Why Does Our Church Baptize Babies?

Dear Weekly Readers!

May the Grace, Mercy, and Peace of God our Father, and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you today and always!  May God grant even those reading that are not yet believers the Grace to repent (change direction from one’s own ways to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ) and to believe by faith that through the Powerful Name of Jesus and by the Power of His Blood, Sins are Forgiven!

O what joy is available for those that are able to hear!  We know as it says in 1 Peter 5:7,   "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  We can rest in this assurance. He cares.
Today I thought I would share with you a very brief article written by one of our board members. The topic is very fitting when we speak of Faith, and Repentance. The topic is Baptism.

We know and understand that this Sacrament of God has very deep spiritual and wondrous powers that our carnal minds cannot understand. It has a power that mere words cannot even express. We are so thankful that our God is so mighty and powerful that He can work in powerful ways through this Sacrament that we cannot understand with our carnal minds. Baptism is surely a big topic, but this short article and the links provided will give a glimpse into it. Baptism is surely a blessing and we are so thankful for it.

Have a blessed week!  John

Why Does Our Church Baptize Babies?

This is a very good question and worthy of a sound, biblical response. May God help me as I endeavor to respond to this question with as much clarity as I can.

Why do we baptize?

The Lord Jesus gave this instruction to His disciples, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20). We baptize out of obedience to this command/instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is baptism for?

Our Lord Jesus taught His disciples the following: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). Notice in this text that believing is the essential item for salvation (and not water baptism). We thus conclude that baptism is for the believer.

Do little children believe?

Jesus again taught His disciples: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven… And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me…" (Matthew 18:3, 5-6). Jesus here gave the testimony that little children do believe in Him.

Therefore, in summary, we baptize in obedience to the Lord's command; we baptize those who believe, according to the Lord's instruction, and children do believe, according to the Lord's teaching.

So, we baptize all who believe, young and old alike. Some have reasoned in their minds that, because babies cannot understand this water baptism, they should wait until they are old enough to fully comprehend with their own minds. I understand that logic, but the Word teaches us: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness…" (Romans 10:10).

Faith is a God-given substance, not something that we develop by our own human intellect. God has given faith to children as well as adults. Faith is not a matter of the carnal mind. The Apostle Paul teaches us that "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…" (Romans 8:7-9).

The Apostle John has written in his first epistle: "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake" (1 John 2:12). And in verse 13 of that second chapter "…I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father."

The Lord has clearly accepted little children into the household of faith, and so do we! Therefore, we baptize them, not to become God's children, but because they are God's children. In the time of Jesus, even the disciples had similar reasoning as some today. "And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer (allow) little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Luke 18:15-16).

Remember, also, that God commanded Abraham to circumcise baby boys at eight days old as a token of His covenant.

For further information on this subject, see the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ as taught in the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America, pages 15-17, or online at apostoliclutheran.org/doctrine.php.

Sincerely and in the spirit of prayer,  Pastor Scott Niemitalo