The Sacraments2. The Blessings of Baptism

Understanding how we come to faith…

Chain the Catechism: A topical study through the Lutheran confessions

Memorization Verses: Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" [Mark 16:16].

LSB 594 1 God's own child, I gladly say it:

I am baptized into Christ!He, because I could not pay it,Gave my full redemption price.Do I need earth's treasures many?I have one worth more than anyThat brought me salvation freeLasting to eternity!

2 Sin, disturb my soul no longer:I am baptized into Christ!I have comfort even stronger:Jesus' cleansing sacrifice.Should a guilty conscience seize meSince my Baptism did release meIn a dear forgiving flood,Sprinkling me with Jesus' blood!

3 Satan, hear this proclamation:I am baptized into Christ!Drop your ugly accusation,I am not so soon enticed.

Now that to the font I've traveled,All your might has come unraveled,And, against your tyranny,God, my Lord, unites with me!

4 Death, you cannot end my gladness:I am baptized into Christ!When I die, I leave all sadnessTo inherit paradise!Though I lie in dust and ashesFaith's assurance brightly flashes:Baptism has the strength divineTo make life immortal mine. 

5 There is nothing worth comparingTo this lifelong comfort sure!Open-eyed my grave is staring:Even there I'll sleep secure.Though my flesh awaits its raising,Still my soul continues praising:I am baptized into Christ;I'm a child of paradise! 

Sing it!

Baptism: Personal Reflection

1. Write about the day of your baptism. What you’ve been told / what you remember, and the gifts and promises given.

2. Write about living your baptism daily. HOW you live out these blessings w/the Spirit.

• Tip: Bring your thoughts alive in the style of a personal narrative with specific details, figurative language, and vivid imagery.

• Romans 6:3-4 Paul wrote, “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with sin by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

We are to remember to use the blessings of our baptism daily. Luther wrote, “A truly Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism once begun and ever to be continued.” Baptism is a one time act with continuing benefits.

PRAYER

• blessings• forgiveness and rescue• Christ's grace• belief + faith• truth + powerP raiseR epentanceA ppreciationY ouE veryoneR esolve

1 The man is ever blestWho shuns the sinners' ways,Among their counsels never stands,Nor takes the scorners' place.

2 But makes the Law of GodHis study and delightAmid the labors of the dayAnd watches of the night.

3 He like a tree shall thrive,With waters near the root;Fresh as the leaf his name shall live,His works are heav'nly fruit.

Sing it! LSB 705 Ps 1

Discussion Tragically, some people believe they

are going to heaven when they die just because a few drops of water were sprinkled over their heads a few weeks after their birth. They have no personal faith, have never made a personal decision, and are banking on a hollow ceremony to save them. How absurd.    

Indeed, baptism is a vow, a sacred vow of the believer to follow Christ. Just as a wedding celebrates the fusion of two hearts, baptism celebrates the union of sinner with Savior.

~Max Lucado

The Sacraments

Say Mean Matter

Key phrases Own words Answer the questions/Personal application

• What benefits does Baptism give? •Which are these words and promises of God? •What great and precious things are given in baptism? •If Christ has already won forgiveness and salvation for

us and gives us all this by grace alone, why do we still need

baptism? •To whom does Baptism give all these blessings? •It is possible for an unbaptized person to be saved? •Why are we not to seek a "baptism with the Holy Spirit" in addition to the

Sacrament of Holy Baptism? ______________________________ SS: Blessings M: Forgiveness and rescue T: Christ’s grace W: Belief + faith Th: truth + power

Baptism: 4 Truths to Defend There are 4 basic truths concerning Baptism:

1. Faith is a gift given by the whole working of the Trinity through the Cross TO THE CHURCH.

2. Baptism is meant for all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or mental capacity as THE PLACE in which God PROMISES HIS PRESENCE.

3. Baptism confers saving grace as an

objective truth by His word, and is the

proper means and reality by which the Elect live all their days.

4. Baptism is the dying to sin and rising in Christ; a spiritual and physical truth that creates a new heart to worship

Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" [Mark 16:16].

• Pray: O Lord, I am Your sin; You are

my righteousness. Therefore I triumph and am secure; for my sin cannot overpower Your righteousness, nor can Your righteousness let me be or remain a sinner. Blessed Lord God of mine my Mercy and my Redeemer,

in You only do I trust; never let me be ashamed. Amen. (Luther)

SS: Blessings

Blessings of Baptism: Seven Portraits What images are found in Scripture

concerning the blessings of Baptism?1. PUTTING ON Christ and His Merits

(Gal. 3:26)1. Enduo: To sink into a garment

2. Christ is clothed in righteousness BY his wounds.

2. Baptism SAVES (1 Peter 3:21)1. Sozo: To make whole. To rescue from

destruction and danger. To Heal

3. Baptism gives a GOOD CONSCIENCE (1 Peter 3:21)1. Suneidesis: Awareness of morality

2. Strength to endure suffering (context)

4. Baptism is BIRTH into the Spirit (John 3:5)1. Gennao: Signifies not the individual,

but the father who has authority

Blessings of Baptism: Seven Portraits What images are found in Scripture concerning

the blessings of Baptism?5. Baptism CLEANS, RESTORES and MAKES

HOLY (Eph. 5:26)1. Hagiazo: To remove (make hallow) as to purify

and set apart

2. Katharizo: To make something clean by complete cleansing (related to hilasterion, expiation, see Mark 1:23) and restoring relationship!

