Hearing the Word

 of the Lord

Pray: Psalm 51

Read: 2 Kings 5; Matthew 3:1-17

Sing: All Who Believe and Are Baptized (Lutheran Worship #225)

Holy Baptism

O God, you once delivered your people Israel from bondage under Pharaoh and led them in safety through the Red Sea, thereby giving us a picture of our Baptism. Grant that we may ever be faithful to your baptismal promise, live in its grace, and show forth to all people your desire that all should be made the children of Abraham; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Collect from the Vigil of Easter, Lutheran Worship Agenda, 82)

What is Holy Baptism?

Baptism in not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's Word.

Which is that Word of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: "Therefore 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]

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they say him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Matthew 28:16-20

What benefits does Baptism give?

It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God?

Christ our Lord says 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]

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him. Acts 2:37-39

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.' Acts 22:16 (Ananias speaking to St. Paul at Paul's baptism).

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13

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, so that 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

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:3-5

Baptism, which corresponds to this [the Flood], now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. 1 Peter 3:21-22

How can water do such great things?

Certainly not just water, but the Word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this Word of God in the water. For without God's Word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the Word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,

As St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by HIs grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying." [Titus 3:5-8]

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26-27

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26-27

Baptism, which corresponds to this [the Flood], now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. 1 Peter 3:21-22

Since all the blessings are offered and promised in the words that accompany the water, therefore they cannot be received otherwise than by wholeheartedly believing in them. Without faith, Baptism becomes useless, although in itself it is a divine, infinitely wonderful treasure. (Large Catechism, 102)

Now, it is absurd for these people to separate faith from the thing to which it adheres and to which it is bound, arguing that that thing is something external. Certainly, it should and must be external so that the senses can perceive and grasp it and it thus can be brought into the heart. Indeed, the entire Gospel is an external proclamation in language form. In fact, whatever God does and effects in us, He wants to do through such external arrangements. Wherever God speaks - yes, to whatever purpose or through whatever means He speaks - that is where faith should fix its gaze, that is the thing that faith should hold on to. (Large Catechism, 102)

What does such baptizing with water

mean for daily life?

It indicates (means) that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six: "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." [Romans 6:4]

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12

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 (nevertheless), 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." (Large Catechism, 104)

The Baptismal Liturgy - Lutheran Worship, p. 199-204  (The numbers refer to the rubric numbers of Lutheran Worship.)

1.         Invocation of the Name - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

2.        The Lord's Mandate (Mt. 28:16-20), Apostolic Instruction  (Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21), and exposition (Psalm 51:5; Jn 3:16)

3.        The mark of the Holy Cross (2 Cor. 1:22; Rev. 7:1-4; 9:4; 14:1; Ezek. 9:4) Note: the sign of the cross is a reminder of our Baptism

4/5.     The Gospel: Mark 10:13-15 (infants); John 3:5-6 (children and adults)

6.         Charge to Sponsors and Prayer (the promise to teach)

7.         The Our Father - the family prayer of God's family

8-10.    The Renunciation of the Devil (Col 1:13) and Confession of the Name

11-12.  The Naming of the Baptized (Rev. 21:27)

13.        Holy Baptism - Water and the Name (Matt. 28:19)

14.        Post-Baptismal Blessing (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 6:11)

15.        The White Garment (Gal 3:27)

16.        The Burning Light (John 8:12; Matt. 25:1-13; Rev. 19:9)

17.        Prayer for the Baptized

18.        Prayer for the Parents (from the "churching of the mother")

19.        Presentation of the Baptized to the Church (1 Peter 2:9-10)

When Luther reformed the baptismal liturgy in 1523 and again in 1526, he composed what has come to be called the "Flood Prayer." [This prayer is returned to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism in Lutheran Service Book.] The Flood Prayer illustrates nicely how baptism is "typical" of God's killing and making alive, as in the Flood (Genesis 6-9) and the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), so in the waters of Baptism.

Almighty, eternal God, who according to your severe judgment damned the unbelieving world through the Flood, and according to your great mercy preserved believing Noah and his family, and who drowned impenitent Pharaoh with all his mob in the Red Sea and lead your people Israel dry through the same, thereby foreshowing (typifying) this bath of your Holy Baptism, and who through the baptism of your beloved Child, our Lord Jesus Christ, sanctified and instituted all water for a blessed flood and a rich washing away of sin: We pray through your same boundless mercy, that you would look with grace on this [Name], and bless him with right faith in the Spirit, that through this saving flood all that was born in him from Adam and all that he himself has added be drowned and engulfed in him, and that he be rescued from the number of the unbelievers, preserved dry and secure in the holy ark of Christendom, and serve your name at all times fervent in spirit and joyful in hope; So that he, with all believers, would be worthy to receive your promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Luther's Little Baptismal Book, 1526)

On Making the Sign of the Holy Cross

The sign of the holy cross is a visual reminder of one's Baptism. It is made by extending the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand, the three extended fingers symbolizing the Triune Name, and touching the forehead, the breastbone, the left shoulder and then the right shoulder. It is customary to make the sign of the cross at the Invocation of the Triune Name ("In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit"), at the words "and the life everlasting" or "and the life of the world to come" in the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, and at the Benediction.

To trace the sign of the cross is to say "I am baptized into the Triune Name of God. And because I am baptized, I possess all the promises and gifts that Christ has died to win for me."