The topic of Christian Baptism is, unfortunately, controversial. There seems to be little room for thoughtful discussion in the minds of many Evangelicals, but we hope the ideas here will help you think about a biblical perspective on Baptism.

Here are some catchphrases and common arguments that get used more often than the Bible itself to understand Baptism:

• “Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change.”

• “Baptism is a symbolic act that tells the world about your commitment to follow Christ.”

• “We are saved by faith, not by works, and baptism is a work so it cannot save us.”

• “We are saved by Faith Alone. Once you add Baptism it’s now Faith Alone plus something else!"

• “Children must reach the ‘Age of Accountability’ before they can accept Christ. They can get Baptized only after they are old enough to make a decision for themselves.”

• “Infants and young children cannot have faith, and God cannot give them faith until they reach the ‘Age of Accountability.’”

• “The thief on the cross did not get Baptized and Jesus told him that he would go to heaven, so Baptism cannot be connected to salvation.”

• “I know a guy who was Baptised as a baby and he’s not a Christian anymore, so Baptism doesn’t do anything.”

Now here are some Bible verses that often get twisted around to mean something other than what they say:

Amazingly, even after reading through all of these verses about Baptism the typical Evangelical/Baptist question is:

“So you’re saying that unless a person is Baptized they’re going to hell?!” or

“So you’re saying that we are saved by works?!” or

“So you believe in faith+works?!” or

“So you believe Baptism is absolutely essential for salvation?!”

The anger directed towards a plain reading of God’s Word is puzzling, at best. Instead of looking at these Bible passages as a positive thing, it seems that too many people want to find out how these verses can’t mean what they appear to be saying. Why do Bible-believing Christians look for an “escape clause” when they get to these passages about Baptism?

Lutheran theology is simply trying to say only what the Bible says. And, no, Lutherans don’t teach that Baptism is absolutely essential for salvation, (so please calm down and maybe take a deep breath).

But here are some tough questions for everyone who believes that Baptism is a symbol that doesn’t do anything:

• Where are all of the Bible verses that say: “Baptism is a symbol?”

• Where are all of the Bible verses that say: “Baptism is an act of obedience?”

• Where are all of the Bible verses that say: “Baptism is a good work and, therefore, it has no connection to salvation?”

• Where are all of the Bible verses that say: “A person must reach the Age of Accountability before they can make a decision to become a Christian and then they can get baptized?”

• Where are all of the Bible verses that say: “Baptism doesn’t do anything-it’s an outward sign of an inward change?”

A lot of people seem to be saying: “Roman Catholics are totally wrong about Baptism and Lutherans sound a lot like them, so Lutherans must be wrong, too.” This is not fair to Lutherans who have carefully considered & documented their theological differences with Roman Catholic theology over a period of about 50 years, leading to the Book of Concord in 1577.

This highly recommended website, called “Understand Christianity,” has this very helpful section about Baptism: Understand Christianity-Baptism:

Here is the exact Lutheran teaching on Baptism from the “Small Catechism” from the Book of Concord website, which has all of the Lutheran teachings (or “confessions”) in one place.

The following is the section on Holy Baptism from Luther’s Small Catechism:

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

First.

What is Baptism?

–Answer: Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God’s command and connected with God’s Word.

Which is that word of God?

–Answer: Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Go ye into all the world and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:19)

Secondly.

What does Baptism give or profit?

–Answer: It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are such words and promises of God?

–Answer: Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16)

Thirdly.

How can water do such great things?

–Answer: It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water and no baptism. But with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, chapter three: By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying. (Titus 3:5-7)

Fourthly.

What does such baptizing with water signify?

–Answer: It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

–Answer: St. Paul says in Romans, chapter 6: “We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

In short, Lutheran teaching on Baptism tries to say only what the Bible says! It also tries to stay in line with the historic teaching that Christians have believed since the days of the early church while correcting for unbiblical ideas that came from the Roman Catholic church. The early Christian church did not believe that Baptism was merely a symbol of a person’s decision to become a Christian.

Perhaps the most crucial foundational teaching where Lutheran theology challenged the Roman Catholic Church is this:

Here are some key ideas that may help you consider the Lutheran (and biblical!) understanding of Baptism:

• Baptism is a tangible way for God to “give the Gospel” to guilty sinners, but it is not the only way.

• Baptism is meant to assure the guilty sinner that their sins are truly forgiven, in spite of how the baptized Christian might feel about their spiritual progress.

• Baptism happens “outside of us” in order that our inward feelings don’t determine our justification.

• Whether we “feel” forgiven or not, our Baptism can be viewed as an event that took place and we can remember it in times of personal doubt.

• Baptism is not in opposition to faith and it isn’t a replacement for faith.

• Baptism is not a way for Christians to assure themselves that continued, willful sinning is acceptable.

• Baptism is not a “shortcut” to justification that allows us to ignore all of the other aspects of our Christian faith.

Let’s look at what Distinguished Scholar in Residence, from Abilene Christian University, Everett Ferguson, has to say in his incredibly comprehensive book: “Baptism in the Early Church-History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries:”

Let’s look at the objective conclusions near the end of this book:

Here’s a terrific article about Baptism from Pastor Matt Richard: Why Baptisms Are Violent (A Lutheran View of Baptism)

Here’s an extensive series of videos: A Comprehensive Teaching on Baptism from Pastor Chris Rosebrough

Here’s an extensive essay from Pastor Robert Harting: “Baptized Into Christ-For Life”

Here’s a recent sermon from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: Baptismal Exchange

Here’s an article and podcast: Biblical Case for the Lutheran Doctrine of Baptism by Pastor Chris Rosebrough

Here’s Chris Rosebrough’s extensive paper: What the Bible Teaches About Baptism & How the Earliest Christians Understood These Biblical Texts

Here’s a playlist of videos on the topic:

Baptism from a Lutheran Perspective

Here are some articles on the topic of Infant Baptism:

Why SHOULD We Baptize Infants? From Pastor Tom Eckstein, Concordia Lutheran Church, Jamestown, North Dakota

Why Do We Baptize Babies If They Cannot Make a Profession of Faith? From Alex Fogleman at the Anglican Compass

A Brief Defense of Infant Baptism From Pastor Kevin DeYoung at the Gospel Coalition

FAQs about Baptism from the LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)

FAQs about Baptism from the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church)

How I Changed My Mind about Infant Baptism From Dr. Liam Goligher at Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA