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| Q: | I've read many questions & answers on your web site about infant baptism and I'd finally like to ask one. First, I'm Baptist and was pointed to your website by a very good friend of mine that was raised in a WELS church and regularly attends a WELS church. We both profess that our salvation lies in faith through grace in Our Lord Jesus Christ alone. I guess my question is, since you teach infant baptism, is there a point when a person acknowledges their faith in Christ? How about a person, baptized as an infant, attends church regularly but never really believes, are they saved? And finally, is someone saved if they have never been baptized, yet trusts completely in Christ for their salvation? | ||||||
| A: | It is most natural for Christians to confess their faith in Jesus. My son knew that Jesus died for his sins and confessed his faith almost as soon as he could put words together in simple sentences. Christian parents who tell their children about Jesus are accustomed to hearing simple confessions of faith. Sometimes those confessions can be quite profound even though they are expressed simply. I have also heard little children confess their faith to other children and witness to them. After a period of instruction in the basic truths of God's Word children in the Lutheran Church also make a public confession of their faith in a church service in the rite of confirmation. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus. If a person does not believe in Jesus he is not saved. We believe that the Holy Spirit works through baptism to create or strengthen faith. However, we do not believe in irresistible grace. A person can resist the Holy Spirit's work. We also believe that a person can fall from faith. If a person falls from faith he must be reconverted or brought to faith again if he is going to be saved. | ||||||
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