Perhaps one of the most challenging things that Lutherans run into in modern America is our stance on Baptism. There are many who see us as the starters of the reformation, and they know their church either directly or indirectly came about because of Martin Luther's work. So why did the Lutherans keep the Sacraments? Why the Liturgy? Why infant baptism? Why don't Lutherans look more protestant? We all teach the Bible, don't we? 

A place to begin examining these reasons would be at the teaching of Holy Baptism. So I what I will do in the following weeks is work through all the places where the Bible mentions Baptism, and in particular these greek words, βαπτιζω, βαπτισμα, βαπτισμος, and βαπτιστης. 

βαπτιζω (Baptizo) means to Baptize, it is in the Greek New Testament 77 times.
βαπτισμα (Baptisma) means Baptism, it is in the Greek New Testament 20 times.
βαπτισμος (Baptismos) means Baptism, it is in the Greek New Testament 3 times.
βαπτιστης (Baptistas, the last a is long as in taste) means Baptizer, it is in the Greek New Testament 12 times. 

All together these words appear 112 times in the New Testament, and this should give us plenty to look at to understand why Lutherans, who still firmly believe in Scripture Alone, baptize babies.