Our Lord Jesus Christ institutes Holy Baptism in the last chapter of Matthew saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” In the sacrament of Holy Baptism, God uses the simple plain water in connection with His word to bring about new life. Through baptism we receive forgiveness of sins, incorporation into the body of Christ, and become partakers of His suffering, death, and resurrection to eternal life. , , , , ,

Consequently, Baptism is critical. And it is for all people irrespective of whether you are an infant or an elderly adult. Because the Word of God plainly teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. , , , But God the Father in his infinite mercy and grace sent His Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died to atone for the sins of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

learn_moreIn Baptism, the Holy Spirit takes the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that Jesus won for us on the cross and delivers them to the one who is being baptized, graciously liberating them from sin and death by joining them to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In essence, we are born children of fallen humanity, but in the waters of Holy Baptism we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life. Moreover, by water and the Holy Spirit, we are made members of the Church, which is the body of Christ.

If you desire to know more about Baptism you can click here to watch our instructional video. If you would like to be baptized, contact the Church Office by phone (314) 741.6781

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (ESV)

16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (ESV)

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (ESV)

21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (ESV)

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— (ESV)

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV)

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me. (ESV)

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (ESV)