Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

John Wesley on Baptism

"By baptism, we enter into covenant with God; into that everlasting covenant...we are admitted into the Church, and consequently made members of Christ, its head. .. we who were 'by nature children of wrath' are made the children of God.”

“The matter of baptism is the water which has the natural power of cleansing and hence is fit for its spiritual use in cleansing.”

"it is certain by God's word, that children who are baptized, dying before they commit actual sin, are saved."

“Person on the Street on Baptism”

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Titus 3:3-6 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Baptism is not just a symbol. It brings the gracious gift of faith in Jesus to wash away our sins. It brings the gracious power from on high to create a new life within us and empower us by His Spirit to live according to His will.

Romans 6:4, "Therefore we are buried with Christ through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Baptism does not save because of the mere external act but only through the gift of faith that will continue to live on in repentance only by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word. Repentance is not a one-time act fulfilled in our baptism. "Our baptism signifies that the old Adam in us is to be drowned by daily contrition and repentance," (Luther). Drowning is never comfortable. But drowning our sin in the baptism for repentance daily cleanses us of all sin.

-Pastor John Ude, CLC Lutheran Pastor

“Baptism means that we have been marked with the cross of God. Baptism is very important to me. By having your child baptized, your are dedicating the child to learing about the life of Christ and how to grow in that life. It is a beautiful but serious thing, and  should only be done if one is serious about committing the child to a life of faith.”

-Shawn, Lutheran congregant.

“To me, baptism is more symbolic. It symbolizes the love we show for our children. It shows that we are making a public statement that we are committed to raising a child a certain way. Baptism is very spiritual to me. I feel that the Holy Spirit is present in my daughters life because of her baptism.

-Lynn, UMC of Anoka Congregant.

“Baptism means the welcoming into God’s family and the forgiveness of original sin. It is important to baptize our children as infants so that there will be no sin on their souls should the unthinkable happen. Baptism emphasizes the fact that you are bringing up the child in a community of faith, and it is the parent’s responsibility to raise the child to be good in God’s eyes.”

-Teresa, Catholic Congregant