From the time of Jesus, it has been the practice of the Christian Church to baptize all people, infants, children and adults. Why? There are several reasons, all connected to what Jesus taught in the Bible.
Reason One: Because it’s a command from Jesus Himself!
After Easter, the resurrected Jesus met with His disciples over 40 days. During that time, and before He left to take His place in heaven, Jesus gave what Christians call His “Great Commission” to His disciples (that includes us, too!):
Matthew 28:16-20 (New Living Translation)
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Did you see the word all in verses 18, 19 and 20? That word has meaning. In verse 18 it means Jesus is in charge of all of us – and His commands apply to everyone. When Jesus says all in verse 19, He means all people, all ages, all sexes, all races, for all time – Jesus commands all human beings to be baptized. “All” means everyone – adults and children – you and me! Jesus commands baptism.
Reason Two: Because “All” people are sinners!
Saint Paul describes the state of all of us humans – from the moment of conception until the moment of our death – in this way:
Romans 3:23-24 (New Living Translation)
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Everyone – all of us – are sinners. That means both infants and adults, little children and seniors – all of us have the burden of sin and, because of that sin, the burden of death. Read all of Romans 3 to learn more about the effect of sin on all people and what God has done about it.
Reason Three: “All” people – including infants and children – can believe!
While there are several teachings of Jesus about the faith of children, let’s just look at one:
Matthew 19:13-15 (New Living Translation)
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could lay His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him.
14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left.
We know adults can believe in Jesus. But here, Jesus says the “Kingdom of Heaven” (that’s faith!) belongs to children, too! That means the gift that brings the Holy Spirit to people – baptism – belongs to children, too.
Children are not saved by their young age or supposed “innocence” – nor are they exempt from the “wages of sin” because they haven’t yet reached what some Christians call “the age of consciousness.” Because they are a part of “all sinners,” they earn what God says all sinners earn: death!
Romans 6:23 (New Living Translation)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reason Four: Baptism is the only way we can reach infants with God’s grace because of Jesus’ command!
We can’t preach the Word of God to infants. They don’t understand language. Nor may we give them the Lord’s Supper. That’s for Christians who can confess their sins. The only Means of Grace available to infants and children is Baptism!
And, oh, what grace it brings! Some 500 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther wrote the “Small Catechism” about the basic teaching all Christians should understand: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession and Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. Using a “Q&A” format, Dr. Martin Luther explained baptism in this way:
Q. What is Baptism?
A. Baptism is not just plain water, but it is water connected with God's command and united with God's Word.
Q. Which Word of God is this?
A. The one which our Lord Christ spoke in the last chapter of Matthew: ``Go into all the world, teaching all heathen nations, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit.''
Q. What does Baptism give? What good is it?
A. It gives the forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the Devil, gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, just as God's words and promises declare.
Q. What are these words and promises of God?
A. Our Lord Christ spoke one of them in the last chapter of Mark: ``Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be damned.''
Q. How can water do such great things?
A. Water doesn't make these things happen, of course. It is God's Word, which is with and in the water. Because, without God's Word, the water is plain water and not baptism. But with God's Word it is a Baptism, a grace-filled water of life, a bath of new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul said to Titus in the third chapter: ``Through this bath of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that we, justified by the same grace are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.''
Q. What is the meaning of such a water Baptism?
A. It means that the old Adam in us should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance, and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, in turn, a new person daily come forth and rise from death again. He will live forever before God in righteousness and purity.
Q. Where is this written?
A. St. Paul says to the Romans in chapter six: ``We are buried with Christ through Baptism into death, so that, in the same way Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, thus also must we walk in a new life.''
Still have questions? Ready to arrange for a baptism? Please contact Pastor Chuck. He’s here to help.