3. Loutron: To bathe and prepare for burial. Think Jesus or Samurai

6. Baptism REMOVES SIN (Acts 22:16) 1. Apolouo: To separate out the dirt during a

washing

7. Baptism is DEATH AS VICTORY (Rom. 6:4)1. Sunthapto: United and buried

2. Kainotes: Newness of life (unused) that is retrospective (remembering the former)

3. Contrast with the neos man in Christ

A. works forgiveness of sins; Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized, every

one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

Acts 22:16 Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away.

B. rescues from death and the devil; Rom. 6:3, 5 Don't you know that all of us

who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ... If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.

Gal. 3:27 All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Col. 1:13-14 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Compare Col. 2:11-12.)

C. gives eternal salvation. Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is

baptized will be saved.

1 Peter 3:21 This water [of Noah's flood] symbolizes baptism that now saves you also. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Titus 3:5 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

• Pray: Dear Lord Christ, even if I do not

fulfill Your Law, and still have sin, and feel afraid of death and hell, I still know from the Gospel that all Your merits are mine by faith. I am sure of this, for You would not deceive me. You will surely keep Your promise. As a pledge of this I have received Baptism and rely on it. Since You, dear Lord, are mine, I will gladly die, dear Father if it pleases You. Death cannot harm me, for it is swallowed up in victory. Praise be to You, Lord God, for You have given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Luther)

M: Forgiveness and Rescue

Blessings of Baptism: Christ Alone? Along with the three “Baptism Misfits”

described last week, another question seems to arise (two versions): If Christ already completed the work on

the Cross…Why should Baptism be so important? Doesn’t it distract from Christ?

If we make Baptism so IMPORTANT, does it distract us from Christ?

Implicit indictments from both questions: Baptism is a good work that breaks the

first commandment Baptism gets in the way of faith alone

if not relegated to a mere ordinance/commitment.

Blessings of Baptism: Christ Alone? Does Baptism diminish Christ’s work?

Christ’s ministry is INAUGURATED through Baptism (an event which has major spiritual and miraculous happenings)

Therefore, we are justified in recognizing Baptism through Christ’s very participation in it for our sins, as He draws us to the font to participate in that baptized life.

Does Baptism break the First Commandment (idolotry)? Wherever you see the word baptism, it is appropriate

to substitute for “the word of God unto salvation” Therefore, baptism is no more idolatry than the high

view of scripture we have as the means of grace to bring forgiveness and salvation

Is Baptism a good work that you do? Did you birth yourself? Do you make food and

clothing ex nihilo? Did you decide to do anything that wasn’t already decreed by God?

So also, Baptism is a gift given to the Church, it is the physical manifestation of the very everlasting waters which slake and save.

Christ has indeed won full forgiveness and salvation for the whole human race with His perfect life, suffering, death, and resurrection. He distributes this same forgiveness in Baptism. (Baptism is a means of grace.)

1 Cor. 6:11 You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:5-7 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. •

Pray: I thank, praise, and glorify You,

my Lord Christ, with heart and voice before the world that You are merciful to me and You help me. This I have received in Baptism, that You and none other shall be my Lord and God. Amen. (Luther).

T Christ’s grace

Blessings of Baptism: Unbaptized? Three logical categories of

“unbaptized christians” (not a scriptural idea, btw) A child eligible to receive

Baptism, but is unable to for extraneous reasons (early death, drought, etc.)

Someone going through a catechetical process who dies before the official date (typical in 1st and 2nd c. persecution)

Someone who rejects the need for baptism through some form of false teaching

Blessings of Baptism: Unbaptized? To the Child:

It is God’s will and decree to glorify himself in the salvation of His church.

Children are made members through the same means as anyone else (Water and the Word)

Those unable to have the water, have ALL the benefits of the Word (where the word has gone out)

To the Adult convert: Your faith through the hearing and

learning of the word brought all the benefits of Christ at once

To the unbaptized Christian Why are you rejecting God’s clear

gift in baptism? Is it through false teaching?

Baptism gives these blessings to all who believe God's saving promises.

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

It is only unbelief that condemns. Faith cannot exist in the heart of a person who despises and rejects Baptism against better knowledge. But those who believe the Gospel, yet die before they have opportunity to be baptized are not condemned.

Mark 16:16 Whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Bible narratives: The Pharisees and experts in the Law in unbelief rejected John's baptism (Luke 7:30). The thief on the cross was saved without Baptism (Luke 23:39-43).

