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INFANT BAPTISM VS. BELIEVER'S BAPTISM
CONCISE VERSION
REV. F
MARCH 1, 1997
T-F-I I. STATEMENT FOR BELIEVER'S
BAPTISM.
T-F-I A. It is taught by Christ.
(Page 5)
T-F-I 1. Matthew 28:19. (Page 5)
T-F-I a. To
disciple is to bring to faith. (Page 5)
T-F-I b. The
command to teach requires adults. (Page 5)
T-F-I 2. To be baptized means to be
immersed. (Page 7)
T-F-I a. The
Greek word translated "baptism." (Page 7)
T-F-I b.
Examples of baptism confirm the immersion aspect. (Page 7)
T-F-I 1.) John 3:23. (Page 7)
T-F-I 2.) I Corinthians 10:2. (Page 7)
T-F-I B. It is given as a command to
believers. (Page 7)
T-F-I C. The Scriptures teach only
believers are to be baptized. (Page 7)
T-F-I 1. John 3:5. (Page 9)
T-F-I 2. Titus 3:5. (Page 9)
T-F-I 3. Acts 22:16. (Page 9)
T-F-I 4. Romans 6:3-5 and Colossians
2:12. (Page 9)
T-F-I 5. I Corinthians 15:29. (Page
11)
T-F-I D. Believers’ baptism is the
only baptism shown in teaching and example. (Page 11)
T-F-I 1. Acts 8:37. (Page 11)
T-F-I E. The purpose of baptism is to
signify death to self. (Page 11)
T-F-I 1. Colossians 2:12. (Page 11)
T-F-I 2. Romans 6. (Page 11)
T-F-I II. STATEMENT AGAINST
BELIEVER'S BAPTISM.
An examination of the "believe and be
baptized" verses.
T-F-I A. The context of the "believe
and be baptized" verses. (Page 17)
T-F-I B. A Scriptural precedent that
must be considered. (Page 17)
T-F-I 1. Romans 4 and Genesis 17.
(Page 17)
T-F-I 2. The ramifications of Romans
4 and Genesis 17. (Page 19)
T-F-I 3. Part I falls short of its
purpose in establishing believers’ baptism as Scriptural. (Page 19)
T-F-I III. FOR INFANT BAPTISM.
T-F-I A. The Abrahamic covenant is a
special relationship initiated by God. (Page 25.)
T-F-I 1. The Abrahamic covenant is
dependent solely on grace, not on law. (Page 25.)
T-F-I 2. The covenant contained
the Gospel. (Page 29.)
T-F-I 3. There is blessing for those
who obey the covenant and curse for those who break the covenant.
(Page 31.)
T-F-I 4. God referred to the covenant
as a marriage. (Page 33.)
T-F-I 5. The Abrahamic covenant
included his physical descendants. (Page 33.)
T-F-I B. Key
section in this debate: Baptism is the New Testament equivalent of
Old Testament circumcision. (Page 33.)
T-F-I 1. The Abrahamic covenant
(which circumcision represented in the Old Testament) still exists
in the New Testament. (Page 33.)
T-F-I 2. Both the meaning and
function of baptism and circumcision are the same. This
indicates their essential equality. (Page 39.)
T-F-I a. Baptism
and circumcision primarily symbolize purification. (Page 39.)
T-F-I 1.)
Circumcision represents the removal of impurities. (Page 39.)
T-F-I 2.) An
important part of baptism is purification. (Page 39.)
T-F-I b. Both
circumcision and baptism perform the same function. (Page
47.)
T-F-I 3. Colossians 2:11-12 equate
circumcision and baptism. (Page 49.)
T-F-I 4. Final conclusion: the full
impact of "1." through "3." above. (Page 49.)
T-F-I IV. Statement Against
Infant Baptism. (Page 55)
T-F-I A.
Circumcision pointed forward to Christ, baptism exists in a time
when the revelation concerning Christ is complete. Hence baptism is
to be reserved for those for whom Christ’s sacrifice is a personal
reality. (Page 55)
T-F-I B. The
Abrahamic covenant was not made with either believers or Abraham’s
physical seed. (Page 55)
T-F-I 1. The covenant was not made
with believers. (Page 55)
T-F-I 2. The covenant was not made
with Abraham’s physical seed. (Page 57)
T-F-I C. Baptism is not the seal of
the new covenant. (Page 59)
T-F-I D. The Old
Testament had to do with the letter, the New Testament is spiritual
in nature. (Page 61)
T-F-I 1. The Old Testament had the
circumcision of the flesh - the New Testament has the circumcision
of the heart. (Page 61)
T-F-I 2. Circumcision was
indiscriminately applied (according to the letter). (Page 61)
T-F-I a.
Strangers and the Passover. (Page 63)
T-F-I b. Jewish
children were circumcised without respect to the faith of the
parents. (Page 63)
T-F-I c. The
Shechemites. (Page 63)
T-F-I d. The
circumcision of slaves. (Page 63)
T-F-I E. The transition
from the Old Testament to the New Testament indicates baptism didn’t
replace circumcision. (Page 65)
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