Baptism Saves

"The boy cries out for baptism! Precious in the sight of the Lord even an idiot!" Old Tarwater [The Violent Bear it Away, Flannery O'Connor (33)]

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ ..." ( Peter 3:18-21)

Peter, who learned at the feet of Jesus, wrote to Gentile believers who were scattered throughout much of Asia Minor. In this letter he exhorts them to be steadfast in their faith and to endure through all kinds of suffering for the sake of righteousness. 

In the passage above he shows that The Flood is a figure of Baptism. Water was the element God used to cleanse and save then, it is the element of which He uses to cleanse and save now. I am grateful for this baptism which cleanses and brings to new life. I am grateful for my parents who brought me to the fount when I was unable that God would do this saving work for me.

Since in justification we are purely passive, purely receptive it is as Dr. Luther wrote in The Large Catechism: "To be baptized in God's name is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself. Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is still truly God's own act." (LC Part IV par. 10)

When the reformers put together the Augsburg Confession, Article IX was on this subject of Baptism. They wanted to ensure that they conveyed the truth that the Bible teaches that Baptism is a gift of God's grace by which He gives to us the benefits of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. All are born in sin (cf. Romans 3), thus all need salvation. So, baptism is necessary (Mark 16:16), it offeres God's grace (Titus 3:4-7) and children are to be baptized (Acts 2:38-39).

Thus, infant baptism is perhaps the best picture of justification by faith as faith is not a matter of intellectual mastery, nor is it a decision. (John 1:12-13) Faith is trust - a trust that shows utter dependence on Christ. In baptism, the infant (or whoever is being baptized) passively recieves God's grace, is joined to Christ, and is recreated. 

"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) 

So, for my baptized brothers and sisters in Christ, make the sign of the cross as you remember your baptism and give thanks to God for such a great gift! Amen.