Today, I get to baptize one of my grandsons.
He is 16 months old — growing strong, walking tall, and smiling much.
He is learning stories, singing songs, and beginning to pray to Jesus.
However, he is not yet a believer. He has not “given his heart to Jesus,” “asked Jesus into his heart,” “confessed his sins,” “proclaimed his savior,” “received the free gift,” or “surrendered all.”
So, if this is not a “believer’s baptism,” then what’s going on? Why has the church of Jesus Christ been practicing household baptisms since the beginning?
It is NOT because we think baptism saves.
It is NOT because we think baptism starts salvation.
It is NOT because we think baptism primarily proclaims that which my not-yet-believing grandson has done.
It is because we believe baptism primarily proclaims that which God does. God is the one who sees the sin nature of a grandfather (me) and his father (my son). God is the one who also sees the sin nature of my grandson. And God is the one who is not satisfied leaving us in the sinful condition in which we are found. God is the one who sees our dirty wickedness, and he is the only one who can cleanse. And the good news — God is the one who seems to do this quite often in and through with families. God has a habit of saving fathers, mothers, and their children.
So today, we proclaim our sin as a family.
And today, we proclaim our need of spiritual washing.
And today, we proclaim our trust in the Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit.
And tomorrow, we wait to see what our most gracious God usually does. He is a Savior who loves to save very sinful grandfathers and their very sinful grandsons.
