Nativity of St. John the Baptist—Infant Faith, Baptism, and the Hand of the Lord: God's Grace from the Womb
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Zacharias asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, ‘His name is John.’ So they all marveled. Immediately Zacharias’ mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, ‘What kind of child will this be?’ And the hand of the Lord was with him” (Luke 1:63-66).
From his mother’s womb, St. John was filled with the Holy Spirit. From his circumcision and naming at eight days old, the hand of the Lord was with him. This eight-day-old boy had the same hand of the Lord as the prophets before him; he’s called to be a prophet even at eight days old. And just like the prophets of old, the hand of the Lord is with him. There are many examples, but I’ll just show you from Ezekiel.
“The word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.” (Ezekiel 1:3)
The hand of the Lord was upon him. And this eight-day-old boy had that same hand of the Lord upon him as the prophet of the New Testament, St. John the Apostle, when he saw the glorified Jesus. This is what he had to say: “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.’” (Revelation 1:17-18) Even this prophet of the New Testament has the Lord’s hand on him, and St. John the Baptist at eight days old has that same hand.
This is an amazing thing that we can just kind of pass by and not give a second thought to, to be told by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures that John the Baptist has the Holy Spirit in him. “He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.” (Luke 1:15) He’s filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb and has the hand of the Lord upon him, just like the prophets of old and St. John the Apostle and his prophecy of Revelation, that hand of the Lord upon him as a prophet as an eight-day-old infant.
For us, for us Lutherans, we see these words as proof in the Scriptures that infants can have faith, because how could a prophet who has the hand of the Lord upon him not have faith? How could someone be filled with the Holy Spirit and not believe? So we see these things as proofs from the Scriptures. And because infants can have faith, us taking this proof from the Scriptures, they should have the Word of God preached to them and be baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
For our separated brothers and sisters, Christians who reject infant baptism, and at times sound like they reject infant faith, this account of St. John the Baptist’s months in utero, his birth, his circumcision, and naming are seen differently.
Certain Protestant theologians will rightly tell you that there isn’t really an age of accountability. That’s what one Reformed theologian, Wayne Grudem, admits. There isn’t something in the Bible as far as this age of accountability before which a young child is not held responsible for sin and is not counted guilty before God. They will rightly cite the same passages we do to say that isn’t the case, this age of accountability. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5) And they, like us, will also point out that children manifest their sinful nature at a very early age, as the experience of parents can tell you, and as Scripture testifies: “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” (Psalm 58:3)
After acknowledging the biblical truth, the biblical doctrine of original or inherited sin, in the need of all people, including infants, for salvation, those who withhold baptism from children and speak as though infants cannot hear and cannot understand the gospel will most likely tell you that stories, such as the story of St. John the Baptist, are the exception, not the rule. They are not the usual way God converts a Christian from unbelief to faith. Consider these words from this Reformed theologian, Wayne Grudem, that I mentioned earlier:
“But then what do we say about infants who die before they are old enough to understand and believe the gospel? Can they be saved? Here we must say that if such infants are saved, it cannot be on their own merits or on the basis of their own righteousness or innocence, but it must be entirely on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work and regeneration by the work of the Holy Spirit within them. ‘There is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,’ and ‘unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (1 Timothy 2:5; John 3:3)
He continues, “Yet it certainly is possible for God to bring regeneration, that is, new spiritual life, to an infant even before he or she is born.... This was true of St. John the Baptist, for the angel Gabriel before John was born said, ‘He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.’ We might say that John the Baptist was born again before he was born. There is a similar example in Psalm 22, verse 10. David says, ‘Since my mother bore me, You have been my God.’” (Psalm 22:10)
“It is clear, therefore, that God is able to save infants in an unusual way.” That’s what Wayne Grudem says, in an unusual way, apart from their hearing and understanding the gospel.
“By bringing regeneration to them very early, sometimes even before birth. This regeneration is probably also followed at once by a nascent, intuitive awareness of God and trust in Him at an early age. But this is something we simply cannot understand.
We must, however, affirm very clearly that this is not the usual way for God to save people. Salvation usually occurs when someone hears and understands the gospel and then places trust in Christ. But in unusual cases, like John the Baptist, God brought salvation before this understanding.
And this leads us to conclude that it certainly is possible that God would also do this, where He knows the infant will die before hearing the gospel.”