•

Pray: Dear God, I know that even when I have done my best I am still to blame. But I am comforted, because You have died for me and sprinkled me with the blood from Your holy wounds. I am surely baptised in You and have heard the word through which You have called me, commanded me to believe, and assured me of grace and life. With these blessings I will gladly go ahead, not in anxious and hesitating doubts and fears, which ask, “Who knows what judgment of God in heaven will hold against me?” For I now live in the assurance of the gracious decree which God has given from heaven against the curse of the law, “He who believes in the Son of Man has eternal life.” Amen. (Luther).

W: Belief + Faith

Blessings of Baptism: Holy Spirit Baptism If you have been water baptized, but

have yet to be baptized by the Spirit, you have yet to receive the FULL blessings of God!?! The work of Baptism is a one time

event with continuing benefits (Gal. 3:26)

We do GROW in faith, and have gifts according to the grace given (Roman 12:6)

The Spirit has come with DIFFERENT gifts throughout history (notably to the Apostles and first gen Christians as prophecy fulfillment), but not according to any greater measure of “blessing” in the one body of Christ (Romans 12)

Blessings of Baptism: How Many? If I sin too much, or fall away,

should I be re-baptized to REALLY commit my life to Christ this time? Thinking of Baptism as the work of

man is thinking Peter can walk on water by looking down at his feet.

Christ is the one who washes you. This is NOT a failure, even if we have jumped out of the boat for a time.

Even if someone never comes back to the boat, it is not Baptism that has failed, but the judgemet of God being enacted on a sinner.

If you want to get wet, understand you are remembering your birthday, not being born a third time!

Beyond sacramental Baptism we are to seek no other "baptism" because

A. there is no other God-given Baptism today beside the Sacrament of Holy Baptism;

Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Note: The "instruction about baptisms"

(Heb. 6:2) does not mean that there are several Christian baptisms, but that the one true Baptism must be clearly distinguished from the many religious washings which were common in the ancient world (see for instance Mark 7:4).

B. the sacrament is not a water-only or a Spirit-only baptism, but a water-and-Spirit Baptism

John 3:5 No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Titus 3:5 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Note: Matt. 3:11 speaks of baptizing "with water" and "with the Holy Spirit and with fire." The difference here is not between sacramental Baptism and some sort of

"Spirit baptism," but between the preparatory mission and baptism of John the Baptist and the full, permanent mission and Baptism of Jesus Christ. While John's baptism also gave the forgiveness of sins, it was different in that it pointed forward to the redemptive work of the Savior.

C. the special signs granted by the Holy Spirit were not another "baptism," but they proved the truth and power of the apostles' preaching.

Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

2 Cor. 12:12 The things that mark an apostle-signs, wonders and miracles-were done among you with great perseverance.

•

Th Truth + Power

Pray: Help me, O God, help me that in true faith I may securely hold the great and saving treasures which You have given me through Baptism! Help me to do this through Your Holy Spirit, whom You have poured out abundantly in Baptism. Help me to nevermore lose the forgiveness of sins and life eternal which You have given me! Amen. (Zorn)

O Lord God, who has made u worthy to receive forgiveness of sins through the washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit, send us Your grace, that we may serve You according to Your will. For Yours is the glory, to the Father and the Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy church, both now and forever . Amen. (Hippolytus of Rome, c. 170-236)

O holy and immaculate Jesus, what tongue is able to speak those inward

joys, that arise from the happiness of that mysterious union between You and every pious soul? O, purge away my dross, purify all my affections, correct my will, enlighten my understanding, still my inordinate passions. Then come, Lord Jesus, come and dwell with me! My soul longs for You, and is impatient that her divine guest should make His entry. Clothe her, O Lord, with the wedding garment. Then lead her to the marriage of the Lamb, that she may sit down with You in Your heavenly palaces, and sing eternal hallelujahs, to You, O Father; You, O Son; and You, O Holy Spirit; one God blessed forever. Amen. (Johann Gerhard, 1582-1637).

Th Truth + Power

Blessings of Baptism: LutherTherefore state it most simply thus,

that the power, work, profit, fruit, and end of Baptism is this, namely to save. For no one is baptized in order that he may become a prince, but as the words declare, that he be saved. But to be saved, we know, is nothing else than to be delivered from sin, death, and the devil, and to enter into the kingdom of Christ, and to live with Him forever. Here you see again how highly and precious we should esteem Baptism, because in it we, obtain such an unspeakable treasure.

LSB 9221. "Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone. Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own. In my love's baptismal river, I have made you mine forever. Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.

Sing it!

ConclusionBaptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”A. works forgiveness of sins; B. rescues from death and the devil; C. gives eternal salvation. Christ has indeed won full forgiveness and salvation for the whole human race with His perfect life, suffering, death, and resurrection. He distributes this same forgiveness in Baptism. (Baptism is a means of grace.)Baptism gives these blessings to all

who believe God's saving promises.It is only unbelief that condemns. Faith cannot exist in the heart of a person who despises and rejects Baptism against better knowledge. But those who believe the Gospel, yet die before they have opportunity to be baptized are not condemned. Beyond sacramental Baptism we are to seek no other "baptism" becauseA. there is no other God-given Baptism today beside the Sacrament of Holy Baptism; and power of the apostles' preaching. Acts

The Power of Baptism

Next Time…(01/27)