Quote
Speratus' contradictory assertions,

But I would add that <span style="background-color:#FFFF00">baptism is a work of God </span> that is necessary to salvation. Mark 16:16. <span style="background-color:#FF0000">Infants are saved through baptism</span>. Acts 2:38, 39.

However, <span style="background-color:#FFFF00">bringing an infant to baptism and administering baptism are human works</span> <span style="background-color:#FF0000">that do not save any child. </span>Eph. 2:8,9.

No, no, a 1000 times NO, Infants are NOT saved by baptism! They receive the covenant sign and seal through baptism! They become covenant members, not saved members! Grace ALONE, not grace + baptism.

You quote Mark 16:16, a verse for adults who can "believe" NOW, but infants believe LATER. Moreover, if you read the verse again and you will see it actually disproves what you assert;

Quote
Mark 16:16 (ASV) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
Does the verse say he that believeth not and is not baptized shall be condemned, or merely he that believeth not? The emphasis in verse 16 of the ending is not on baptism but on the exercise of faith [by an adult], exactly as in Matthew; cf. also John 3:16, 18, 36. On the other hand, the [adult] who by God’s sovereign grace has surrendered himself to Christ will also gratefully accept the sacrament of baptism as a sign and seal ... baptism follows faith, as also in Acts 2:41; 16:31–34, and everywhere. (Hendriksen, William, and Simon J. Kistemaker)

Now look above. You have TWO contradictory statements. Choose you this day? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" />

Quote
Therefore, the sole reason for an emergency infant baptism is obediance to God's command. Matt. 28:18-20.
Why did not the thief on the cross get an emergency baptism? After all he was in the presence of the One who could walk on water. Certainly if it was all so essential that baptism had to be added to grace for salvation to be "true," Jesus would have baptized him. What example of emergency baptism do you find in the Bible? How do you perform a baptism on a stillborn child, who never sees the light of day? Would you murder a mother to baptize a dying fetus?

Reformed and Always Reforming,