Baptism is one of two sacraments of the Lutheran Church. Baptism is a significant part of our faith journey as we come from the waters of baptism to live a new life as children of God.
We believe our baptism sets us out on a lifelong journey that is characterized by our relationship to God, our relationship to our faith community, our relationships in our community and the wider world.
Whether you have a newly born child who you would like to be baptized or are an adult new to the faith, we are happy to walk alongside you and your family during this important time. Please contact our pastor to learn more about being baptized at Faith Lutheran Church.
The Lutheran Church recognizes any baptism administered in another congregation or Christian denomination. We are happy to provide affirmation of baptism for those who would like to do so.
About Baptism
Martin Luther wrote the following about Baptism in the Small Catechism:
What is Baptism?
Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead, it is water used according to God’s command and connected to God’s word.
What then is this Word of God?
Where our Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 28, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father/Creator, and of the Son/Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.”
What gifts or benefits does baptism grant?
It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare.
What are these words and these promises of God?
Where our Lord Christ says in Mark 16, “The one who believes and is baptized will be saved.”
How can water do such great things?
Clearly, the water does not do it, but the Word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and faith, which trusts this word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is plain water and not a baptism, but with the Word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a “bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,” as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3, “through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, this spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.”
What then is the significance of such a baptism with water?
It signifies that the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily sorrow for sin and through repentance, and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Romans 6, “We have been buried alive with Christ with baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead, it is water used according to God’s command and connected to God’s word.
What then is this Word of God?
Where our Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 28, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father/Creator, and of the Son/Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.”
What gifts or benefits does baptism grant?
It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare.
What are these words and these promises of God?
Where our Lord Christ says in Mark 16, “The one who believes and is baptized will be saved.”
How can water do such great things?
Clearly, the water does not do it, but the Word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and faith, which trusts this word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is plain water and not a baptism, but with the Word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a “bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,” as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3, “through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, this spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.”
What then is the significance of such a baptism with water?
It signifies that the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily sorrow for sin and through repentance, and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Romans 6, “We have been buried alive with Christ with baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare.
What are these words and these promises of God?
Where our Lord Christ says in Mark 16, “The one who believes and is baptized will be saved.”
How can water do such great things?
Clearly, the water does not do it, but the Word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and faith, which trusts this word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is plain water and not a baptism, but with the Word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a “bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,” as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3, “through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, this spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.”
What then is the significance of such a baptism with water?
It signifies that the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily sorrow for sin and through repentance, and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Romans 6, “We have been buried alive with Christ with baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
Clearly, the water does not do it, but the Word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and faith, which trusts this word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is plain water and not a baptism, but with the Word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a “bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,” as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3, “through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, this spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.”
What then is the significance of such a baptism with water?
It signifies that the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily sorrow for sin and through repentance, and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Romans 6, “We have been buried alive with Christ with baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
St. Paul says in Romans 6, “We have been buried alive with Christ with baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
-Translated Timothy Wengert, Published by Augsburg Fortress, 2008.