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Originally Posted by armourbearer  Quote:
Originally Posted by Iconoclast Quote:
Originally Posted by armourbearer If you allow a two year old to be baptised on profession of faith in Christ, is he then admitted to the table? | I would not allow for this. If someone did they would have to allow for access to the table, and voting on matters of church discipline also- but this would drift into a different thread altogether. | So is the age of credible profession pre-requisite for baptism one in which the professor would then be able to come to the Lord's table and vote on matters of church discipline? On that basis, would it be correct to conclude that children of no age can be admitted members of Christ's kingdom, and that Christianity is for adults only? |
Matthew,
That is a fair question. you ask;
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On that basis, would it be correct to conclude that children of no age can be admitted members of Christ's kingdom, and that Christianity is for adults only?
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No. It cannot be said that the Kingdom is adults only. Those believing children that the scripture speaks of are members of the Kingdom by virtue of the Spirit quickening them.
If the Spirit has brought them to life, they are adopted as sons
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8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
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Placing water on someone, infant or adult does not do what is described here.
Placing water on someone,does not place them in Christ's body.[kingdom]
Only when the Spirit indwells someone are they in the kingdom.
Only when the Spirit indwells them, are they in union with Christ.
Not placing water on someone,adult,or infant does not keep them out of the kingdom.
Not placing water on someone does not stop them from being placed in the body [kingdom/church] by God.
Everything happens in it's time. Infants, cannot speak, drive, marry , or reproduce. Yet in time they will. Just as when young teens go through puberty and can reproduce, we do not encourage this because we recognize that there is more to it, than just having the physical parts or ability.
We recognize a certain level of maturity and development even with physical things,why not more so with spiritual things? Even among believer's someone who aspires to eldership, should not be a novice!
If God saves young people that is great.It is a great mercy of God to spare them much sin in their experience,and they can learn early to redeem the time.
I think that to tell a child - to live as a christian- without the Holy Spirit- is a fools errand. This is to go against the grain of the main portions of what the scripture teaches about sanctification.
The child is Holy 1Cor7:14 in that he has the advantage of living in a christian home,and exposed to the truth of God. God does promise to work through households. Nevertheless that work must take place by God, before anyone is added to the kingdom.
If a child is saved, they will evidence fruit of that salvation.
If anyone is saved, they will evidence fruit of that salvation.