Baptism is Necessary for the Salvation of Children and Adults
by Rev. Jack Cascione

 

The basic teaching of the Bible and Christianity is that all adults and children are sinners born under the curse of the law and death, and need to be saved from eternal damnation in hell. That is why the Bible says in Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. Christ came to save all, adults and children, from eternal hell fires to eternal life in paradise. Without His sacrifice on the cross everyone would be lost, but through faith in Him we have eternal life.

The entire purpose of baptism is that through it God promises to save everyone who is baptized from hell to heaven. Any other view of Christianity would make Christ’s death on the cross for our sins utterly ridiculous.

After Peter preached to a large crowd of Jews and told them they were guilty of crucifying the Messiah, they asked Peter what they should do to be saved.

In Acts. 2:38 Peter responded Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When people speak about "getting saved" they often mislead others to the opinion that there is something they did to save themselves. That is why the Bible says in Eph. 2:8 By grace are you saved through faith and that not of your selves. It is a gift of God not of works lest any man should boast.

Saving faith in Christ is given and sealed through baptism. The jailer at Philippi asked Paul in Acts 16:30-31,33 "...Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. ...And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

When the jailer realized how important baptism was to escape hell and have eternal life, he didn’t waste any time. This kind of coverage is free and a little bit more important than health insurance. Notice that when it says the "jailer and all his were baptized" it means the jailer’s entire family, which would necessarily include infants. Also, notice that there was no mention of being immersed under water in the baptism. Where would they find that much water in the dark, before street lights, in 50 AD, unless the jailer’s house had an indoor swimming pool, which we seriously doubt.

In the account of the Ethiopian eunuch baptized by Philip, notice that after just one conversation with Philip the Ethiopian figured out that the sooner he was baptized, the better. We never know how much time we have Acts 8:36-7 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him..

In this account it says that both Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water and in verse 38 they both came up out of the water. Surely, Philip was not immersed and rebaptized with the Ethiopian. In other words, going "down into" and coming "up out of" the water has nothing to do with being immersed. Nowhere in the Bible is it necessary to be completely covered by water in order to have a proper baptism. It just says that baptism saves us. 1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

There is always the question of why little children need to be baptized. Well, they didn’t do anything wrong, they were simply born sinful and under the wrath of God. The Bible says Psalm 51:5 In sin did my mother conceive me and Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Therefore, little children are just as much subject to death and eternal damnation as any adult.

Those who refuse to baptize infants are really saying there is no way for children to get to heaven. They are falsely teaching that children don’t need faith to get to heaven or else that all children are born with faith in Christ from the womb, which means there is no need for the church, pastors, and missionaries. Saying that children are not sinful is utterly opposed to Scripture. If children have no sin they would not be subject to illness, deformity, and death, or be stillborn.

Naturally there is not one place in the Bible where a baby requests baptism. How can they? But Peter, speaking about baptism to Jews in Acts 2:38, also adds in verse 39, The Promise is unto you and your children.

All adults and children get to heaven the same way, through baptism. In Acts, chapter 9, Paul is told his sight will return and he will receive the Holy Ghost. The problem with sight was unique to him but he received the Holy Ghost and eternal life the same way God gives it to every man, woman, and baby, through baptism.

Acts 9:17 ...that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

In 325 AD, the same men who decided which books should go into the Bible also wrote the Nicene Creed. It says "I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins" Those who believe what the Bible says and wish to practice the Christian religion are baptized and see to it that their children are baptized as soon as possible. Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.


Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

January 14, 1999