The short answer is this: to know who God is and what He has done for you and to be committed to learning more while in the fellowship of a congregation.

In the Lutheran tradition, we baptize our children as infants and we recognize that the promises of God: the redemption from sin and death and life everlasting, are given as a pledge from God in Holy Baptism. Then, the expectation is that the child, as they grow, would be taught how to live faithfully and learn what God’s teachings from the Scriptures both at home and in the church.

However, for those who join God’s family after infancy, as older children and even as adults it looks a little bit different. Let’s look to the Scriptures for an answer.

Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 2:37-42

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

As Jesus tells the apostles how to make disciples, He gives them two directives: baptize and teach. These two things belong together if someone wants to be a Christian. With infants, it often is baptism first, teaching second.

On Pentecost, Peter gave a sermon teaching the people who Jesus Christ is and to believe in Him. This is followed by the first recorded Christian baptisms. Then, after being baptized these people sat at the apostle’s feet to continue to be taught by them and to gather together as one fellowship for regular worship.

Here, the order is flipped. These adults were first taught, then baptized, and then continued in their learning.

So, an adult should know at least the simple truths that 1. God has made me. 2. I am sinful and I can’t fix my sinful condition or save myself from God’s judgment against sin. 3. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has redeemed and rescued me, forgiven me all my sins, and won everlasting life and eternal joy for me.

After being baptized, it is then the joy of the Christian to continue in the life of faith and fellowship in the congregation and to learn more about God through regular worship, spiritual conversation, and individual study of the Scriptures. Then, to also be catechized, specific teachings from Luther’s Small Catechism, and prepared to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of Holy Communion.

In Christ,

Pastor Lewis