SUB-HEADINGS
Why do Lutherans baptize babies?
Where is the 'Trinity' found in the Bible?
more FAQ's to come . . .

•  While it is true that there is no command to baptize 'infants' (babies) in the bible, it is also true that there is no command to baptize 'adults.' The biblical command is to baptize people (all nations.) Our Lord Jesus clearly considered infants (babies) and children to be people. One of the few times that our Lord grew angry was when His disciples tried to keep the children away from Him.

 

• Our Lord tells us to baptize 'all nations.' Matthew 28:19 He never tells us to baptize just reasoning adults. All nations clearly included the children of those nations.

 

• Those who have a problem with 'infant baptism' usually assume that saving faith must involve reason. The line of thought seems to be that since a very young child cannot reason - a child cannot have such faith. Most who follow this line of reasoning believe that baptism is a work of man which demonstrates, or flows from, faith. This is a sharp contrast with the Biblical position that Baptism is a gracious gift of God that bestows saving faith. What we need to remember here is the fact that the Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith and that faith itself is God's gift.

 

• God's Word cannot be bound. A child can be given a gift of a million dollars even though that child cannot appreciate it at the time. So a child can be given the gift of faith through the water and Word of Holy Baptism even if that child cannot appreciate it at the time. A related problem is that by involving man (reason) in the process of salvation one turns God's action into something in which sinful man has a part (making a decision for Christ). In so doing one destroys the heart of the gospel message. (The fact that God saves us by grace, through faith!) Think about it for a moment, if I am involved in my salvation, did I do it right? Was I sincere . . . Faith is turned from a gift of God into a work of man. And since we often make mistakes . . . Thus it is that the assurance of salvation is often lost.

• In Colossians 2:11-12 St. Paul refers to Christian baptism as a circumcision. Since throughout the Old Testament God required circumcision of 'infants' on the eight day after birth (Genesis 17:10-14 - except when one converted as a youth or adult) then clearly the baptism of infants shortly after birth is also a biblical practice.

• Babies are sinners held accountable before God for their sin. (Original sin) This is clearly seen in the fact that children die. The wages of sin is death. The theory that a child is not held accountable by God for his/her sins until they reach some 'age of accountability' cannot be supported from the pages of Holy Scripture. A related problem here is that this 'age of accountability' cannot easily be determined. This also has the effect of eroding ones confidence in God's gift of salvation. (Was I old enough to make the decision to be baptized . . .)

• Finally, in the New Testament we find examples of entire households being baptized. (1 Corinthians 1:16; Acts 11:14, 16:15,33; 18:8) Since almost every household in that day included children, some 'infants' were almost certainly baptized.

• First, some of the early Christian writers were not in favour of it. This shows that it was certainly practiced!

• Secondly, we are told by the early Church Father Origen (240 A.D.) that 'infant' baptism was the normal practice.  He writes: "The church received a tradition from the apostles to give baptism to infants too."

• Thirdly, as already mentioned we find no trace of the children of practicing Christians being baptized as older children or adults.

 

    The Biblical teaching concerning the Holy Trinity is summed up in the Athanasian Creed. Here are some of the main points of that document: There are three distinct divine Persons in the Godhead.
 

• These three Personalities are equal in their characteristics but are only one Being.
• These three Personalities are properly called God, whether separately or collectively.
• They are not three separate Gods, but only one eternal God, Father, Son and Spirit.

 

 "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe . . . " 1 Corinthians 1:20-21 (NASB)
 

•     Here we see something very important. Three distinct persons are all called God. In the Bible we find those who claim to be God (false gods), we also find some references to those whom God has called and commissioned and thus called gods. However, as we search the Bible we find only One God who is God by nature and substance. That is the Triune God.

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; . . .He created him;" Genesis 1:26-27 (NASB)

    It is interesting that in the account of creation the word translated God is plural, and the verb is singular. Setting aside the reason of man, which argues for a plural of majesty at this point, let us examine what God has told us here. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in the plural. Think about that for a moment. God could have chosen a singular noun but He didn't. With a plural noun God then chose to use a singular verb. In English this would be equivalent to saying something like, ‘‘We am going downtown.'' This is certainly bad grammar. Yet this is how God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, plural yet singular. Would God lead us astray in an area as important as His nature?

          Concerning this Luther writes: ". . . the word "Let Us make" is aimed at making sure the mystery of our faith, by which we believe that from eternity there is one God and that there are three separate Persons in one Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Jews indeed try in various ways to get around this passage, but they advance nothing sound against it . . . . In the fifth place, here both appear: "Let Us make" and "He made," in this plural and in the singular; thereby Moses clearly and forcibly shows us that within the very Godhead and the Creating Essence there is one inseparable and eternal plurality." (4929)

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

 Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Luther quotations unless otherwise noted are from: What Luther Says – An Anthology, ed. Ewald M. Plass, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis: MO, ©1959.