Catechism Series: Holy Baptism
Small Catechism: Holy Baptism
In the Name of the Father and of
the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord loves water. In the
beginning of creation the Spirit hovered over the face of the deep waters. Then
the waters of the Flood destroyed the sinful world, while Noah and his family
were kept safe in the ark. At the Red Sea, the Lord saved His people by
bringing them through the water, and drowning Pharaoh and his host. At the
Jordan River, God again stopped water and let Israel cross over into the
Promised Land. At that same Jordan River, but many years later, the Lord
Himself – Jesus – God incarnate, stepped into those waters and was anointed
with the Holy Spirit to be our Savior. And finally, the Lord instituted all
water to be a washing away of sin. What
is Baptism? It is the water included
in God’s command and combined with God’s word. And not just any word, but
His Name. “Make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in THE NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.” The Lord loves water. And He gives great benefits with His water.
And yet, we take it for granted. Or even worse, we despise it.
If you despise
Baptism, you despise the Lord who gives it. And if you think people don’t
ignore Baptism, think again. Many Christians believe it does nothing at all. For
them, it’s just a symbol. For them, Baptism is all about what they do – they
dedicate their life, or dedicate their child to God. Of course, we don’t
believe that, but what about us in our Lutheran church? How many times do we
postpone the baptism of a baby because we’re more about getting all the
relatives there? How many bring their children to Baptism and then never bring
them back to church or Sunday School? How many go through the steps of getting baptized
and then never give it a second thought?
Baptism saves
you. Baptism saves because faith saves. But if faith is gone, Baptism can’t do
too much. There’s no such thing as “once saved, always saved,” or “once
baptized, always saved.” So once again, if we despise Baptism, we despise the
Lord.
But the
opposite is also true: when we remember Baptism, when we hold on to it, when we
continue in it, when we return to Baptism, then we trust in the Lord. Because
Baptism is all about what our Lord is all about. Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives
eternal salvation to all who believe. And whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned.
As I said
before, there are many who ignore or despise Baptism. Because it really doesn’t
look all that special. Just some water and some man saying some words. Nothing
impressive about it. So people ask: How
can water do such great things? Aha! says Martin Luther. You’re missing the
best part! Not just water, but the word
of God in and with the water. The Name of God joins with the water and
makes it Baptism, makes it God’s water, and makes the baptized God’s child.
Where God’s
Name is, there He is doing His work, doing the things that only the crucified
and risen Lord can do! Forgiving sins. Putting sinners to death, and raising
them up again. Where God’s Name is, there is forgiveness, life, and salvation. The
Lord loves water. And He uses that water with His Name to deliver His
forgiveness. In Baptism, the water and the word always go together. So, when
the water got put on you, God’s Name came with it, and His Name got put on you.
You are branded, marked, singled out, with the Name: Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. You are His. Bought by His blood. One of His children.
With the Name
of God put upon you, there is no part of your life not belonging to God. There
is no part where He is not there. Where His Name is, there He is. You belong to
Him and He belongs to you and with you. You are His children. He is our Father.
And nothing else in this life can change that. Yet, even as Baptism doesn’t look
like much, doesn’t look real, the troubles of life look like a lot. They look all
too real. But God’s baptized Children shut their eyes to what things look like,
and see things as they really are. So here’s a great Baptism word to remember:
“Nevertheless!” Whatever you’re facing, say, “Nevertheless, I am baptized!” If
the Devil throws your sins in your face and makes you feel your guilt, say
“Nevertheless, I am baptized!” If you are worried over finances, or faced with
sickness, or faced with death itself, say “Nevertheless, I am baptized!” You
have God on your side. You are His.
Notice, it’s in
the present tense: “I am baptized.” It’s not just something in your past. God’s
Name is put on you and stays with you. And so every time we remember our
Baptism, when we say “Nevertheless I am baptized!” we are returning to that
water and Name. We are splashing around in it some more. Your baptism won’t dry
up. Because when you return to Baptism, you return to the Lord, you trust Him.
This all has to
do with the dying and the rising. Baptism is all about dying and rising. It’s
all about Good Friday and Easter. Christ bore the sins of the world on the
cross and died for them. Those sins, your sins, followed Him into His tomb, and
were sealed there. Christ rose from the dead, but your sins stayed in the tomb.
Christ rose to new life and now gives that life to you. Where God’s Name is,
there He is, doing His dying and rising work. So in Baptism the Lord puts you
to death. You are crucified with Christ. You are drowned in the water, and all
your sins follow you down into that watery grave. Then the Lord raises you up
again to new life.
Martin Luther
once said that the Old Adam, our sinful self, is a good swimmer. That means,
that as long we live in this life, we won't be fully dead to sin or fully alive
to Christ. At least we can’t see it yet. And so throughout our lives we stay
swimming in the Baptism pool. Every time we confess our sins, we are dying,
drowning again. And every time we hear the pastor pronounce forgiveness, we are
raised to new life. Every time we pray to God and fight against temptation, we
are drowning our sinful self. And every time we remember our Baptism and the
salvation given there, we are raised up again.
This continues daily,
for now, but not forever. There will come a day when you die for good. But do
not fear. Your death is a good thing, because then you can be raised for good, forever.
So, when next you face death, face it as one baptized. God’s Name is on your
head, so death cannot keep you. You have already died in Baptism. The worst is
behind you. All that remains is for you to be raised up to new and eternal
life. When you go to die, go as a little baby in the arms of Jesus. He wants
the little children to come to Him and live with Him forever.
