The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1909, Page 11

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

mothers brought their children to Jesus, that He
might bless them. But the disciples of Jesus, who
seem to have held an opinion similar to that of the
Baptists, thought it foolish on the part of the
mothers to thus trouble the Lord with their chil-
dren, and rebuked the mothers for their action.
But what did Jesus think? With whom did He
agree, the mothers or the disciples? He says:
“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and
forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of
_God.” Yes, He even adds: “Verily, I say unto
you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of
God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.?
Now these children that were brought to Jesus must
have believed; for the same Jesus who says of these
children that were brought to Him that theirs is
the kingdom of God tells us that it is only by faith
that we can enter the kingdom of God, and He posi-
tively declares that all that do not believe shall be
damned. But how had faith been enkindled in
the hearts of these children? By nature these chil-
dren were flesh born of flesh, and therefore in need
of regeneration; by nature they were unbelievers,
and therefore the children of wrath. How, now,
had they been regenerated, how had they become
the children of grace, subjects of the-kingdom of
God, in short, believers? These children had been
circumcised, and by means of circumcision this
change had been effected in them. But as Circum-
cision was the divinely appointed means of the Old
‘Testament to enkindle faith in children, so Baptism
was instituted by God for the same purpose in the
New Testament.

Christ commands us: “Go ye and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Now,
surely, nothing can be plainer than these words.
If we are to baptize all nations, we are also to bap-
tize the children of these nations; for a nation is
not made up of the adults only, but includes also
the children. Christ certainly wants the children
baptized, too. Children also stand in need of that
which Baptism gives. As we have heard, they are
flesh born of flesh, polluted with original sin, and
incapable of entering the kingdom of God unless
they be born again. But this regeneration is
effected by water and the Spirit, that is, by Holy
Baptism, John 3, 5. 6. —

In conclusion, it is necessary that we call atten-
tion to an institution in connection with Baptism.
From very early times it has been deemed proper
to have sponsors at the baptism of children for vari-

11

ous reasons. For one thing such an important act
should and must have witnesses, and the sponsors
are to testify that the child has been actually and
properly baptized. Sponsors, together with the
parents, bring the child to the Lord Jesus, and in
the child’s stead they renounce the devil, world,
and flesh, and confess the Christian faith. Then,
also, the sponsors, together with the parents, shall
remind the child of what they promised for it when
it was baptized, and do what they can to have it
fulfill its promises. And especially in case of the
early death of its parents, the sponsors shall use
their best endeavors to have the child brought up
in the Christian faith. Finally, the sponsors should
earnestly pray for the child at its baptism, and dil-
igently remember it in their intercessions ever
after. — From all this it is plain that only God-
fearing persons should be taken for this important
and holy office, and that no unbelievers or persons
of another faith are to be accepted as sponsors.

F. J. L.

Our Representatives.

The laborers in the mission field are our repre-
sentatives. To all Christians the command is given:
“Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel
to every creature.” ‘Those whom we send to make
known the Gospel of salvation are doing our work.
It is therefore our duty to help them in their labors.
How can we? We can help them with our prayers.
It has been well said: .“Prayer is the most im-
portant part of mission work.” Missionaries of
themselves can do nothing. The work is of God,
and from God the blessing must come. He must
give the increase. He must give health, and
strength, and patience to the laborers in the mis-
sion field. He must open the doors and the hearts,
and ‘crown the work of His servants with His bless-
ing. ‘Therefore St. Paul, the great missionary
apostle, wrote to his brethren at Rome: “Now I
beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's
sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive
together with me in your prayers to God for me,”
Rom. 15, 30. And to the Colossians he wrote:
“Withal praying also for us, that God would open
unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery
of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; that I may
make it manifest, as I ought to speak,” Col. 4, 3. 4.
And to the Thessalonians he wrote: “Brethren,
pray for us,” 1 Thess. 5, 25. eee