Baptism is a sacrament of belonging. In Baptism, “we are initiated into Christ’s holy church, … incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit,” the Introduction to the Baptismal Covenant says. “All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price.”
Through the waters of baptism, we are cleansed of our sin and born into a new way of living. Whether an infant or adult, this is just the beginning.
Baptism in Scriptures
- > Baptism marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry (Mark 1:9-11).
- > John the Baptizer made it clear, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming …. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8).
- > Jesus entrusted the ministry of baptism to his disciples (Matt. 28:19-20).
- > At Pentecost, the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire gave birth to the church (Acts 2). The promise of baptism “is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him” (Acts 2:38-39).
About Infant Baptism
Through the waters of baptism, we are cleansed of our sin and born into a new way of living. Whether an infant or adult, this is just the beginning.
Baptizing infants
As the circumcision of male children is the initiatory act into God’s covenant with the Hebrew people (see Genesis 17:9-14), baptism is our initiation into the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter offers the promise of baptism without regard to age, saying it is for those present, their children, and those far away (Acts 2:38-41). Later in Acts, we read of Paul and Silas baptizing Lydia and her household, and later their jailer with his entire family (Acts 16).
We continue this practice by baptizing the children of those who reaffirm their baptismal vows, receiving them into God’s mighty acts of salvation.
