JMF

Jesus Messiah Fellowship

Converting Infants And Children
To The Messianic Judaism of Jesus Messiah

A much over-looked aspect of world evangelism by Apostolic Messianic Believers is the conversion of infants and children. The authority for this is found in several scriptures.  

Perhaps the most famous is that of Jesus when he said:

 *Allow little children to come unto me and forbid them not to come unto me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven (Mat 19:14)*.

Also when he said: *Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven(Mat 18:3).*  

Then the Apostle Peter finished off three and one half years of being with Jesus with his statement in Acts 2:39-For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all what are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.*

All infants and children must be made converts to Jesus Messiah.  This is first accomplished by dedication of infants anointing them with oil invoking the name of Jesus Messiah over the child. Little children must also be dedicated to Jesus by the same method. The ideal time for this is when a mother and father themselves become converts or within the first eight days after being born.

Conversions in the time of the Apostles included the whole family.  We find this in Acts 11:14:  *Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.*  

In Acts 16:31 we find the same promise to the jailer at Philippi:  *And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.*

Little children were included in family conversions.  From historical accounts, infants and children up to adulthood who were still residing in the home were dedicated.  After reaching an age where a child could have their own faith, these were baptized and put on the yoke of the Kingdom.  Baptism replaced circumcision.  Infant baptisms did not occur until centuries after the Apostles died.  It was considered a privilege to be a convert to Jesus and his Messianic Judaism.

Because there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles (Rom 10:12), all are considered to be sinners in need of conversion.  There is no special class of children who do not need to go through conversion.  Jewish children must be converted from Talmudic Phariseeism and other invalid Judaisms.  Those among Christian religions who have children are obligated to convert to the Acts 2:38 Messianic Judaism of Jesus because their religions do not have this faith in their theologies as a requirement for salvation.  These must convert and make this act of faith a part of their religious experience and then dedicate their children as soon as possible and thereafter to raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  God then considers all children who are converted by the acts of their parents to be his children.  He imputes to them righteousness based upon the salvation and faith of at least one of the parents (1Cor 7:14).

When these children reach maturity they can reject their conversion if they desire, but to do so is to disgrace the blood of the conversion Covenant.  If these children never renounce that Jesus is the Messiah come in the flesh, they are considered converts to the Judaism of Jesus although they may live a life of sin.  They are not saved, but they have a right to an inheritance of salvation if they will turn from their evil ways and confirm their conversion by sanctification and fulfilling Acts 2:38.  If they have ever been born again and they turn from their inheritance to a world of sin, then they shall be known as backsliders against the Covenant of Jesus Messiah.  This means they have given up their eternal inheritance of life everlasting to be lost and severed from the Lord for all eternity.  Converted children who continue in their Covenant of grace through the conversion of their parents have a Messianic heritage they cannot find or fulfill in the practice of any other religion or denomination.  These that continue in the New Covenant of the Messianic Judaism of Jesus by faith, will be accepted by the Lord upon the grace within Acts 2:38. Therefore an infant or minor is considered a convert even though they are not mature enough to understand, because the parents are performing by faith a favor for their child or children.

The conversion of an infant or child whether it be a male or female is the same. First there is dedication and anointing with oil.  It is also permissible if the parents so choose, to give their son or daughter a Bible name in addition to those given at birth at this time.  Second, if a child is old enough there is the personal act of the son or daughter to use their own faith in fulfillment of the grace in Acts 2:38. This is when a son or daughter desires to be baptized and to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.  I have seen little lambs as young as four and five praying and receiving the gift of the Spirit.  A son or daughter is declared to be a Messianic Believer then on the merits of their own faith. And should anyone abuse these little lambs, Jesus said it would be better for that abuser to put a millstone around their neck and go jump into the sea.  God will avenge all such persecution with unforgivable wrath.  The Messianic Minister shall declare the son or daughter to be a child of God upon this conversion and issue appropriate certificates for dedication, baptism, and Spirit baptism.  Although a person may backslide and fall into sin, as long as they do not renounce Jesus as the Messiah who has come in the flesh, they may be saved, if they will turn from their wicked ways and return unto the Lord for he will abundantly pardon.

The conversion of infants and children is a ministry all of its own.  Much of it can be done by mothers, women, and young handmaidens of the Lord in the Church.  The Pastor will perform the dedications, baptisms, and issuing of certificates for each act of faith.  These should be moments of joy for parents and grandparents.  New infants and children in the Church family are a valuable asset to the congregation and the hope of Christian Judaism.

Look around you the fields are white already to harvest.  The devil and the world want infants and children if we do not see the need and importance of conversion of them to Jesus.  With television, public schools making public fools out of precious little lambs, is there not a reason to be at this ministry with great vigor?  Start with your family; then neighbors; then friends; and within the radius of just that little group there are perhaps 20 to 30 little ones who are in need of a Church family and conversion.  Antichrist is going all out to corrupt these minds against the Bible and Jesus with evolution and God hating indoctrination that no group is the exclusive children of God.  Yet, we know that any boy or girl who has not been converted to Jesus is not sanctified or saved by the blood of Jesus is not a child of God.

If Jesus talks to your heart about this ministry, get down on your knees and pray.  Ask for directions, instructions, how to put together a ministry of conversion of infants and children. Get involved in an Acts 2:38 Messianic Congregation and let your cup of joy be filled again and again and again.  

Lovest thou me?  Jesus asked Simon Peter.  

Peter replied:  Thou knowest that I love thee.

Jesus said:  feed my lambs.  

He did not say to beat them.  He did not say to skin them.  He did not say to fleece them.  He said to feed them!

While Acts 2:38 Messianic Churches do not endorse women preachers, we nevertheless believe females are handmaidens of the Lord and can assist in several other vital functions in reaching children of all ages.  And the work of little lambs is an area of needful attention.

Cohen G. Reckart