Why do we Lutherans baptize infant children?

Rev. Rob Taylor
 

Psalm 51:5 – Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

1. We are born with a Sinful Nature - Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Every child is born pure and innocent, but they are born with a sinful nature. That means it is in their nature to sin, or in other words, as they grow their nature will lead them eventually into willful sin. Think about it; have you ever had to tell a child to stop being good? It's usually the opposite. "Johnnie, stop hitting your sister!" Or, "I told you to share, now give it back!" Is usually how it goes with children. Of course a child can be good as well, but inside them, like everyone else, is the nature we all have inherited from Adam and Eve, that will eventually lead them to sin in some way or another. Have you ever noticed that some children are born more inclined to one particular sin or another, for example, addiction, promiscuity, lying, drinking, and so on? It is in our nature to sin, as the Bible teaches, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
   
   

2. Infants Can Believe - Mary heard the words of the Angel Gabriel that she would conceive and bear a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary believed the Angel. Mary then went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. We read about the encounter in Luke 1:41, “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
     

3. Infant Baptism is Commanded by Jesus - Luke 18:15, “Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.'" Luke calls the children (ta Bsephey), which in the Greek clearly means infants. Jesus knows that infants are able to receive spiritual blessings and are actual members of His Kingdom. Matthew 18:6 and 1 John 2:13 support this. So then think about this: If Jesus is holding an infant, who can not repent, believe or have faith, as some would argue, then how is it he tells his disciples to have faith like they do? Jesus states we must receive the Kingdom (believe) as an infant.
     

4. Infant Baptism is Supported By Scripture - It was common practice, especially after Jesus' instruction in Mark 10:13-16. The Great Commission states in Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" (KJV). Baptism is not just for one age bracket, it is for all nations. Scripture records that entire family households were baptized, such as Cornelius’ entire household and the Jailer at Philippi and his entire family (1 Cor. 1:16; Acts 11:14; 16:15,33). It was common practice of the Apostles/Early Church. Early Church Father Origen wrote, "The Church has accepted from the Apostles the tradition of giving Baptism also to the little children" (Origen, Epistola ad Rom. V).
   
   

5. Baptism Replaces the Covenant of Circumcision - Colossians 2:11-12 states that Baptism supplanted the Old Testament Covenant of Circumcision. Just as Circumcision was a means for children and adults to enter God's covenant of faith with Abraham and his descendants, since Christ, baptism is therefore now the means of entering the New Testament Covenant of faith with God. The Bible states, "In Him [Christ Jesus] you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13) And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14) having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." The handwriting of requirements that was against us were the 613 Commandments, including the 10 Commandments.
     

6. Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins - Scripture clearly states that baptism is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins - Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:20-21. How does that work? If we look back at Colossians 2:11-12 again, in verse 14 we read that for those who are baptized, God wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us by nailing it to the cross. That handwriting of requirements that was against us was no less than the Commandments God wrote with his own finger which he gave Moses at Mount Sinai. God wiped them out by nailing them to the cross. God nailed them to the cross as payment in full. That means when we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into a covenant that states "payment for sin was paid in full at the cross."  Notice that also that in verse 12 the Apostle Paul mentions, "in which you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God." Without faith in the working of God, in other words, believing that God is able and willing to save us in this way, and that God is willing and able to forgive us our sins on account of Christ's death and not our works, and that God is able and willing to give us eternal life like Christ at our own resurrection like his, without faith it is all useless and void. Therefore, as a child grows and learns to exercise their sinful nature, they must also learn to walk in the covenant of grace they have with God through a daily life of prayer, confession, and repentance by faith. Let them be converted by faith as they grow and learn to cherish the covenant of grace they have with God established by the Holy Spirit .
     

7. Infant Faith - Lastly, the Lord himself speaks about his own infant faith, Psalm 22:9-10 “Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God.” Psalm 22 is called the crucifixion psalm because it so graphically describes the crucifixion of the suffering servant of Isaiah. On this side of the resurrection of Jesus, we can look back and see that even while hanging on the cross for the sins of humankind, Jesus clung to his infant faith by remembering that it is God the Father Almighty who is the author, creator, and sustainer of our faith, even the faith of an infant.