Baptism: Children vs. Adult

Baptism: Children vs. Adult - Same or Different?

This question seeks to understand the nature of God's forgiveness. Is there a difference in how God works in the life of a child who is unable to reason or comprehend and how He works in the life of a competent adult?

I. The Nature Of All Human Beings.

A. All people, regardless of age, are sinful human beings.

Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth.

Job 14:4 "Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!

Job 15:14 "What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

Romans 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Ephesians 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

B. Sin Brings Eternal Death In Hell.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Ezekiel 18:4 "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

Conclusion: All humanity is sinful from the moment of conception and therefore deserving of eternal damnation. This is not only because of sins which are committed but as a result of Original Sin - The sin which is handed down to us as a child of Adam and Eve.

II. God's Grace And Mercy For Sinners.

A. God determined to save mankind by winning for us the forgiveness of sins.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

B. God's "Means" of winning forgiveness for mankind is Jesus and His Cross.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. {20}Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. {21}He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Colossians 1:19-20 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, {20}and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

1 John 4:9-10 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

III. Jesus Died For The Whole World. How Does God Bring The Forgiveness Won 2000 Years Ago To Me Today?

A. Forgiveness come to individuals through the Gospel.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. {17}For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; {11}for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Philippians 2:5-11 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, {6}who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, {7}but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. {8}Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. {9}For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, {10}so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11}and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

B. The Gospel impacts and individual's life by way of "Means." God has ordained four (4) such Means to bring the Gospel to individuals. These are called the "Means of Grace."

1) The Gospel in Word.

Romans 10:8-17 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, {9}that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; {10}for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. {11}For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." {12}For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; {13}for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." {14}How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? {15}How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" {16}However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" {17}So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Luke 8:11& 15 "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. . . . 15 "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, {15}and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. {16}All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; {17}so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

God promises His Word will never return to Him without accomplishing the purpose for which it was sent (Isa. 55:11). God's Word can impact a life in Church, at home, through TV or Radio, or even in music.

2) The Gospel in Holy Baptism.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, {20}teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Mark 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Acts 2:38-39 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. {39}"For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

Acts 8:36-38 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said^, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" {37}And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." {38}And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, {5}He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, {6}whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, {7}so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

God the Holy Spirit works through the water and the Word in the life of an individual. Forgiveness won at Calvary's cross (Gospel) is given to an individual in Baptism.

3) The Gospel in Holy Absolution.

1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. {9}If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Luke 10:16 "The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."

Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

Matthew 18:18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

John 20:23 "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

When a person confess his/her sin(s) to the pastor, he is to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to the person. This is not done on the pastor's authority but on Christ's authority. It is Christ's forgiveness won on the cross. Christ gives the pastor authority to speak for Him and the Church, from Christ through the pastor, receives Absolution.

4) The Gospel in Holy Communion.

Matthew 26:26-29 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." {27}And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; {28}for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. {29}"But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Mark 14:22-25 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is My body." {23}And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. {24}And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. {25}"Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 11:23-30 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; {24}and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." {25}In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." {26}For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. {27}Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. {28}But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29}For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. {30}For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.

Colossians 1:22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, {19}but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

In the Lord's Supper the one who communes receives the true body and blood of Christ with the bread and wine of the Supper. The very body nailed to the cross is in, with, and under the bread. The very blood of Christ shed for our forgiveness is in, with and under the wine. Christ received in the Supper, the recipient has the blessings He brings, forgiveness of sins, strengthening of faith, life and salvation.

Excursus on Worship: In our Liturgical worship service all four "means of grace" are present for our forgiveness.

Invocation 3D Baptism

Confession & Absolution

Word 3D Lessons & Sermon & Liturgy

Lord's Supper

Benediction 3D Name of God 3D Invocation 3D Baptism

Our God is a God of grace and mercy. It is His desire to forgive sinners. We are sinful human beings and as such we are in constant need of forgiveness. God gives forgiveness over and over again to His children.

IV. Forgiveness - With God there is always more.

A. Forgiveness in the Life of a child.

There is no such thing as partial forgiveness. Forgiveness is either 100% or not at all.

How much forgiveness is given to a child in Baptism?

Mark 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." {4}Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" {5}Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. {6 John 3:3-12 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." }"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7}"Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' {8}"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Baptism as a "means of grace" brings forgiveness to a child. Remember, Salvation is a work of God, not of man. God is the one acting and man is only the recipient of God's saving action.

A child, born sinful and in need of forgiveness is granted forgiveness for the first time in the water and Word of Baptism. Having been forgiven of all sin the child is not God's child.

As the child grows he is taught the Word of God which is a "means of grace." As the Word of God is taught the Gospel brings forgiveness to the child.

The Child learns to confess his sins to the Lord and even as a child the words, "I forgive you all your sins" deliver what they promise and Absolution is granted.

When the child can understand the Lord's Supper and is at a point to be able to examine himself and receive the Supper, the child receives forgiveness in Communion.

Remember, each and every day of a child's life is lived in the Baptismal grace given in the water and the Word.

B. Forgiveness is the Life of an Adult.

All the Scripture passages from previous section apply.

Acts 2:38-39 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. {39}"For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

Acts 8:26-38 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) {27}So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, {28}and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. {29}Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." {30}Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" {31}And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. {32}Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: "HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. {33}"IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH." {34}The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" {35}Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. {36}As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said^, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" {37}And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." {38}And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Having heard the Gospel in the Word of God, faith has been created by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Having received the Gospel in the Word the person is forgiven of all sins. But with God there is still more. Forgiveness is still to be had in Baptism.

The principle which guides the mission of the Church is found in Matthew 28. A disciple is made by Baptizing and Teaching.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, {20}teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

If Baptism takes place as a child they are later taught. If an adult, they are taught and then Baptized. Both go together and should never be separated.

Like the child, the Adult convert lives daily in his/her Baptismal grace. Each day doing as Paul directs us in Romans.

Romans 6:4-11 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. {5}For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, {6}knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; {7}for he who has died is freed from sin. {8}Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, {9}knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. {10}For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. {11}Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion: Baptism is a Means of Grace to a child and to an adult.

Forgiveness is given for the first time when a child is baptized. As the child grows day by day forgiveness is given over and over again.

As an adult, baptism is a Means of Grace but not the first to impact his/her life. It still brings forgiveness even as all the Means of Grace bring forgiveness day by day.