Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 6/15/2006

Question
Let me start by saying that I am Lutheran and have raised my children with the beliefs that I was taught in Lutheran School and in church.  I think that is where my misunderstanding is coming from.....

My 10yo son has been attending VBS at a local Baptist church and is really enjoying it.  We are even considering attending the church...HOWEVER....Tonight they spoke with the older children in the VBS (my son being one of them) and asked them if they wanted to accept Jesus as thier Lord and Savior.  My son was one of the first to stand up.  He is thinking that he wants to be baptized BUT he was baptised as an infant.  I would like to know some more information on the Baptist church and about the baptism beliefs and how they differ from the Lutheran Church.  I am concered that he my be confused that if he does not do this that he will not go to heaven.

Can you please help me with this?

Thank You!!

Tammy

Answer
Dear Tammy,
   Thank you for writing.  It's great that you are involved in such concerns with your children.
   Baptists believe in salvation by grace alone through faith, which differs from the Christian Church which teaches that the physical act of baptism is part of salvation.  Baptists teach that water baptism is an outward sign to others that the person has been saved and is following the example of Jesus.  Baptism symbolizes identification with the death and burial of Jesus, putting to death our old sin nature, as the person goes under the water.  Romans 6:3-11  As the person comes up out of the water, it symbolizes identification with the resurrection of Jesus, allowing His resurrected life to live through us.
   Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
   Baptists have a ceremony called a dedication of an infant, where the parents bring the infant before the congregation and promise to teach the child about God, and the congregation is asked to help teach the child also and hold the parents accountable.
   Each person has to choose to entrust him/herself to God by recognizing that although God made us to live forever doing His will (reflecting His image Genesis 1:26), we have all chosen to do our own will instead and are separated from God, our Source of life (Romans 3:23).  That's why we all face death, then judgment and punishment. (Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:10-15)  
   God gave us free choice because He wants us to obey Him with trust in His love.  He didn't want robots.  God the Son became human to die in our place, then He came back to life and offers us His perfect life to unite us forever with Him.  Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  
  Since an infant isn't capable of choosing to receive that gift of Jesus' payment for his sins and entrust his life to God, infant baptism can't save a child.  When a child becomes aware of his sins and understands his accountability to God, then he can choose God's gift of eternal life and be baptized to symbolize that it is God, not his own efforts, that provide eternal life.  God doesn't hold children accountable before that awareness.
   There are Baptists who have never entrusted themselves to God, who are still doing their own will instead of surrendering to God's will, so they will not go to Heaven.  And there are people in many other types of churches who have surrendered to God and received the gift of eternal life.  True Christians, no matter what name they go by, accept Jesus' payment for their sins and allow His life to live through them.
   I may not have expressed it just right, but God's Word, the Bible, is totally reliable (John 6:63).  I hope you can be involved in a church that will help you instill God's Word in the lives of your children. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
   Sincerely,
   Priscilla