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Baptism in the early Church, and those churches who continue the
Apostolic traditions today, holds far more meaning than just for the
remission of sins. This was expressed in many ways, but none so
clearly than the baptizing of infants. In the early Christian Church
baptizing infants before they know what is going on was a very
common practice considered as an expression of God's great love for
us. When infants were brought to baptism it was not because they
believe but in order that they might believe. Baptism plants the
seed of faith in every human soul and then is nourished by Christian
training in the family and in the church. This seed of faith, when
nourished properly, will grow to produce a mature Christian. Baptism
introduces us to the love of God and opens us to the grace of the
Holy Spirit with no requirement of understanding the awesome gift
and adoption we receive through Baptism.
Saint John Chrysostom (4th Century) writes, "For this reason we
baptize children, although they have no sins … in order to confer
upon them sanctification, adoption, inheritance … that they may be
members of Christ and become the abode of the Holy Spirit." In the
New Testament the Apostle Peter said, "Repent and let each of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the
promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off as
many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." (Acts 2:38, 39)
Even the Old Testament symbols of salvation and baptism include
infants. For example, Circumcision, the sign of God's covenant
between the people of Abraham and Himself, was performed on every
male child who was eight days old (Genesis 17:12). Whether or not
you believe in infant baptism, as the Apostles and early Christian
Church did, we can all find common ground in the many positive
meanings of baptism that extend beyond the remission of sins;
"birth", "new birth", "clothing", "anointing", "gifts", "washing",
"enlightening", "refashioning", "seal", etc.
I’ll close with the inspiration words of Saint Gregory of Sinai
(late 13th and early 14th centuries) when he was teaching about
baptism, "Become what you already are, find Him Who is already
yours, listen to Him Who never ceases speaking to you, own Him Who
already owns you."
May the peace and love of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you now
and unto the endless ages. Amen.
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