Episode Details

Episode 08 of the Christ for Us Podcast will cover all of Baptism: What it is, what it does, how it does it, and what it indicates. We will go through Luther's Small Catechism, answer questions given to a Catechism Class, and hear quotes from Luther's Large Catechism. You can follow along to the Podcast at Christforus.org. 

#Baptism #LargeCatechism #SmallCatechism #Luther #Lutheran #Bible 

What is Baptism?

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

Which is this 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)

1. What is a Sacrament?
   A Sacrament is a sacred act instituted by God (established, started by God), which includes
   1. A visible element
   1. His Command and promise of grace and the forgiveness of sins.
      
      
2. Why did Christ add the Sacraments to the Word?
   He knows that our faith is weak and that we need to know whether the Gospel applies to us personally. So, he gave us Sacraments, so we can have a physical sign that the Gospel applies to us.
   
   
3. What is Baptism?
   Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.
   “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
   “That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.” Ephesians 5:26
   
   
4. What are the two essential parts of Baptism?
   1. Water “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” Acts 10:47
   1. Word “That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.” Ephesians 5:26
      
      
      
5. Who instituted Holy Baptism?
   Jesus Christ “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.” Matthew 28:19-20
   
   
6. Is Baptism our work or God’s work?
   God’s work.
    “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ” Titus 3:4-6
   1. In these words you must note, in the first place, that here stand God’s commandment and institution, lest we doubt that Baptism is divine, not devised nor invented by men. For as truly as I can say, No man has spun the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer out of his head, but they are revealed and given by God Himself, so also I can boast that Baptism is no human trifle, but instituted by God Himself, moreover, that it is most solemnly and strictly commanded that we must be baptized or we cannot be saved, lest any one regard it as a trifling matter, like putting on a new red coat. LC IV:6
   1. For it is of the greatest importance that we esteem Baptism excellent, glorious, and exalted, for which we contend and fight chiefly, because the world is now so full of sects clamoring that Baptism is an external thing, and that external things are of no benefit. But let it be ever so much an external thing, here stand God’s Word and command which institute, establish, and confirm Baptism. But what God institutes and commands cannot be a vain, but must be a most precious thing, though in appearance it were of less value than a straw. LC IV:7-8