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 4: Click here and read 32-46.
The basics:
- Luther uses this section to describe the person who receives what Baptism gives and profits.
- Faith alone make the person worthy to receive the saving, divine water. Since these blessings are promised in the words in and with the water, they cannot be received in any other way than by believing them with the heart. Without faith it profits nothing.
- Our works avail nothing for salvation, but Baptism is not our work but God's. God's works are saving and necessary for salvation, and do not exclude, but demand, faith.
- In Baptism, you are to be thinking that this is according to God's command and ordinance.
- There is no work done by us in Baptism, but a treasure which He gives us, and which faith apprehends; just as Jesus upon the cross is not a work, but a treasure comprehended in the Word, and offered to us and received by faith.
- The most important point is that God commands Baptism, so even if we only had these words - Go ye and baptize... - it would be necessary for us to accept and do it as the ordinance of God. It is not only a command, however, but also a promise.
- We all have more than enough to learn and practice about Baptism - for we always have enough to do to believe firmly what it promises and brings: victory over death and the devil, forgiveness of sin, the grace of God, the entire Christ, and the Holy Ghost with His gifts.
- If there were somewhere a physician who could save men from dying, or even though they died, of restoring them to eternal life, the world would pour in money like snow and rain. But here in Baptism there is brought free to everyone's door such a treasure and medicine as utterly destroys death and preserves all men.
- When our sins and conscience oppress us, we take comfort and say, "Nevertheless I am baptized, and it is promised that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body."
My thoughts today:
My husband has the hands that performed Christ's Baptism yet again yesterday, Did I cry? Yes. A tiny, precious, baby girl named Ayanna died and rose with Christ in the waters of Baptism.
Some people question infant Baptism, and we shall talk more about that soon when Luther addresses it. But for now, I just want to talk about little Ayanna and what she teaches me about Baptism.
Luther tells us the most important thing to know about Baptism is it is commanded, and if we only had those words about it from God, that would be enough. God said to do it. We do it. So, as Ayanna's mother holds her tender child and stands at the font, she can be sure and certain that she is doing so by the ordinance of God Himself. She has brought her daughter to the life-saving waters because God commands her, in her role as mother, to raise her child in the fear of the Lord.
A baby like Ayanna is the perfect example of how great a work Baptism is - not on the Baptized person's part, but on God's part. A baby does nothing to get herself to the font. She is carried by her mother, surrounded by her family, and poured on by her pastor. But look what she gains because of the gifts God has given her in mother, family, and pastor? Eternal life, salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. He gives her faith, He brings her to the water, He surrounds her with her brothers and sisters in Christ, and He pours the life-saving water on her.
Thanks be to God for His good and perfect works.
