I just read an article last night about this subject.
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~revival/ask.html
Its a little long. basically it is talking about the method that modern Christians use to "get people saved"...that is by "asking Jesus into their hearts"...the author is saying that 'asking Jesus into your heart" isnt found in the Bible anywhere but that it is just a thing that has developed as modern society has tried to make so many things much more convenient.
Anyway the rest of the article talks quite a bit about baptism being needed for true salvation. It quotes lots of verses about Baptism.
personally I do not know where "sprinkling" came from, especially to infants although I know it is associated now with Catholic churches. In the old testament, things were sprinkled with blood to "cleanse" them so maybe it comes from that.
The thought that comes to my mind first off is a scripture that talks about John the Baptist being at a place where there was a lot of water...pretty much implying an immersion or "dunking"..not a sprinkling.
John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there.
Also this one which clearly denotes immersion or dunking.
Matthew 3:16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water;
here is jesus "great commision" in mark, saying that beleif and baptism is needed
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
And here Matthew 28:19-20 [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Until Jesus actually died and was ressurected, even though it is written in the New testament, it was still considered the "Old Covenant"...so actually for us today we need to look in the book of acts to see how they did things after Jesus had ascended back to heaven.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added [to them.]
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, [here is] water. What hinders me from being baptized?"
Another one implying immersion Acts 8:38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed [their] stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
Acts 9 is interesting as it talks about Sauls conversion and his "damascus road" experience. he saw the blinding light and heard God speaking to him and then he was blind for 3 days. God sent someone to come talk to saul and after the guy laid hands on saul and prayed for him, he could see again and he got baptized. I suppose we all sort of think that paul was a Christian after the damascus road experience yet still he needed to be baptized.
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes [something] like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Some people use the example of the theif on the cross, saying that he didnt get baptized. Well, I guess not, hehe....besides as I said, that was still under the Old Covenant.
other scriptures say things like Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
that verse doesnt mention baptism, but whenever we see people actually being born again, or saved, we see Baptism
And here we see paul in jail, and the jail gaurd getting saved...paul tells him to believe on the lord and he will be saved...but it goes on to show the guy got baptised....so if we just quote the part about believing in the Lord we sort of take it out of context because in actuality the guy was baptised.
Acts 16:30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed [their] stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
What is preached today is that baptism is just "symbolic". just an outward expression....it seems in the book of acts that they didnt look at it as symbolic. that thing in acts 16:30 was somewhere around 1 or 2 in the morning so I doubt someone would do a merely symbolic act at that hour.
JP