><sup>22</sup> ''What'' if God, willing to shew ''his'' wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:<br><sup>23</sup> And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,<br><sup>24</sup> Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?<br><sup>25</sup> As he saith also in [[Hosea|Osee]], I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.<br><sup>26</sup> And it shall come to pass, ''that'' in the place where it was said, unto them, Ye ''are'' not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.<br>—Romans 9:18-26 (KJV)}}
===They go to Limbo===
This is based primarily on [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/romans/2-15.htm Romans 2:15]; [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_john/3-21.htm 1 John 3:21]; [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/20-12.htm Revelation 20:12]. [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] Christian theologians, unable to reconcile the mercy and justice of a good and loving [[God the Father]], and the necessity of baptism according to [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/3-5.htm John 3:5], had recourse to the word of Jesus in [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/12:48.htm Luke 12:48] in which those who did not know or hear or understand [[the Gospel]], and had personally of themselves done nothing either good or bad, would receive a light punishment, that loss solely due to the defect of the [[original sin]] of [[Adam]], placing them on the very outer edge (Latin ''limbo'') of hell, the state of simply being deprived for all eternity of the [[beatific vision]] of the saved in heaven, but also of being spared the torment of the wicked. Among Catholic theologians this doctrine of limbo has remained a philosophical and theological speculation only, and has never been approved as an official doctrine or dogma of the Catholic Church.
According to the ''[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'', in an affirmation of the [[Council of Trent]] on the question of the fate of unbaptized infants:{{cquote|'''1261''' As regards ''children who have died without Baptism,'' the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: ″Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,″ [''Mk'' 10:14; cf. ''1 Tim.'' 2:4.] allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church′s call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism.<ref>Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part Two: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery, Section Two: The Seven Sacraments of the Church, Chapter One: The Sacraments of Christian Initiation, Article 1: The Sacrament of Baptism, VI. The Necessity of Baptism, 1261, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, English translation of the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' for the United States of America copyright 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. English translation of the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica'' copyright 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. page 321. ISBN 1-57455-109-4 </ref>}}
===They go to heaven===
This is based primarily on [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/18-15.htm Luke 18:15], [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/18-16.htm Luke 18:16], [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/18-17.htm Luke 18:17], [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/Matthew/19-14.htm Matthew 19:14], [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/Mark/10-14.htm Mark 10:14], [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/Mark/10-15.htm Mark 10:15], and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/18-14 Matthew 18:14] "'''Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.'''" (KJV) "for to such belongs the kingdom of God." (RSVCE)
==Baptism for the dead==
===Mormon doctrine: baptismal salvation for the unbaptized dead===
[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] practices surrogate water-baptism for the salvation of the souls of the unbaptized dead, including infants, that they might be saved. This is based on their doctrinal interpretation of [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_corinthians/15-29.htm 1 Corinthians 15:29]{{cquote|Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead. (KJV)}}
==="They" not "We"===
Those who deny that baptism on behalf of the dead was ever part of Christian doctrine and apostolic tradition point out that Paul says, "''they''", in reference to others who believe in the resurrection of the dead. He does not say, "Else what shall '''we''' do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are '''we''' then baptized for the dead?" He does not say this. If baptism for the dead had been Christian doctrine they reason that Paul would have included it as a practice that "we" Christians perform on behalf of the dead as a [[Corporal and spiritual works of mercy|work of mercy]]. There is no evidence from the first centuries of Christianity in the writings of the [[Apostolic Fathers]], the [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]], and the first seven [[Ecumenical council]]s of any mention of the practice of being baptized for the dead as being part of Christian [[doctrine]] and [[dogma]]. According to the [[Orthodox Church]] and the [[Catholic Church]] this practice was never a part of [[Apostolic Tradition]]. No Protestant denomination practices baptism for the dead. It is unknown in the [[Church of Christ]]. For this reason the Mormon doctrine of baptizing for the dead is not Christian.
==See also==
==See also==
[[Salvation: declarational salvation and ontological salvation]]
[[Salvation: declarational salvation and ontological salvation]]
[[Substitutionary atonement]]
==References==
==References==