The Sacrament of Baptism

Just as God took the loving initiative to rescue us by sending Jesus to be our Savior, in the sacrament of Holy Baptism God takes the initiative to claim us as His children.  Through the promises God makes at baptism, just like in adoption, God brings us into His family and promises that we will be His children forever.  Rejoicing in this radical grace, we obey Jesus’ command to “let the children come” to Him.  As Lutherans, we practice infant baptism.  However, we rejoice when a person of any age comes for the grace and blessing of baptism.

Parents bring their children to God asking and believing in the promise of God’s blessing.  Parents promise God to do all within their power to nurture the spiritual life of their child.  Parents promise to raise their child in the faith – to bring their children faithfully to Sunday School and worship, to teach their children to pray, to teach confession of faith, and to share the ten commandments.   The baptismal liturgy contains a parental promise to God.

In baptism, through the water and God’s Word, God saves us as His children by immersing us into the love and life of Jesus Christ.  We are marked as God’s people with the sign of the cross on our foreheads and our hearts, so that we might trust that we are God’s forgiven people, sealed and protected by the power of the Holy Spirit forever. 

This is God’s covenant promise.  He never goes back on His promise, though many of His children take prodigal journeys.  As our loving Father, God is always hoping for His people to come back to His heart of love.  God’s hope is that all His children grow to love and trust Him.  This covenant of baptism is celebrated in the context of the congregation’s public worship.  God’s covenant promise is forever.

If you have an infant or child you desire to be baptized, or if you are an adult believer and desire baptism, contact Our Savior’s Lutheran church office. The office staff will work with you and one of the pastors to arrange for instruction and solidify a baptismal date at one of our worship services.

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