Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19

Baptism

Baptism is one of two sacraments in the Lutheran tradition. We understand it to be a sacrament because we're called by Christ to the activity, God's promise is proclaimed, and there's a physical element (in this case, water) to help hold on with assurance to God's promises.

Because we understand baptism to be God's gift to each of us, baptism can be at any age. When infants or young children are baptized, their parent(s) and sponsor(s) make promises on the child's behalf in this baptism covenant. As a young adult (usually around fall of 10th grade), one can then publicly affirm those baptismal promises (a.k.a. Confirmation), taking an active role in being a member of our faith community (versus a passive role as a child following a parent's instruction).

Affirmation of one's baptism also happens when a person transfers membership to a different congregation. But you don't need to transfer in order to affirm your baptismal promises. Any time in your life of discipleship that you would find it meaningful to make that affirmation, you can. Just speak with your pastor to make arrangements to do so.

What are the baptismal promises we make?

• to live among God’s faithful people,
• to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper,
  
• to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
• to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
• and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.

What are the baptismal promises that God makes?

• We are freed from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of Jesus our Christ.
• We are reborn children of God, members of the Church, the Body of Christ.
• We will grown in faith, love, and obedience to the will of God as we live with Christ and in the communion of saints.

What if we break our promises?

Baptism is a covenant. Normally in a covenant, if one side breaks the agreement, the other side is no longer held to their part of the deal. So this is the amazing thing: though we break our promises, though we fall into sin each day, God keeps God's promises.

That means each day we are able to start over. As Martin Luther said, each day we die to sin and are reborn in the waters of baptism.

That's a pretty amazing gift!