While infant baptism is often debated among Christians, sometimes the question comes up about why baptize adults who already believe? If baptism is not something we do for God, but a means of grace whereby He gives forgiveness and faith (which we believe), why baptize someone to whom He has already given forgiveness and faith through His Word?
 
     The following is an excerpt from a sermon on Pentecost, where just such a baptism took place in my church. Click here to read the whole sermon.
 

     "We witnessed Pentecost today as George was baptized.  Our Lord fulfilled His Word and made George His own, His son, through water and the Word.  But some of you may be wondering why George needed to be baptized at all.  For, after all, through the preaching of the Gospel the Spirit came to him, and he's been coming to our church . . . he's a "believer," so why baptize him?  Why is this necessary?  The answer is not just because Jesus commanded baptism - that would be changing baptism from Gospel into Law!  From a gift into an obligation!  No, this Baptism was for George's benefit.  For did George believe? Yes . . . but . . . but how could he be sure he believed enough?  Or strong enough?  Or good enough?  How could he be sure that his faith today would be his faith tomorrow?  He would be constantly looking at himself and his heart, and trying to measure his faith and basing the certainty of his salvation in himself.  And how easy it is for the devil then to cause us to doubt, when we fall into sin, when we are anxious or worried, that we ever really believed at all.  It was just an illusion, a charade.  Just a wishful fantasy.  See George, you're no Christian!  You're not good enough!
 
     But today, George was baptized!  Baptism is not something George did, but what was done to him.  Today, George did not come to Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ came to George, sent His Spirit, and said you are mine.  I join you to my death and resurrection.  I forgive you all your sins.  I make you my child.  I give you a place in my Heavenly home.  And when Christ speaks there is no doubt!  And so George's faith is not in his faith, in the fact that he believes, but in the baptismal work of Christ for him.  And so when he sins, when he falls into doubt and despair, when he is anxious or worried, when satan attacks and assails him, he is able to say not "But I believe . . . I think", but "I am baptized!  I am a child of God!  My Saviour does not lie!  I am His!"
 
     And what wonderful confidence that gives not only George, but all of us who have been baptized!  Those three thousand baptized on the Day of Pentecost, and you and me today.  Confidence.  Certainty.  Comfort."