Question: Does the expression "and thy house" in Acts 16:31 and 33 teach that babies are to be baptized for salvation?
Answer: In regard to the phrase,
"...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and THY HOUSE,"
...the "house" of course refers to the members of the family who can be saved by believing, exactly the same way as the Philippian Jailer. No babies are mentioned at all, as little babies are unable to comprehend and believe the Gospel. Verse 32 lets us know that ALL of the Jailer’s household were old enough to comprehend and believe.
"And they (Paul and Silas) spake unto him (the Jailer) the word of the Lord, and to ALL that were in his house."
Verse 34 informs us that ALL in the Jailer’s house did believe.
"And when he had brought them into his house, he (the Jailer) set meat before them, and rejoiced, BELIEVING IN GOD WITH ALL HIS HOUSE."
A. Origin of Infant Baptism:
Where did this damnable doctrine of baptizing infants ever come from? Your Catholic and Lutheran organizations, both, try to convince their parishioners that this is what God's Word teaches. The problem is, nowhere in the Bible can you find one verse that even hints that babies are to be baptized; nor, find that one infant that Paul, the other apostles, or anyone ever baptized!
Should one desire to know the truth about who dreamed up this infant baptismal regeneration, which has deceived millions into eternal damnation; you might go to the Catholic organization for their answer. I would suggest you examine the Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 319, Paragraph 1252, "Infant Baptism," which reads as follows:
"The practice of Infant Baptism is an immemorial TRADITION of the church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the Second Century on, and it is quite possible, that from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized."
In reading their statement, it reveals that infant baptism is a TRADITION; therefore not found anywhere in the Word of God! The words "quite possible" and "may also" show they are grasping at straws to try to give some kind of authority to an unscriptural TRADITION!
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Colossians 2:8
Note: Above is from the book, A Biblical Examination Of Baptism, by Dr. Max D. Younce. You can read it online free here: Click Here to Read Online
Nowhere in Scripture do we find instruction that babies are to be baptized. This is the invention of man which has become a practice and tradition in some churches. In talking to various pastors, I have asked those who do this if they tell their people that a baby will spend eternity in Hell, unless it is baptized. Of all the pastors I have talked with, not one has ever admitted to telling their people that. All babies and children under the age of accountability automatically go to Heaven if they die.
To say a baby has to be baptized to go to Heaven is a direct attack against the attributes of God, Himself; His love, justice, and veracity, among many. It is inconceivable to the rational mind and God’s Word, the Bible, that God would ever send a baby to Hell, when it is incapable of understanding the difference between right and wrong. Only through man’s tradition has such a perverted philosophy found it’s way into the church. Every individual capable of being responsible for their actions of right and wrong, which includes the ability to understand the consequences of rejecting the Gospel, is under the condemnation of Almighty God.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."- Romans 3:23
Since Jesus Christ paid for our sins by His death and Resurrection, He assures everyone that,
"He that believeth on him (Christ) is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18
