Dear Christian friends:
Today, we baptized litte David Matthew. David is only
two months old. Some of you may wonder why we baptize babies. You
argue that they are not able to understand what is happening and that we
should wait until the child can understand and then baptize her.
Some churches like the Baptist Church agree with that argument, and they
do not baptize infants. However, most Christian churches do baptize infants
and have done that for almost 2,000 years, since the time of the apostles.
Why do most Christian churches baptize infants? In the Gospel lesson for
today, we find the answer to that question. So let us attend to our text
and learn
Why We Baptize Children
I know that most of you learned this when you studied and prepared for
confirmation. But for most of us, that was a long time ago and we do
forget. Also, you are often confronted by persons from the Baptist Church
and other churches and these persons try to make you doubt about baptizing
infants. We need to review this basic teaching of the Bible, so that we
will not doubt when others question us and also so that we can give a good
answer to those who question our faith. Also, we can receive much comfort
and support for our spiritual life by studying our baptism and what it means.
Why baptize infants? Jesus commands us to do this. In our text, Jesus
said to His disciples, “Let the little children come to Me, and forbid them
not.” (verse 14a) The Greek word for "little children" also means infants.
Some mothers had brought their babies and other little children to Jesus
and wanted Him to touch them and bless them. When the disciples saw this,
they told the mothers to go away and not bother Jesus. The disciples felt
that babies and little children were not important to Jesus' kingdom.
Perhaps they also thought that babies and children are too young to receive
Jesus' blessings, that they cannot understand. When Jesus saw the disciples
telling the mothers to go away, He was very displeased and said unto them,
"Let the little children come unto Me, and forbid them not."
Today, we can't bring our babies and children to Jesus as these mothers
did long ago. Jesus does not walk around on earth anymore so that we can
see Him, but He is still with us through His Word and the Sacraments. In
the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, we can bring our babies and children to
Jesus, so that He can bless them, and accept them into His Kingdom of grace.
Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus commanded His disciples to go and
teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus commands His church to "baptize all nations." Babies also belong
to the nation. When the government takes a census, as our government will
do again in 1980, the agents count also the babies in each family. Babies
belong to a nation and Jesus commands us to baptize "the nations," therefore
we believe that Jesus commands us to baptize infants as well as adults.
Jesus says, “Let the little children come unto Me and forbid them not."
Because of Jesus' clear command, we baptize infants.
We also baptize babies because this is the only way they can enter into
God's kingdom. When they are born, babies are not yet members of God's
kingdom. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Babies are born with sin and are under
God's condemnation. Jesus also said to Nicodemus, "That which is born of
the flesh is flesh." (John 3:6) That which is born of Sinner is a sinner.
Babies seem pure and without sin, but the Bible clearly teaches that they,
too, are sinful. (See Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Genesis 8:21; Ephesians 2:1-3,
Psalm 51:5)
Babies need to be born again. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Except man be
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
We know that God gave His Son, Jesus into death to pay for the sins of all
people, and all people that believe in Him will not receive punishment, but
have everlasting life. But because children do not yet understand
the Gospel, they cannot receive faith from telling them about Jesus. Therefore,
we must thank God, because through baptism, He shows mercy to babies
and little children and begins faith in their hearts, takes away their
sins and accepts them into His kingdom.
Baptism has this wonderful power, because God, Himself, through His
Word, gives baptism that power. Baptism is not water-washing only, but
a washing that God commands and a washing He promises to respect and bless.
God's promise in baptism gives new birth and new life through the Holy
Spirit. (Titus: 3:5)
Churches and parents who do not bring their babies to Jesus in Baptism
do a great wrong. They do not believe Jesus' Word and promise and they
also prevent their babies from receiving the wonderful blessings of
salvation that Jesus wants to give to them in Baptism. If the baby should
happen to die without Baptism, these parents have no promise from God that
their baby is saved.
So, let us have faith in Jesus' command and promise about Baptism. Let
us with thanks and joy bring our infants to Jesus in Holy Baptism. Babies
can believe in Jesus although we do not understand how that faith happens
in them. In our text, Jesus says that they can and do believe in Him and
do belong to His kingdom. In fact, Jesus says that we adults must become
like little children if we want to enter into His kingdom. Jesus says,
“Let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, because the Kingdom
of God belongs to people like them. Remember this! If anyone does not
welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will never enter it."
(verses 14b-15) Babies and little children do not doubt and rebel at God's
Word and promises like we adults do. We think we are so smart and wise
and often criticise God's Word. But babies and little children believe
everything that their parents and teachers tell them.
Yes, babies can and do believe in Jesus. In Psalm 8:2 we read, "Out
of the mouth of babes and sucklings (a nursing baby) Thou hast perfected
praise."
So let us thank and praise God that He has given us Holy Baptism both
for ourselves and for our children. His promises are for both ourselves
and for our children.
Yes, we baptize infants and little children and these are the reasons
why we do it. As you see, we have the command and promise of Jesus,
Himself to do this.
Amen.