When should children be

baptized?

“Little children should be baptized when they are brought to Baptism by those who have authority over them.” Catechism p. 202

Read Matthew 10:13-15

– Children should be baptized for the “kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Why do we baptize babies? They are included in the words “all nations.

“It is true that there is no example in Scripture of a baby being baptized. However, to conclude from this that babies are not to be baptized is absurd. Neither are there any specific examples of the elderly being baptized, or teenagers, or little children. Instead we read about men (Acts 2:41; 8:35) women (Acts 16:14-15), and entire households being baptized (Acts 10:24,47-48; 16:14-15; 16:30-33; 1 Co. 1:16). The authors of the New Testament documents didn't feel compelled to give examples of every age group or category being baptized. Why should they have? Certainly they understood that "all nations" is all-inclusive.” A Lutheran Pastor

Read Acts 2:38-39

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Jesus Invites Children to Come to

Him

Read Luke 19:15-17

– Jesus loved the

little children.

– He also suggests

that we should

receive the

kingdom of God

like a little child.

Babies are sinners too…

Original Sin

Read Ephesians 2:3

We are born sinful

From our conception we are guilty and self-centered.

Babies are in need of forgiveness too!

2.) Our need for baptism (Psalm 51; 5; John 3:5-7; Acts 2:38; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:3-4). According to the Bible, all people--including infants--are sinful and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). King David confesses, "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Ps. 51:5). Like adults, infants die--sure proof that they too are under the curse of sin and death. According to the Bible, baptism is God's gracious way of washing away our sins--even the sins of infants--without any help or cooperation on our part. It is a wonderful gift of a loving and gracious God.

Infant Baptism (continued)

Those churches which deny baptism to infants

usually do so because they have a wrong

understanding of baptism. They see baptism as

something we do (e.g., a public profession of

faith, etc.) rather than seeing it as something

that God does for us and in us. None of the

passages listed above, nor any passage in

Scripture, describes baptism as "our work" or as

"our public confession of faith…."

Instead, these passages describe baptism as a gracious and powerful work of God through which He miraculously (though through very "ordinary" means) washes away our sins by applying to us the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection (Acts 2:38:39; Acts 22:16), gives us a new birth in which we "cooperate" just as little as we did in our first birth (John 3:5-7), clothes us in Christ's righteousness (Gal. 3:26-27), gives us the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-6), saves us (1 Peter 3:21), buries us and raises us up with Christ as new creatures (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:11-12), makes us holy in God's sight (Eph. 5: 25-26) and incorporates us into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).

All of this, according to the Bible,

happens in baptism, and all of it is God's

doing, not ours. The promises and power

of baptism are extended to all in

Scripture--including infants-and are

available to all. Parents and sponsors then

have the privilege and responsibility of

nurturing the baptized child in God's love

and in His Word so that he or she may

know and continue to enjoy the

wonderful blessings of baptism

throughout his or her life.

So can a baby have faith? Baptism is a mystery, and God tells us that all

nations should be baptized… so yes!

Read Matthew 18:6

Read Luke 1: 15, 41-44

John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit

before could use his brain to make any

decision.

Through Baptism the Holy Spirit works faith

Brief Review: The 4 reasons Babies

should be baptized

They are included in the words “all nations”

in Matthew 28:19.

Jesus invites the little children to come to

Him. Luke 18:15-17

As sinners, babies need what baptism

offers, “being born of water and the Spirit”

John 3:5-6

Babies can have faith. Matthew 18:6

Parents Need to be Faithful!

In the baptismal vows that parents are promising to take care of the child not only physically but spiritually!

Parent’s bring their children to be baptized and then assume the responsibility for teaching the child.

Jesus said make disciples, teach, baptize parents assume this role of Christian teacher and mentor for their child!

Parents and Sponsors: Spiritual

Caretakers

“6 Train a

child in the

way he

should go,

and when he

is old he

will not turn

from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

What is the purpose of a sponsor?

1. To serve as witnesses that the child has

been properly baptized

2. Sponsors will see to it that the child is

given a Christian education; especially

should the parents die or be neglectful.

3. They are to remember them in their

prayers.

God Parents

How many of you

regularly visit with

your God Parents?

Some day you may be

a sponsor to a child or

adult… we need to

keep in mind these

responsibilities!

Read Ephesians 4:16