Members of Redeemer Lutheran Church are well informed and in favor of infant Baptism.
However, they are often challenged by members of other denominations about the necessity
of infant Baptism. Many denominations incorrectly teach that babies can't choose to
believe in Christ; therefore, we must wait until the baby can make up its own mind.
However, Christ clearly says John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen
me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and
[that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you."
The critics of infant Baptism also claim babies don't sin, so they don't need to be
baptized. It is true that babies don't practice sin, but they are born with sin. We all
inherit our degenerate nature from Adam. The Bible says Eze. 18:4 & 20
"...the soul that sinneth it shall die."
To compound the confusion many denominations substitute dedication for Baptism. Yet,
nowhere in the New Testament is dedication commanded. It is true that Christ was dedicated
on the fortieth day at the temple according to Old Testament law. His parents also had to
offer an animal sacrifice to accompany the Old Testament dedication. Those who want to
appeal to Old Testament law must also have their child circumcised and make animal
sacrifices if they think that dedication is necessary, otherwise the child can’t
possibly be dedicated. Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the
circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel
before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to
the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present [him] to the
Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall
be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said
in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
In the Old Testament, God commanded that babies be circumcised by the eighth day if
they were to have eternal life, otherwise they would lose their salvation. As the Savior,
Christ was circumcised on the eighth day to validate all circumcised babies in the Old
Testament for eternal life. Gen: 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be
circumcised among you, every man child in your generations..., must needs be circumcised:
and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the
uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be
cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
Girl babies were saved through their circumcised fathers. As in circumcision in the Old
Testament, Christ commanded Baptism for all people in the New Testament for the salvation
of their souls. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Christ
was speaking to Nicodemus here but, obviously, we would not expect Christ to carry out
this conversation with a baby.
Christ commanded that all nations be baptized, which includes babies. Matt. 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: There are many other
places in the Bible where it says all were baptized, which must necessarily include
babies. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and
to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as
many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household,
Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and
was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and
were baptized.
1Cor, 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud
and in the sea;
Notice the command in Acts 2:38 is to every one of you. There must have been
men, women, children, and babies in the crowd when Peter gave this command at Pentecost.
Surely the most important statement about infant Baptism is, the promise is ...
to all of your children.
Neither adults nor children can save themselves. The purpose of Baptism is salvation
from hell. Acts 2:38 above says the purpose of Baptism is for the remission of sins.
Baptism saves us. Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
1Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now
save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Titus 2:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost;
Critics say these passages are all addressed to adults. This is true, for we all know
that babies can't read. Parents are to carry out God's will for themselves and their
children. An adult must believe what God says or else he wouldn't want to be baptized. The
adult then has the child baptized before it understands what it needs, just like
everything else parents do for babies. We don’t ask children if they need
vaccinations nor do we ask them if they need Baptism.
The critics of infant Baptism today often speak just like the Pharisees of Christ's
day. They don't believe that Baptism is from heaven nor does it have God's power to
forgive sins, give faith and the Holy Ghost.
Just a week before his crucifixion Christ asked the Pharisees in the temple: Mat
21:25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? Just like the
Baptists, Pentecostals, Nazarenes, Assemblies of God, Churches of God and hundreds of
others today, the Pharisees refused to believe that water Baptism had any power from
heaven.
They may go so far as to say Baptism is from heaven but then deny that heaven has power
to save. This is nothing more than hatred of the Gospel and the desire to save one's self
without total reliance on Christ and His Word. If John's Baptism was from heaven,
Christ’s Baptism must be at least as powerful as John’s. Baptism is the gateway
to heaven for everyone, including babies. What a comforting thought when you put your head
on the pillow tonight.
Now, if God did not accept the Baptism of infants, he would not have
given any of them the Holy Spirit nor any part of him; in short, all this time down to the
present day no man on earth could have been a Christian.
Further, we are not primarily concerned whether the baptized person believes or not,
for in the latter case Baptism does not become invalid. This, perhaps, is a rather subtle
point, but it is based upon what I have already said, that Baptism is simply water and
God’s Word in and with each other; that is, when the Word accompanies the water,
Baptism is valid, even though faith be lacking. For my faith does not constitute Baptism
but receives it. Baptism does not become invalid even if it is wrongly received or used,
for it is bound not to our faith but to the Word.
We bring the child with the purpose and hope that he may believe, and we pray God to
grant him faith. But we do not baptize him on that account, but solely on the command of
God. Why? Because we know that God does not lie. My neighbor and I--in short, all men--may
err and deceive, but God’s Word cannot err.
Therefore only presumptuous and stupid persons draw the conclusion that where there is no
true faith, there also can be no true Baptism. Likewise I might argue, "If I have no
faith, then Christ is nothing." Or again, "If I am not obedient, then father,
mother, and magistrates are nothing." Baptism doth now save us 1Peter 3:21.