|
Baptism
The next two windows represent the Gospel in the sacraments. A sacrament is a sacred act that follow these criteria:
A sacrament is a sacred act
1) which Christ established or instituted for Christians to do;
2) in which Christ tells us to use earthly elements (water, bread, wine) together with God's Word;
3) in which Christ offers, gives, and seals to us the forgiveness of sins and thus also life and salvation.
This is a definition based on the common elements of baptism and the Lord's Supper that set them apart from other sacred actions that God speaks about in his word. God also instituted marriage and confession. However, these are not actions that God commands that every Christian do, nor are they activities that are means of grace. People may remain unmarried if they choose, and confession to a clergyman is something that is advisable for Christians whose conscience is deeply troubled by some sin.
Lutherans define a sacrament with the three characteristics listed above to distinguish these two sacred acts from marriage and confession so that people clearly understand the difference between the latter two and baptism and communion.
An ordinance is something commanded for us to do. When that is the emphasis put on baptism and the Lord's Supper, it focuses on what we do and makes the activity a work of man. However, the important focus of those institutions is on what God does for us in and through them. That's the defining distinction when we call them sacraments.
Baptism is the sacrament that Jesus said is for all nations. He said in Matthew 28:19-20 “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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
There are really two parts to making disciples. There is baptism and there is teaching. For infants we baptize them first and teach them when they grow older. For adults we do some teaching first and then baptize.
We baptize infants because “We believe that also through the Sacrament of Baptism the Holy Spirit applies the gospel to sinners, giving them new life (Titus 3:5) and cleansing them from all sin (Acts 2:38). The Lord points to the blessing of Baptism when he promises, ‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved’ (Mark 16:16). We believe that the blessing of Baptism is meant for all people (Matthew 28:19), including infants. Infants are born sinful (John 3:6) and therefore need to be born again, that is, to be brought to faith, through Baptism (John 3:5).” (This We Believe)
Baptism also has meaning for our daily lives. The Meaning of Baptism for our Daily Life - What does baptizing with water mean?
It means that our Old Adam with his evil deeds and desires should be drowned by daily contrition and repentance, and die, and that day by day a new man should arise, as from the dead, to live in the presence of God in righteousness and purity now and forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Romans, chapter 6, "We were buried with Christ 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." (Luther’s Small Catechism)
|
