Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Holy Baptism, Part 1: Click here and read 1-13.
The basics:
- The words upon which Baptism is founded are Christ's words in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16.
- Since these are the words of God Himself, we need not doubt that Baptism is divine, commanded and instituted by God.
- It is of greatest importance that we esteem Baptism as excellent, glorious, and exalted, because the world is full of sects preaching that Baptism is an external thing.
- What God commands and institutes cannot be in vain, but must be a most precious thing, though in appearance it seems of little value.
- To be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own work.
- The devil is busy trying to deceive us with false appearances and lead us away from the work of God and toward our own works.
- We must not estimate the person according to the works, but the works according to the person, from whom they must derive their nobility. Therefore, our works are nothing, and God's works are holy and noble.
My thoughts today:
I cry every single time I witness my husband baptizing someone.
"For to be baptized in the name of God is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own work."
Good stuff.
Enough said.
