Lutheran Confessions: Baptism

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We as Lutherans believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death and the devil, and eternal salvation to all who believe as so. These gifts are promised by Christ in Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” These gifts are not from our own actions of doing Baptism but given to us by God in His grace. Baptism was commanded by God in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Though this belief is strait out of the Lutheran Confessions, the Baptismal rite that is included in the Lutheran Service Book contradicts this belief when used for infants. …show more content…

In the book of Leviticus, God instructs His people to cleanse themselves after touching something unclean, such as blood, corpses, lepers, etc. This cleansing was ceremonial to symbolize pureness. Later, most likely starting in 1st century A.D., the Jews broadened this ceremonial rite and baptized their Gentile converts, symbolizing a movement from an “unclean” life to a righteous life. Early Christians saw baptism as symbol of being “buried with [Christ] by baptism into death”, a holy “cleansing… with the washing of water by the word”, and a new life in Christ. An entire family of a convert would be baptized, at times, to signify a desire to consecrate all that he had to …show more content…

They profess that it is not good to baptize non-believers. They believe the only people fit for Baptism are those who first believe and repent. They reference Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized,” for the prerequisite of repentance, and Acts 8:37, “‘If you believe with all your heart, you may [be baptized].’ And he replied, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,’” for the prerequisite of belief. Interestingly, this latter verse is not in all manuscripts. Some manuscripts have all or part of this exchange, however, the oldest and best manuscripts do not include this. This verse was added to manuscripts …
The command for Baptism states to baptize in the name of God. To be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized by God Himself, not as a work of man, though human hands perform the action, but through God’s work truly. When God’s Word is added to water, the Baptism is valid, even if faith is lacking, for one cannot possibly believe unless first given the Holy Spirit. Again, Baptism is entirely a work of God. Man’s actions, beliefs, words, thoughts, and the like have nothing to do with it.
Infant Baptism is not only allowed, but encouraged by Christ. We can see this in the receival of the gifts shown in children who have been Baptized when they are able to to explain the Scriptures and come to the knowledge of Christ and also through their doctrine and life, things that are impossible without the Holy

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