QUESTION:
Does God approve of sprinkling as a true water baptism?
ANSWER:
“Many people, they, what they call, baptize them. The Methodist church does, and I believe the Nazarene. I'm not sure. No. I think that's what they separated on, was infant baptism, the Nazarene and the Free Methodist. But, however, some of them, they do one thing and another. But, and some of them pour a little water on them. Some sprinkle them. And, but we always try to stay just as close to the Bible as we know how. Now, there's no Scripture in the Bible for a baby to be sprinkled, neither is there Scripture in the Bible for any person to be sprinkled. It's not a Scriptural thing. It's an order of the Catholic church.” [Hebrews Chapter Seven 57-0922]
“Like in the Methodist church, and the Nazarene church, and many other churches who has the in... I don't think the Nazarene church does. The Methodist church does, and many of the others or the Evangelical thinkers, that does christen little children by sprinkling them. Now, that's all right, any form that you want to dedicate them to, but just so that you see that we don't put water on them. We just lay hands on them, trying to follow the example of our Lord. And that's the way we want the mothers to understand that why we don't sprinkle water on them, because we don't have any Scripture for that. We don't have Scripture for sprinkling water on adults or children. So the child is too young to be baptized. And baptism is a--the outward expression that a inward work of grace has been done. And the child cannot express it, because there hasn't been any inward work of grace, you see, because it's just a baby. It's the parents bringing the baby to God Who gave them the child, giving it back to Him in dedication. So that's how we use that here.” [Water Baptism 59-0329m]
“What's your name, sister? ["Myers."--Ed.] Myers, Sister Myers. Oh, it's Sister Downing here, you're just coming in the water. These people are from Tennessee. This is Sister Myers, coming from Memphis, Tennessee, to meet her Lord in baptism this morning. I suppose you been baptized once? And as a child. And you're coming now to be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you'll just hold my arm, Sister Myers, I believe, if you'll maybe turn both hands over. I believe, the lady awhile ago... That's it. That's better. Let us bow our heads." [Water Baptism 59-0329m]“O Lord God, Who raised up Jesus from the dead, and has give us the witness by the Holy Ghost, we stand here in this icy tomb this morning, knowing this, that as sure as Jesus came from the grave, so shall we rise in that day. Someday if Jesus tarries, we'll go to a--a muddy grave; dirt will be throwed in on us. But there's no grave can hold us. Jesus gave the promise, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." This young woman comes today with a full consecrated heart, believing that You'll do this for her. Therefore, Lord God, Creator of heavens and earth and Author of Everlasting Life, send Thy blessings upon her, as I fulfill the commission that You gave us to do. And upon the confession of your faith in the Son of God, I baptize thee, my beloved sister, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen. [The sister is immersed, then the curtain is closed--Ed.] God bless you, sister.” [Water Baptism 59-0329m]
“‘The two children aged six to eight years were here at the altar this morning. How soon is it advisable to have them baptized?’ Just as soon as you can. Repent immediately and be baptized, that's in the Name of Jesus Christ. Now, that's question number one. I would advise that. But we find out in the Scriptures...You say, "Is that Scriptural?" When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, three thousand souls were saved and baptized the very same time.
"As many as believed on the Lord were baptized." So as soon as you believe on the Lord and accept Him as your Saviour, go right straight to the water and make your confession start right there: young or old, no matter who it is. You say, "Well, these children might be very young." Jesus said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me; forbid them not, for such is the Kingdom of God." I would daresn't put my hand upon a child that wants to come to the altar or be baptized at any age; I don't care what age they are.” [God Being Misunderstood 61-0723e]
“Now, there's people in the world that believe in what they call infant baptism. And that is, they take these little fellows and not baptize them at all, 'cause they just sprinkle water on them. Now, we don't find that anywhere in the Bible, where they ever did sprinkle anybody, adults, let alone children. And so baptism is a confession that a inward work of grace has been done. And the little infants has no knowledge of sin. Therefore, when Jesus died at the cross, He died to take away the sin of the world. And when the baby is becomes a human being, and borned into this world, they have no sin of their own; therefore they have no repentance to be done. But when that--the Blood of Jesus Christ takes away that sin, 'course the baby is borned in sin, shaped in iniquity, comes to the world speaking lies, and they're sinners by nature, but the Blood of Jesus Christ atones for that. But when the baby is--comes to the age of accountability, and knows what's right and wrong, then it has to repent for what it has done. Its sin now is the sin just like it's born in sin; it's the human sin, the sin now is the sin that Adam and Eve did; and that was omitted by God, by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Now, the baby has no sins to repent from until he sins, then he's got to repent. See? And when he repents, then's the time to be baptized, and then he's baptized by immersing.” [The Key To The Door 62-1007]
“This is the truth, brother. Back, This is the way back. Don't tamper with the prescription. Take it. Believe it. Be filled with the Holy Ghost. It's for every generation. Look, the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to them that's far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Every person, this prescription's to. It's not a handshake or something. But the prescription, exactly the way Peter spoke it here and wrote it out, and God wrote it by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38, is to repent every one of you, not just say, "Well, repent? Now, well, I'm going up and join the church." That doesn't mean that. "Well, I'll go up and be baptized, and that'll do it." No, sir. Water don't save you. Repent or perish. Not baptism to regeneration, I know some of you believe that. But how can you ever take that? No, sir. Repent. “The prescription said repentance come first. Then be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. After you've repented then you're a candidate for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And the promise is unto you, and your children, to them that's far off.” [The Way Back 62-1123]
“Now, many people, they call infinite--infant baptism in the Methodist church, and many of the others, and they sprinkle them with water when they are babies. Now, that's all right so far as I am concerned. But we always try to say just what the Bible says to do. In the Bible there's no--never was such a thing as baptizing an infant. Nowhere down in history till the early Catholic church, as far as we--we know of, which was as far as the Gospel…[The baby cries out--Ed.] So that's just a way of saying it anyhow. See, you have to have the interpretation. So... But in the Bible, they brought little children to Jesus that He might bless them. And He put His hands upon them and blessed them. And that we still continue that.” [Is This The Sign Of The End, Sir? 62-1230e]
Bible References: Ephesians4:5; Acts 2:38; 8:38-39; 10:47; John 3:23; Romans 6:4-5; Mark 16:16
[Answer provided by Bro. Ken Andes, Minister, Lynden, WA USA]