Because sin transgresses God’s law, it becomes necessary for it to also have consequences. This is where salvation enters the picture. Salvation comes through Christ and delivers humankind from its sin. What the church teaches regarding salvation is vital to whether or not its adherents will enjoy eternal life or suffer eternal punishment. In Lutheranism, salvation is received upon the basis of faith alone (Kolb 39-40). There are, however, several stipulations to this doctrine and its definition that should be considered. First, Lutheranism professes predestination. This concept is known as God’s choice of particular people for eternal salvation (Cross 1328). Lutheran teachings on this subject are careful to distinguish between Lutheran predestination and Calvinistic predestination. The former teaches predestination as a result and condition of faith, while the latter believes God chooses some to be saved and others to be lost (Jacobs 393). In essence, Lutherans believe one must choose to become part of the predestined and remain part of it (Kolb 517). The only real error with Lutheranism’s view on predestination is the failure to note that God predestines a group, not individuals. Paul’s words in Ephesians show that this group is the church, and that those in it…show more content… The problem here concerns whether or not infants are viable candidates for baptism. Baptism requires belief, repentance, and confession of Jesus’ deity (Jn. 8:24; Luke 13:3, 5; Rom. 10:9-10). Infants are incapable of believing in anything due to their limited mental capacity. Infants are unable to repent because they do not understand sin nor do they have any sins of which to be forgiven. Infants are unable to confess Jesus’ deity for the same reason they cannot believe. Infant baptism is thus an addition to the Scriptures and is an unnecessary
