. . . for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23

Baptism: a means of grace

God packages His gifts

We learn from Scripture that God has created salvation for us with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His victory over sin and death is a victory that is God’s gift to all humanity. This gift God packages in three containers to be sure they get delivered to us. Though the containers are different, they give the same gift: the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. In addition they strengthen our faith. These 3 containers are the Holy Scriptures, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. We call them the means of grace.

Holy Baptism is a means of grace

Holy Baptism has been with the church from the beginning of its commission. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He commanded His church to go into all the world making disciples. The two methods Jesus gave to do that was through teaching and baptizing. These are the means that Jesus uses to build His kingdom.

• NRS Matthew 28:19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

What is baptism?

Luther answers in his small catechism: "baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God’ s command and connected to God’s Word".

What does God desire to give us through baptism?

It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. {Luther’s Small Catechism}

 
How can water do such great things?

It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trust such word of God in the water. For without the word of God, the water is simple water and no baptism. But with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says, Titus chapter 3. {Luther’s Small Catechism}
 

Is Faith Necessary?

Yes! Baptism without faith is a mere external ceremony. A baptized person who is living in a sinful unbelieving life is not saved. It is not because baptism has no power, but because the person has rejected with their willful sinfulness the gift of God in baptism. Baptism is not a toleration of sin but a cleansing away of sin and the gift of a new life in Christ Jesus through the forgiveness of our sins. Faith is a resounding yes and trust in the gift of cleaning that is ours in Christ Jesus.

• NRS Romans 6:1 What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?

Baptism is the package, Christ the gift

When we think of baptism, we must remember the promise of God connected to it. Baptism has power because God’s Word is connected to it in such a way that God promises that He acts through baptism to connect us to our Savior Jesus Christ. Baptism is the package, Christ crucified for our sins the contents. The package is important, but only because of what it conveys. By itself, the package is nothing. But because of the blessing God puts within the package, baptism is powerful, a life altering and saving event. Baptism does give us forgiveness for our sins!

• NRS Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• NRS Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

• NRS Romans 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

• NRS Ephesians 5:25 . . . .. Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word,

Words of Martin Luther on Baptism

Baptism is right and remains true even though it were proved that a little child or an old person who had been baptized does not believe. For baptism is no work of ours. Whether I believe or do not believe, baptism is and remains true and good by itself. But this is also true: If I believe, baptism is a benefit to me; if on the other hand, I do not believe, baptism is forever no benefit to me.

To be baptized and yet to remain in sin makes no sense. For baptism is administered for the very purpose of taking away sin that a man may now become pious and increase in good work.

. . . we must also watch that no false security creeps in and says to itself. . . God will not count our sins against us. . . I will meanwhile live and do as I please. . . .To be sure baptism is so grat that if you turn from your sins and appeal to the covenant of baptism, yours sins are forgiven. Only see to it that if you sin in this wicked and wanton manner by presumming on God’s grace that the judgement does not lay hold of you and forestall your turning back. . . let us therefore walk with care and fear that we may hold fast the riches of God’s grace with a firm faith and joyfully give thanks to His mercy forever and ever. Amen.

Holy Baptism has been purchased for us by the same blood which Christ shed for us and with which He paid for our sins. This blood, with its merit and power, He has deposited in Baptism so that men attain it there. For the person who is receiving Baptism in faith is in effect actually being visibly washed with the blood of Christ and cleansed from his sins.
 
 

copyright Rev. David D. Reedy, 1998

Rev. David D. Reedy 2002

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church   

Dayton Tennessee   

423.775.4253

Prince of Peace is a LCMS congregation located in Rhea County Tennessee, serving the entire county of some 32,000 people.