Page "Infant baptism" Paragraph 24

Lutherans practice infant baptism because they believe that God mandates it.

They adduce biblical passages such as Matthew 28: 19, Mark 10: 13-15, 16: 16, John 3: 3-7, Acts 2: 38-39 in support of their position.

For them baptism is a " means of grace " through which God creates and strengthens " saving faith " as the " washing of regeneration " ( Titus 3: 5 ) in which infants and adults are reborn ( John 3: 3-7 ): " baptismal regeneration.

" Since the creation of faith is exclusively God's work, it does not depend on the actions of the one baptized, whether infant or adult.

Even though baptized infants cannot articulate that faith, Lutherans believe that it is present all the same.

Because it is faith alone that receives these divine gifts, Lutherans confess that baptism " 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.

" In the special section on infant baptism in his Large Catechism Luther argues that infant baptism is God-pleasing because persons so baptized were reborn and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.