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Salvation & the Sacraments
Baptism — Regeneration & Infants
Baptism isn't merely a symbol of a decision already made — it actually washes away sin and gives new birth by water and the Spirit. And because it's God's gift, not our achievement, infants are welcome, just as infants received the covenant sign in Israel.
The short answer. Peter says ‘baptism now saves you,’ and ‘be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.’ The same promise is ‘for you and for your children.’ Whole households were baptized.
Born again of water and the Spirit
Jesus tells Nicodemus one must be ‘born of water and the Spirit’ to enter the kingdom. Paul calls it ‘the washing of regeneration’ — baptism actually does something.
John 3:5Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.
Titus 3:5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Baptism forgives sin and saves
Peter tells the crowd to be baptized ‘for the forgiveness of your sins,’ and later says plainly ‘baptism now saves you’ — not by washing the body but through the Resurrection. Ananias tells Paul to be baptized and ‘wash away your sins.’
Acts 2:38Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 3:21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Acts 22:16Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
The promise includes children
Peter says the promise is ‘for you and for your children.’ Households — which included children and servants — were baptized together. Paul links baptism to circumcision, the covenant sign given to eight-day-old infants.
Acts 2:39For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
Acts 16:33He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household.
Colossians 2:11–12In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Common objections
“Baptism is just an outward symbol of faith you already have.”
Scripture never calls it a mere symbol — it says baptism forgives sins, saves, regenerates, and clothes us with Christ (Gal 3:27). A sign that God attaches his grace to isn't 'just' a symbol; it does what it signifies.
Galatians 3:27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
“Infants can't believe, so they shouldn't be baptized.”
Salvation is God's gift, not the infant's accomplishment — which is the whole point. Infants received the covenant sign of circumcision at eight days; the New Covenant is not stingier. ‘Let the little children come to me,’ said Jesus.
Luke 18:15–16They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus summoned them, saying, “Allow the little children to come to me, and don’t hinder them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.
Scripture quoted verbatim from the World English Bible (public domain).