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 To
parents expecting baby...
I
understand that you are expecting the birth of a child. Congratulations!
This is a great time for you of anticipation, excitement, much planning, but
also some very serious and deep reflection on life and your responsibility
to your baby. Perhaps you've already talked about the spiritual issue of
baptism; or perhaps you've just been so absorbed with many other things that
it hasn't yet been discussed.
Let me share with you some
important thoughts, and encourage you to talk with me soon if you think this
would be helpful. In essence, I want to encourage you to make plans for the
baptism of your baby as soon as possible - not out of fear, but out of joy
and eagerness to see your child become also a Child of God through this
great miracle.
Often, Christian parents know
that baptism is important, but they can't quite remember why it is
important. A return to Scripture clears things up for us and encourages us
that our commitment to Baptism is not only good, but that it is in keeping
with the truth of God's Holy Word. It is helpful for us to answer from the
Bible some very important questions about Baptism. |
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WHAT ARE
ITS BENEFITS?
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In Acts 2 (v. 37-39), Peter
tells a large crowd of people gathered on Pentecost that Baptism washes
away sins, and gives the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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In Acts 22 (v. 16), Paul
reiterates this truth when he says that he was baptized for the
forgiveness of his sins.
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Peter writes in his first
letter (ch. 3:21) that Baptism now saves us.
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Jesus
Himself taught (in John 3:5) that one cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven
unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
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From these four Bible
passages, we are reminded that Baptism is far more than a tradition of the
church through the generations. Instead, it is a gift from God Himself,
and brings tremendous eternal blessings.
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One who is baptized,
according to Scripture, receives the forgiveness of sins and the gift of
the Holy Spirit; in fact, one who is baptized receives salvation. This is
wonderful, of course, and very obviously leads to the second question.
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WHO IS TO BE
BAPTIZED? |
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The answer does
correspond directly with what we have already learned. The person who is to
be baptized is the person who needs to be forgiven of sins; who needs the
gift of the Holy Sprit; who needs to be saved.
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Simply answered, anybody who
is a sinner needs to be baptized.
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This leads us directly to
the issue of infant baptism, since we know the clear teaching of the Bible
that we are born sinful. Infants, then, are in need of baptism because
they are sinners in need of the blessings offered in Baptism. Remember
that the blessings of Baptism have nothing to do with our own efforts, but
with the promises of God. Since infants are sinful by their very nature,
we gratefully and eagerly bring them to the gracious water of Baptism. It
is not only our responsibility to do so, but it is our privilege and joy
as well.
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There are several helpful
Bible passages which teach the doctrine known as "original sin". In Psalm
51:5, David writes, "I was sinful from birth; sinful from the time my
mother conceived me." In John 3:6, our Lord teaches, "flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." The Apostle Paul writes to
the Ephesian believers, "All of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and
thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (ch. 2:3)
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Basically put, newborns are
sinners and in need of a Savior. His blessings are given in and through
Baptism. Infants are to be baptized. A very interesting and compelling
study can be made by looking at the practice of the early Church; though I
cannot share it all in this brief section, it can clearly be said that the
early believers all practiced infant baptism. This serves as a strong
affirmation of the Bible's teachings.
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WHEN SHOULD ONE
BE BAPTIZED? &
WHERE SHOULD ONE BE BAPTIZED?
The third and fourth questions can
be answered together, since the same sections from Scripture are useful in
both issues. Those questions are: when and where is a person to be baptized?
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In the Book of Acts, we are
given several stories of Baptisms. They are exciting and enlightening
stories of God's working in the lives of people. I can share with you only
briefly here, but I would encourage you to look at these stories more
fully on your own. What we will discover is that, in the New Testament,
baptism was never delayed for any reason. It was too precious a gift
(of salvation!) to hold off, even for a time. Baptism forgives sins? Why
wait? Baptism gives the gift of the Holy Spirit? Why wait? Baptism saves
you? Why wait?
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In Acts 8 (vv. 26-40), we
read of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Out in the desert, having heard a
clear teaching of Jesus, this man from Ethiopia said, "Look! Here is
water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" There was, of course, no reason; so
Philip baptized him then and there. No delay. No waiting to get to the
city and attract a crowd; no waiting to invite friends and relatives.
