In a simple way in which the head of a house<\/i><\/p>\n
is to present it to the household<\/i><\/p>\n
First<\/span>7<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>7<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What is baptism? Answer:<\/p>\n Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead it is water enclosed in God\u2019s command and connected with God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n What then is this Word of God? Answer:<\/p>\n Where our Lord Christ says in Matthew 28[:19*<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>], \u201cGo into all the world, teach all nations,<\/span>7<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>8<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n Second<\/p>\n What gifts or benefits does baptism grant? Answer:<\/p>\n It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare.<\/p>\n What are these words and promise of God? Answer:<\/p>\n Where our Lord Christ says in Mark 16[:16*<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>], \u201cWhoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be damned.\u201d<\/p>\n Third<\/p>\n How can water do such great things? Answer:<\/p>\n Clearly the water does not do it, but the Word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and faith, which trusts this Word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is plain water and not a baptism, but with the Word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a \u201cbath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,\u201d as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3[:5\u20138*<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>], \u201cthrough the bath of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he richly poured out over us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that through that very grace we may be righteous<\/i> and<\/i><\/span>7<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>9<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>heirs in hope of eternal life. This is surely<\/i><\/span>8<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>0<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>most certainly true.\u201d<\/p>\n Fourth<\/p>\n What then is the significance of such a baptism with water? Answer:<\/p>\n It signifies that the old creature<\/span>8<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>1<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily contrition and repentance,<\/span>8<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/span>2<\/sup> <\/span><\/span>and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.<\/p>\n Where is this written? Answer:<\/p>\n St. Paul says in Romans 6[:4*<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span>], \u201cWe were buried with Christ through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we, too, are to walk in a new life.\u201d<\/p>\n 7<\/a>7 <\/span><\/sup>Woodcut: The baptism of an infant. The pastor holds the naked infant face down over the water of a large font with one hand and scoops water with the other. A deacon holds an open book for him to read and three lay people pray. The Holy Spirit, depicted as a dove, hovers over the scene. Caption: \u201cThe figure: Matthew 28[:16\u201320<\/span><\/span><\/span>*<\/span><\/span><\/span>].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n *<\/a> 19\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 (NRSV)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n 7<\/a>8 <\/span><\/sup>Heiden:<\/i><\/span> or, heathen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n *<\/a> 16\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16 (NRSV)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n *<\/a> 5\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n 6\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,<\/span><\/p>\n 7\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.<\/span><\/p>\n 8\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. Titus 3:5\u20138 (NRSV)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n 7<\/a>9 <\/span><\/sup>\u201cRighteous and\u201d is parallel to Luther\u2019s Bible. Versions before 1536 read \u201cjustified.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n 8<\/a>0 <\/span><\/sup>\u201cSurely\u201d is lacking before 1536.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n 8<\/a>1 <\/span><\/sup>Literally, the Old Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n 8<\/a>2 <\/span><\/sup>CA<\/i><\/span> XII, 3.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n *<\/a> 4\u00a0<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0Therefore 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. Romans 6:4 (NRSV)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In a simple way in which the head of a house is to present it to the household First77 What is baptism? Answer: Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead it is water enclosed in God\u2019s command and connected with God\u2019s Word. What then is this Word of God? Answer: Where our Lord Christ says … Continue reading The Sacrament of Holy Baptism:<\/span>