This same theologian will go on to say, in the same work, “Those who are convinced by the arguments for believer’s baptism must then begin to ask, how old should children be before they are baptized? The most direct answer is that they should be old enough to give a believable profession of faith. It is impossible to set a precise age that will apply to every child.
But when parents see convincing evidence of genuine spiritual life and also some degree of understanding regarding the meaning of trusting in Christ, then baptism is appropriate. Of course, this will require careful administration by the church, as well as a good explanation by parents in their homes. The exact age for baptism will vary from child to child and somewhat from church to church as well.”
And in a footnote to this paragraph, he says, “I participated in baptizing my own three children at a time when each was between seven and ten years old and showed a fair degree of understanding of the gospel, together with genuine evidence of faith in Christ. In all three cases, I think they could have been baptized somewhat earlier, but we delayed out of deference to the ordinary pattern followed by the churches we were in, whereby children under seven were not usually baptized.”
So they need to give believable evidence, and he needs to decide whether they give genuine evidence of faith before they’re given baptism.
Here is one way we could respond to this on the basis of Scripture, these words concerning infant faith and infant baptism, just one way, just looking at a few things, by emphasizing three points. First, the need for forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. Second, faith being a gift given by God, not of ourselves. And third, the unchanging and absolute nature of God’s eternal election. These three.
So first, as most Christians recognize, even Wayne Grudem here, all are by nature sinful and unclean. They recognize this, that we are conceived and born in sin. Even those who deny infant faith as something that is normal, like we would say it is, and instead view it as exceptional, will quote King David: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me,” to support the doctrine of inherited sin as something universal to the human condition, even though it’s just King David saying it in Psalm 51 (Psalm 51:5). Why they would quote this as a universal truth, applying to all human beings, and then assert that King David’s words in Psalm 22, “I was cast upon You from birth. From my mother’s womb You have been my God,” are an exception when it comes to infant faith, is a little odd (Psalm 22:10).
It’s odd that they would say it’s universal inherited sin from Psalm 51 of King David, and then say infant faith is exceptional, like King David in Psalm 22, which are also words of Jesus, the Messiah. That’s a little odd, and you ought to ask some questions about that. But the point here is that pre-born children, infants, preteens, teenagers, adults, and the elders among us, are in the same boat. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “We are all by nature children of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:3) “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1)
We need God to make us His children. He has to do it.
Second, faith is a gift given by God, not something of ourselves in any way. Too often Christians speak of faith as something in which we cooperate with God. Some version of God gets a vote, the devil gets a vote, and you break the tie. You’re the tie-breaking vote in this. Like me being ex officio, and not having a vote on church council unless I need to break a tie.
That’s just one way of saying that it is of yourself to some extent. This doesn’t work if we are by nature sinful from our mother’s womb and dead. All of us Protestants love to quote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) But we forget some important parts of that sometimes. Like the words of St. Paul from Ephesians 2: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Ephesians 2:1, 3)
You are dead in sin and a child of wrath, regardless of your stage of human development. You cannot boast of anything in yourself. There is no ability or skill developed naturally by a sinful human being that gives them a greater chance of coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ. That’s important to remember, because the way it can often be presented is that an infant is not able to hear or to understand the gospel. That uses those words in such a way to make it sound like the hearing that Jesus means when He says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” is an ability you develop over time (Matthew 11:15).
So what about people who can’t hear? What about people who do not seem to be able to understand you speaking words to them? If that is what God means when it comes to saving faith, there are many people who need to doubt that they’re believers at all. But that is not what God means. That’s why He says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) Not of yourselves, not of your cognitive ability, not of your hearing capabilities. No ability that you need to develop later on in life. Faith is a gift given by God. “Not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9)
The fact that your child can say some words and do some nice things that make you think they are Christian doesn’t guarantee that they truly believe in the heart any more than bringing a baby to be baptized. God doesn’t say that every single baby that gets baptized automatically believes. And He also doesn’t say every 7, 8, 9 year old who seems like they can understand words and says, “I believe in Jesus,” automatically believes. It’s still a matter of the heart, whether you are an infant or you’re an adult. And faith is a gift given by God, worked in your heart.
And it’s interesting, quoting that passage from Psalm 22, “I was cast upon You from birth. From my mother’s womb You have been my God.” (Psalm 22:10) What about the verse right before it that makes it even more explicit what David is talking about? He says, “You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.” (Psalm 22:9) Faith is a gift of God. He makes you to trust, whether you are still an infant nursing or you’re on your deathbed.
