But I am going to have to assume from your reply that you must actually believe that the administering Priest and the parents of the child brought forth for baptism are actually and truly regenerate and possess saving faith in the Lord Christ?
Are you a Donatist? The baptism is effectual by reason of the institution and command of Christ, not the faith, if any, of the priest or the parents. I thought Calvinists were in agreement with Lutherans on this.
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Although the Church properly is the congregation of saints and true believers, nevertheless, since in this life many hypocrites and evil persons are mingled therewith, it is lawful to use Sacraments administered by evil men, according to the saying of Christ: The Scribes and 2] the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, etc. Matt. 23, 2. Both the Sacraments and Word are effectual by reason of the institution and commandment of Christ, notwithstanding they be administered by evil men.
3] They condemn the Donatists, and such like, who denied it to be lawful to use the ministry of evil men in the Church, and who thought the ministry of evil men to be unprofitable and of none effect.
Augsburg Confession, What the Church is
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There is no magic to reciting a Tridentine formula over someone with the attendance of water that mystically produces salvation or even the possibility of it. Without faith, the baptism is actually judgment upon the individual. Your view(s) on baptism are far too "Roman" for my liking..... sorry! Luther should have discarded more of the Popish baggage when he left than he did.
He did discard the Popish baggage. The papists believe that faith is not necessary to receive the benefits of baptism. I don't know abour your confession but in the Lutheran confession, the Lord God is sovereign. He works regeneration/faith when and where it pleases Him. If He is pleased or not pleased to regenerate and give faith in baptism, it will occur or not occur no matter what the Papists and the Calvinists say.
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That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, 2] the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear 3] the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ's sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake.
They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works.
