Doctrine of Baptism

Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ

The doctrine of holy baptism is summarized as follows:

First, we and our children are conceived and born in sin and are therefore by nature children of wrath [*], so that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are born again [*]. This is what the immersion in or sprinkling with water teaches us. It signifies the impurity of our souls, so that we may detest ourselves, humble ourselves before God, and seek our cleansing and salvation outside of ourselves.

Second, baptism signifies and seals to us the washing away of our sins through Jesus Christ [*]. We are, therefore, baptized into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

When we are baptized into the Name of the Father, God the Father testifies and seals to us that He establishes an eternal covenant of grace with us. He adopts us for His children and heirs, and promises to provide us with all good [*] and avert all evil or turn it to our benefit.

When we are baptized into the Name of the Son, God the Son promises us that He washes us in His blood from all our sins and unites us with Him in His death and resurrection [*]. Thus we are freed from our sins and accounted righteous before God.

When we are baptized into the Name of the Holy Spirit, God the Holy Spirit assures us by this sacrament that He will dwell in us and make us living members of Christ [*], imparting to us what we have in Christ, namely, the cleansing from our sins and the daily renewal of our lives, till we shall finally be presented without blemish [*] among the assembly of God's elect in life eternal.

Third, since every covenant contains two parts, a promise and an obligation, we are, through baptism, called and obliged by the Lord to a new obedience. We are to cleave to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit [*], to trust Him, and to love Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind, and with all our strength. We must not love the world [*] but put off our old nature [*] and lead a God-fearing life. And if we sometimes through weakness fall into sins, we must not despair of God's mercy nor continue in sin, for baptism is a seal and trustworthy testimony that we have an eternal covenant with God.

Although our children do not understand all this, we may not therefore exclude them from baptism. Just as they share without their knowledge in the condemnation of Adam, so are they, without their knowledge, received into grace in Christ. For the LORD spoke to Abraham, the father of all believers, and thus also speaks to us and our children, saying, I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. [*] Peter also testifies to this when he says, For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to Him. [*] Therefore, in the old dispensation God commanded that infants be circumcised. This circumcision was a seal of the covenant and of the righteousness of faith [*]. Christ also took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them [*]. In the new dispensation baptism has replaced circumcision [*]. Therefore, infants must be baptized as heirs of the kingdom of God and of His covenant; and as they grow up, their parents have the duty to instruct them in these things.

In order that we may now administer this holy sacrament of God to His glory, for our comfort, and to the upbuilding of the congregation, let us call upon His holy Name.

Prayer before Baptism

Almighty, eternal God, in Thy righteous judgment Thou has punished the unbelieving and unrepentant world with the flood, but in Thy great mercy hast saved and protected the believer Noah and his family. Thou hast drowned the obstinate Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, but led Thy people Israel through the midst of the sea on dry ground - by which baptism was signified.
We therefore pray Thee that Thou in Thy infinite mercy wilt graciously look upon this child of Thine and incorporate him (her) by Thy Holy Spirit into Thy Son Jesus Christ, so that he (she) may be buried with Him by baptism into death and raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
We pray that he (she), following Him day by day, may joyfully bear his (her) cross and cleave to Him in true faith, firm hope, and ardent love. Grant that he (she), comforted in Thee, may leave this life, which is no more than a constant death, and at the last day may appear without terror before the judgment seat of Christ Thy Son.
All this we ask through Him, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one only God, lives and reigns forever. Amen.

Address to Parents

Beloved in Christ the Lord:

You have heard that baptism is an ordinance of the Lord our God to seal to us and our children His covenant; we must therefore use this sacrament for that purpose and not out of custom or superstition. That it may be clear, then, that you desire baptism for the right purpose, you are to answer sincerely the following questions:

First, do you confess that our children, though conceived and born in sin, and therefore subject to all sorts of misery, even to condemnation, are sanctified in Christ and thus as members of His church ought to be baptized?

Second, do you confess that the doctrine of the Old and New Testament, summarized in the confessions and taught here in this Christian church, is the true and complete doctrine of salvation?

Third, do you promise as father and mother to instruct your child in this doctrine, as soon as he (she) is able to understand, and to have him (her) instructed therein to the utmost of your power?

What is your answer?

Answer

I do. (to be answered by each parent)

Baptism

_______________, I baptize you into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Almighty, merciful God and Father, we thank and praise Thee that Thou hast forgiven us and our children all our sins through the blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ. Thou hast received us through Thy Holy Spirit as members of Thy only-begotten Son, and so adopted us to be Thy children. Thou hast sealed and confirmed this to us by holy baptism.
We pray Thee through Thy beloved Son that Thou wilt always govern this child by Thy Holy Spirit, that he (she) may be nurtured in the Christian faith and in godliness, and may grow and increase in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grant that he (she) thus may acknowledge Thy fatherly goodness and mercy, which Thou hast shown to him (her) and to us all. May he (she) live in all righteousness under our only Teacher, King, and High Priest, Jesus Christ, and valiantly fight against and overcome sin, the devil, and his whole dominion. May he (she) forever praise and magnify Thee and Thy Son Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Spirit, the one only true God. Amen.