Third, and finally, when you are questioned or questioning for yourself the validity of infant baptism and infant faith, remember the absolute and unchanging decree of God’s eternal election. There is no good reason to withhold baptism from anyone brought to the font and asking, either through their parent or by their own words asking to be baptized. There isn’t a single verse of Scripture that says some spiritual or physical harm can come to someone approaching baptism unworthily as we have with the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11. No such warning. Baptism is compared with circumcision by St. Paul in Colossians 2, and circumcision was performed, usually, on an eight-day-old baby.
Baptism is the preaching of God’s Word connected to water, and it works the same way the Word of God works when you’re talking about the Word of God working in preaching, in absolution, and the Holy Supper. It works where and when it pleases God by His Holy Spirit. And so that Word of God in preaching, baptism, the Holy Supper, and absolution all work together to accomplish God’s will of converting His elect, His elect saints that He chose before the foundation of the world.
It is in preaching that you’re hearing right now, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and absolution that He brings election to fulfillment here and now. That’s why St. Paul opens up the letter to the Ephesians with these words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:3-7)
In short, baptizing someone as an infant cannot undo God’s absolute and unchanging decree of predestination. It only confirms that decree for each of us who have been baptized when we receive or remember our baptism and trust God’s promise concerning baptism, like this one: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)
Even if someone were to fall away after baptism, or you were to realize that maybe you didn’t really believe when you were baptized, and you’re only now calling upon the Lord Jesus to be saved, that does not undo the promise that was delivered to you in your baptism. It is still a word of God through which our Heavenly Father brings to fulfillment that decree He made concerning each of you before the foundation of the world, that you would be eternally saved and you would be made His children by the blood of His only begotten Son. He decided that for you before the foundation of the world.
So how could any of this be our work? How could any of it depend on our ability? How could any of it depend on what time in your life you were baptized? It doesn't. If you are in heaven at the end of all time, it is because God chose you "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4) for the sake of what His Son did for each of you on the cross. And baptism is one of the means by which He brings that election to fulfillment in time.
Concerning predestination or eternal election, remember what our Confessions say on the basis of Holy Scripture:
The human race is truly redeemed and reconciled with God through Christ by His faultless obedience, suffering, and death. Christ merited for us the righteousness that helps us before God and also merits eternal life.
Such merit and benefits of Christ are presented, offered, and distributed to us through His Word and Sacraments, including Baptism.
By His Holy Spirit through the Word, when it is preached, heard, and pondered, Christ will be effective and active in us, will convert hearts to true repentance, and preserve them in the true faith.
The Spirit will justify all those who in true repentance receive Christ by a true faith. He will receive them into grace, the adoption of sons, and the inheritance of eternal life.
He will also sanctify and love those who are justified, as St. Paul says.
He also will protect them in their great weakness against the devil, the world, and the flesh. He will rule and lead them in His ways, raise them again when they stumble, comfort them under the cross and in temptation, and preserve them for life eternal.
He will also strengthen, increase, and support to the end the work that He has begun in them, if they cling to God's Word, pray diligently, abide in God's goodness, and faithfully use the gifts they received.
He will eternally save and glorify in life eternal those whom He has elected before the foundation of the world, called by the Gospel through the means of grace, like Holy Baptism, here in time, and justified by His Holy Spirit (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration XI 15-19).
This is what our Lord does for you, and how He will bring about your everlasting salvation. And your baptism, whether you were an infant when you received it, or an adult, whether you trusted in Christ when you were baptized, or you only now have called upon Him in faith, is an integral part of the Lord's work of bringing you into His divine life forever. We all need "the remission of sins and the Holy Spirit given in Holy Baptism" (Acts 2:38). Even babies in the womb, all of us need that. None of us can boast in ourselves that we are the ones that are able to hear and understand the Gospel. "It is a gift" (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is a gift wrought by the Holy Spirit alone. And three, we are saved only and ultimately because the Father "chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4) in His Son. And He brings it about through baptism.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, great joy ensued in the home of the old priest Zechariah over the birth of John the Baptist. We ask that you would grant all of us joy over the great mercy You have shown to us, miserable and undeserving as we are. Grant that we may show true gratitude with hearts, words, and deeds to Your Son, Jesus Christ, for His bitter, painful suffering, so that we may delight in Your blessing both here in time and there eternally. Protect us from unbelief, presumption, and wickedness. Rather, stir within us a heartfelt longing for the comfort of Your Word and Spirit, that we may continually praise and extol Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen.
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