“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,” (Matthew 28:19)
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3–4)
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism (Part 1)
When was the last time you saw a baptism?
Water seems like such an ordinary thing. We drink it. We wash with it. It falls from the sky and runs from the faucet.
Yet Jesus takes ordinary water and attaches an extraordinary promise to it.
That is Baptism.
Luther explains that according to the Scriptures Baptism is not just plain water. It is water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word.
Jesus gave that command after His resurrection when He sent His disciples to make disciples of all nations. He told them to do it…
“baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
So Baptism isn’t something Christians invented or just a neat way to initiate people into the church.
Jesus gave baptism to His Church. And He tells us what He does through it.
Sometimes people think of Baptism mainly as something we do for God. We make a public commitment. We show everyone that we have decided to follow Jesus. Baptism becomes our declaration of faith. But Scripture places the emphasis somewhere else.
On God’s action.
In Baptism, God is doing something for us.
In Romans, God tells us that when we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His death. We are buried with Him and raised with Him to new life.
Think about what that means.
Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus died on a cross outside Jerusalem. He carried the sins of the world into His death and rose victorious over sin and the grave.
In Baptism, God connects you personally to what Jesus did.
That is why the catechism speaks so boldly about Baptism. It gives forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe God’s promise. Or, as Got put it in 1 Peter,
“Baptism…now saves you.” 1 Peter 3:21
Not because water has some magical power, but because God’s Word and promise are there.
This is also why Christians baptize infants. Baptism isn’t primarily our testimony about what we have decided to do for God. It is God’s promise of what He does for us. Babies need the same Savior adults do, and God’s grace is not limited by their ability to understand or explain it.
None of us comes to God because we have figured everything out. He comes to us.
That is the pattern we have seen throughout the catechism.
So when doubts come, you don’t have to search inside yourself to see whether your faith feels strong enough. Look instead to what God has done.
You are baptized into Christ.
And His promise is stronger than your feelings.
Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving the gift of Baptism and joining me to the death and resurrection of Jesus. When I doubt, turn my eyes away from myself and back to Your promises. Help me to trust the forgiveness, life, and salvation Christ has won for me and that You give through Your Word and Sacraments. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
