Some Reasons Baptists Do Not Baptize Infants: 1. In every New Testament command and instance of baptism the requirement of faith precedes baptism. So infants incapable of faith are not to be baptized. 2. There are no explicit instances of infant baptism in all the Bible. In the three “household baptisms” mentioned (household of Lydia, Acts 16:15; household of the Philippian jailer, Acts 16:30–33; household of Stephanus, 1 Corinthians 1:16) no mention is made of infants, and in the case of the Philippian jailer, Luke says explicitly, “They spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house” (Acts 16:32), implying that the household who were baptized could understand the Word. 3. Paul (in Colossians 2:12) explicitly defined baptism as an act done through faith: “…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God.” In baptism you were raised up with Christ through faith – your own faith, not your parents’ faith. If it is not “through faith” – if it is not an outward expression of inward faith – it is not baptism. 4. The apostle Peter, in his first letter, defined baptism this way, “…not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism is “an appeal to God for a good conscience.” It is an outward act and expression of inner confession and prayer to God for cleansing, that the one being baptized does, not his parents. 5. When the New Testament church debated in Acts 15 whether circumcision should still be required of believers as part of becoming a Christian, it is astonishing that not once in that entire debate did anyone say anything about baptism standing in the place of circumcision. If baptism is the simple replacement of circumcision as a sign of the new covenant, and thus valid for children as well as for adults, as circumcision was, surely this would have been the time to develop the argument and so show that circumcision was no longer necessary. But it is not even mentioned.

John Piper

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
		Dips &, Sauces	1	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1	tb	Olive oil
1/2	c	Finely chopped onion
1 1/2	ts	Minced garlic
1	cn	Tomato puree; (28 oz)
1/2	ts	Salt
1/2	ts	Pepper
1/2	ts	Sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oil in a medium sauce pan. Add onion and cook over medium-low heat
5 minutes, stirring occasionally until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute
until fragrant.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer
partially covered, 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Makes 3 cups
NOTES : Stir in the following into your sauce for more pizzazz:
* Ground chili powder, cumin and chopped Jalapeno peppers.
* Dried basil, oregano, and chopped fresh parsley.
* Refrigerated pesto.
* Diced oil-marinated sun-dried tomatoes and dried thyme
Recipe by: Woman's Day 6/24/97
Posted to recipelu-digest by Rodeo46898 <[email protected]> on Mar 2, 1998

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