Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use · George Mezger
LESSON 49.
Holy Baptism What Baptism Gives, Or Profits. What does Baptism give, or profit? _It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare._ Which are such words and promises of God? _Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark: He that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved, but He that believeth not shall be damned._ 1. In our last lesson we learned what Baptism is. _"Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's word."_ Now the question arises, What good does it do one to be baptized? _What does Baptism give, or profit?_ Baptism must indeed be a great and wonderful thing. God Himself instituted it. He put His name, His word, into it. Where His name and His word are, there, indeed, must be great, eternal blessings.
2. Our Catechism answers the question: _"What does Baptism give, or profit?"_ by saying: _"It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare."_ Three great blessings of Baptism are mentioned: 1. It works forgiveness of sins; 2. it delivers from death and the devil; 3. it gives eternal salvation. It does this because of the words and promises of God: _"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."_ Mark 16,16. How can we prove by these words that Holy Baptism also works forgiveness of sins and delivers from death and the devil? Christ merely says that he who believes and is baptized shall be _saved._ Remember, however, that there is no salvation where there is not forgiveness of sins and deliverance from death and the devil. _Salvation consists in forgiveness of sins and deliverance from death and the devil._ If Baptism gives us salvation, it must also work forgiveness of sins and deliver us from death and the devil.
3. _Baptism works forgiveness of sins. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins."_ Acts 2,38. How are we to understand this statement: Baptism works forgiveness of sins? Has not Christ Himself merited this heavenly gift? Christ, our Savior, has indeed, by His sufferings and death, atoned for our sins; _He has redeemed us from all our sins and so indeed earned for us, for all men, forgiveness of sins._ But Holy Baptism is the _means_ by which the Holy Ghost _makes the forgiveness_ which Christ has earned for us _our own._ In baptism He presents to us and gives us this great blessing. The apostle says: _"Ye are all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."_ Gal. 3,26.27. We are baptized _into Christ._ In baptism _we put on Christ_ with all His merits. As in a beautiful, white, spotless garment we are clothed in baptism in the perfect righteousness Christ has merited for us. _Baptism works forgiveness by making Christ's righteousness our own._
4. _Baptism delivers us from death and the devil._ By sin death came into the world; death is the wages of sin. In baptism our sins are washed away for Christ's sake, and in this way we are delivered from death. In our dying hour we do not really see death, but have eternal life. In death we rejoice: _"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."_ 1 Cor. 15,55-57.--Baptism works forgiveness of sin and therefore _delivers us from the devil._ When our sins have been washed away, the devil no longer has any power over us; we are free from hell and damnation. If Satan still tempts us to sin, we may, in the power of our baptism, resist him and gain the victory.--By working forgiveness of sin, by delivering us from death and the devil, _Baptism gives us eternal salvation. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."_ Mark 16,16.
5. To whom does Baptism give all this? It gives these things _"to all who believe this."_ Our Savior says: _"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."_ Mark 16,16. All those who believe, trusting in the promises God has given in His Word concerning Baptism, receive these heavenly gifts. It is true, Baptism _contains_ all these precious gifts and blessings, _whether we believe or not._ They are _offered to all who _are baptized._ But we must take them and _make them our own._ This is done _by faith in Christ._ Baptism is _God's hand,_ by means of which He hands down His gifts, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. Faith is our _hand, with which we take God's gifts and make them our own.--_During our whole life_ we should remember our baptism and the grace God therein has bestowed upon us. Whenever we have sinned, we should in true repentance take refuge to our baptism, to the grace of God which He has promised us there. _"The covenant of my peace shall not be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."_ Is. 54,10. 1. _Do not forget to thank your Father in heaven for your baptism. It makes you certain that His heavenly gifts, forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, are indeed yours. It makes you certain that God is your Father and will remain your Father and you His child._
2. _If you have sinned and grieved your heavenly Father, take refuge to your baptism. Trust to His unfaltering grace which He has promised you there. Believe in Christ, who is yours through Baptism, and you will be saved._ _Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins._ Acts 2,38. _Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ._ Gal. 3,26.27. _O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ._ 1 Cor. 15,55-57.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.