Holy Baptism at Zion Lutheran

A Christian's Baptism is the most important moment of his life. Baptism gives a concrete date when the Triune God moved heaven and earth to liberate an individual from death, free him from the bonds of the devil, and bring him into the Reign and Rule of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by resurrecting him and giving him the Holy Spirit. Baptism is one of the Three Sacraments, the first a Christian often experiences outside his mother's womb, and is rightly understood as a Means of Grace. For this reason, there are several things to know about how Zion handles this Divine Act:

• Christ our Lord declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, while going, disciple all nations, simultaneously both baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." On account of this verse, Holy Baptism is tied directly to the teaching the truth of God's Word to every infant baptized. Baptism is no mere "rite of passage" or "public confession" - it is a seal and promise to the infant by his parents that he will be raised to know Sacred Scripture and attend the Divine Service regularly;
• St. Peter writes: "Baptism, which corresponds to [God's deliverance of Noah], now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Baptism, as a Means of Grace, actually saves the individual. God's deliverance is at hand and must be remembered, as Dr. Luther writes, "daily" by making the sign of the cross and declaring that one belongs to Christ.
• St. Paul writes in Colossians: "In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." St. Paul is showing the truth of the promise of Deuteronomy 30:1-6 being fulfilled by God's work in Holy Baptism. This underscores that Holy Baptism is for Christians of any age, especially newborn infants, and stresses that Holy Baptism should not be delayed as parents wait for a "perfect" time.
• Finally, Christ our Lord declared, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." As parents and sponsors stand before God and His people in a public service, they are bearing witness that they believe the truth of God's Word and exemplify lives in accordance with it. Sponsors, then, should not be chosen for "political" reasons (e.g., always picking siblings as sponsors - regardless of their conduct and faith), but chosen for their solemn promise to exhort the baptized to live a Christian life. 

Rightly understanding God's work in and through Holy Baptism leads the Christian to steadfast confidence that God loves him, dwells in and with him, and will never forsake him. To schedule a Holy Baptism in a public service, please contact the Church Office at (712) 263-2235.