Friday, September 21, 2012
Titus 3:5 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
HOLY BAPTISM: A PRICELESS TREASURE
From the Large Catechism (Luther's comments on Baptism):
+ "We must above all know well the words on which Baptism is founded and toward which everything that we can say about it is focused, namely the words of the Lord Christ in the last chapter of Matthew, 'Go 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). Likewise 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). You should first of all note that these words stand as God's command and ordinance."
+ "As truly as I can affirm that the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer were not spun out of any human being's head, but revealed and given by God Himself, so joyously can I affirm that Baptism is no human trifle, but that it was established by God Himself. Moreover, He earnestly and solemnly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. No one is to think that it is an optional matter like putting on a red coat. It is of the greatest importance that we hold Baptism in high esteem as something splendid and glorious."
+ The way to regard and use Baptism rightly is to draw strength and comfort from it when our sins or consciences trouble us. We then must say, 'See here, I am baptized. And since I am baptized, I have the assurance that I shall be saved in soul and body and have eternal life.'"
+ "There is no greater jewel than baptism for adorning our body and soul, for through it we become perfectly holy and are completely saved, something that otherwise no manner of life and no effort on earth can attain."
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 any
That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity!
(Worship Supplement 2000, 751:1)