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In Acts 9 (vv. 1-19), we
read of Saul's conversion. When Ananias (as commanded by the Lord) went to
Saul, it led to Saul's' immediate baptism - in the upper room, even before
Saul took his meal. There clearly was an urgency in the situation; but not
an urgency of fear and panic. No, but an urgency of joy and eagerness.
Note that there was no delay. The baptism, which brings all the blessings
of salvation already noted, was too precious to be delayed.
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WHAT DOES ALL
THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
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Your baby will certainly be
beautiful, precious, cuddly, and dear; but he or she will still be a
sinner. God's love for your child is so amazing and wonderful that He has
provided the fantastic gift of baptism to make your child His own, too.
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The Bible indicates no good
reason to delay a baptism, but rather an eagerness for this great gift as
soon as possible. We encourage you to respond to this teaching, not out of
fear, but joy - to think of the greatness of your child being made God's
own child!
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Please consider
baptism for your baby very soon after birth. The spiritual blessings than
belong to your dear child.
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The baptism can
be administered in church, we do encourage you
not to delay this marvelous blessing from your child, but to schedule that
soon after birth. We can also bring about a
baptismal service in your own home, if you'd like.
- What
About?
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Essays and
pamphlets explaining Lutheran Beliefs about various subjects, including Holy
Baptism
Call us! We'll be
thrilled to discuss this further with you.
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Lookup a word or passage in the Bible |
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For
further reading on Holy Baptism:
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Baptism:
Christ Marks Us as His Own - by the
Rev. Dr. David P. Scaer
Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Theological
Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.
God's presence in Baptism is more than His working in
every place in the universe, but in Baptism He takes us and our children
to Himself and He comes to live within us. |
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Into the
Womb of the Church Again - by the Rev.
Kent J. Burreson
Pastor, St. Peter Lutheran Church, Mishawaka, Ind.
The baptismal rite, and in particular the Divine Name and
life-giving water, is the womb of the Church out of which the Lord
resurrected us to new life in Christ. |
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Infant
Baptism - An Ongoing Event in the Christian Life -
by the Rev. Peter J. Scaer
Pastor, Emanuel Lutheran Church, Arcadia, Ind.
Infant Baptism gives expression to the truth that we have
been saved by grace alone, apart from works. Infant Baptism is God's
love made concrete and real. |
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Baptism:
A Christological Work - by the Rev. Prof. Lawrence A. Rast
Professor of Historical Theology, Concordia Theological
Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Baptism is pure grace - God's gift in Christ that gives
everlasting life. |
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Our True
Identity - by the Rev. Herbert C. Mueller
Jr.,
President of the Southern Illinois District, The Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod
In Baptism, God gives us our true identity, our real life,
our Christian vocation, our daily bath, and our eternal destiny. In essence,
these gifts of God are each found in Christ, given when we are buried with
Christ in His death and raised with Him in His resurrection (in Baptism).
Jesus shapes our identity, gives us our real life, calls us to a life of
service, daily cleanses us, and assures us we are His forever. |
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Baptism--Past, Present, and Future Tense -
by the Rev. Dr. David P. Scaer,
Professor and Chairman of Systematic Theology, Holder of the
David P. Scaer Chair of Systematic and Biblical Theology at Concordia
Theological Seminary
The New Testament knows of only one Baptism that can be
administered only once. This one-time act continues to offer the blessings
of salvation, even when those baptized no longer have faith. Without faith,
these blessings cannot be received, but they are still there. Since Baptism
is an act of the Triune God who is present in the water, this Sacrament
remains the firm foundation to which all who are baptized can return to find
salvation. It creates, confirms, and works through faith, but it does not
depend on it. |
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Baptism in
the Public Square - b y Jennifer L. Hamer,
Member of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Riverview, Fla.,
and Teacher at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Brandon, Fla.
Is Baptism necessary? In conversations with friends or family
members, I am sure we have all encouraged statements such as "I am going to
let my child decide if he wants to be baptized" or "I believe in God; I do
not need baptism." Baptism is God's seal on this child for all of eternity,
never to be outgrown or cast aside. Baptism is not dependent on the
knowledge or emotions of the child, nor the child's ability to make a
decision. Nor is it necessary in the case of infants for faith to precede
baptism. It is enough that the parents answer on behalf of the child. |
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I am
Baptized: What Does This Mean? - by the Rev. John T. Pless,
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Editor of For the
Life of the World magazine. |
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