Baptism (of Xander Ross)

Colossians 2:6–15 ESV

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

The Lutheran Study Bible (Notes) Chapter 17

17:12 eight days old. Such infant circumcision points to God’s inclusion of His people in the covenant promise even at a tender age. It also anticipated when circumcision would end and Baptism would become the sign of the new covenant (Col 2:11–12). God finished the work of the original creation on the sixth day, and on the seventh He rested. The eighth day represented a new beginning. Christ finished the work of the new creation by redeeming us with His blood on the sixth day, Good Friday. On the Sabbath, He rested in the tomb. On Easter Sunday, Christ arose, starting the new creation on what may be referred to as the “eighth day.”

See Book of Concord references to baptism

The Lutheran Study Bible (Notes) Chapter 6

Baptized into Christ

The following chart lists concerns some Christians voice about baptizing infants or children. It also lists passages from Romans and other parts of Scripture that address these concerns.

Concern

Romans

Children are not accountable for sin until they reach the “age of accountability.”

“The wages of sin is death” (6:23). The fact that children die shows that they are subject to sin just like adults. The Bible never mentions an age of accountability. Instead, it teaches that “the whole world [is] held accountable to God” (3:19). Cf Ps 51:5; Eph 2:3.

The Bible never explicitly commands that infants should be baptized.

The Bible never sets an age limit for Baptism or salvation. It teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). All people from birth need the new life God offers in Christ. Rm 6:3 states that “all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus” receive the benefits of His death and life. Cf Mt 19:14; 28:19–20 (note the “all”). Mt 18:6 teaches that little ones can receive the blessing of faith. Ac 2:38–39 explicitly includes children among those who inherit God’s promised gift of the Holy Spirit (cf Lk 1:15).

A child must first understand and make a personal commitment before Baptism.

Paul warns that the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not and cannot submit to God’s Law (8:7). This is true of children and adults. We are born enemies of God and slaves to sin. But in Baptism, “our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (6:6). Cf Gal 3:26–27; 4:3–7.

Baptism only symbolizes the washing away of sin.

Paul does not describe Baptism as a mere symbol. It is a spiritual death to sin. It produces new life that leads to eternal life (6:3–5). Cf Lk 3:3; Jn 3:5; Ti 3:5–7; 1Pt 3:21–22.

Children will grow in understanding of what God has done for them in their Baptism, just as they grow to appreciate their physical conception and birth. They will learn what it means to live a new life as a child of God. But Baptism is the beginning of that life in Christ. See p 1369.