Opening Prayer
Help us, Lord, that we may hear Your Word today. Amen.
Text: First Peter 3:18-22
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Devotion
“Baptism saves us.” Of this Luther writes thus: “Each Christian still has much to learn and practice by Baptism his whole lifetime; for he always has to work that he may firmly believe what it promises and brings: victory over the devil and death, forgiveness of sins, God’s grace, the whole Christ, and the Holy Spirit with all His gifts. In short, it is so overwhelming that if weak nature could think about it, one would indeed doubt if it could be true. Just think once: if there were a doctor who had the skill so that people wouldn’t die, and if they died that they could soon come back to life and then live forever, how the world would make money snow and rain down upon him, so that no one could come to him because of his wealth! But now here in Baptism everyone receives such a treasure without price, and such a medicine is brought to his door that slays death and keeps all people alive. That’s how we must consider Baptism and make use of it so that we can comfort ourselves with it when sin and our conscience trouble us. We can say: ‘But I am baptized; I am baptized, so I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life both in soul and body.’ For this reason Baptism has two sides, as it were: the body is washed, because it cannot receive more than the water; and the Word is spoken over the body so that the soul also shall be able to receive something. Now because the water and the Word together are one Baptism, so also both body and soul must be saved and live forever: the soul because of the Word in which it believes, but the body because it is united with the soul and also holds on to Baptism as far as that is possible. Therefore we have a greater treasure both for soul and body; for in Baptism we become completely holy and blessed, which no saintly life, no good deed on earth, can attain for us.
“So we see what a high, splendid thing Baptism is which snatches us out of the devil’s clutches, gives us to God as His possession, suppresses and takes away sin, and then daily strengthens the new man and constantly endures until we leave this misery and enter eternal glory. Therefore everyone should regard his Baptism as a garment which he should wear every day, so that he may always be found in faith and its fruits, so that he may suppress the old man and grow in the new man. For if we want to be Christians, then we must be busy in what makes us Christians. But if anyone falls from grace, he may come back again! For just as Christ, our mercy-seat,16 does not forsake us or forbid us to come to Him, even if we sin, so also all His treasure and gift remains with us. Just as now we have received the forgiveness of sins once in Baptism, it also remains with us every day as long as we live, that is, as long as we are burdened with the old sinful nature” (Luther: Large Catechism, Part Four: On Baptism 41-46, 83-86).
Closing Prayer
O glorious and precious state of grace! God, give us Your Holy Spirit and faith in our heart for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn
Who in God’s mercy has not faith,
The Scripture disbelieving,
Is yet in sin, condemned to death,
In hell a place receiving.
False holiness avails him not,
His empty deeds must vanish.
His inborn sin brings all to naught,
God such a one must banish.
Himself he cannot rescue.
And though our mortal eye is dim,
And sees but simple water;
Faith sees Christ Jesus, and in Him
The Lamb ordained for slaughter;
We see the cleansing fountain, red
With the dear blood of Jesus,
Which from all sins inherited
And our misdeeds, can free us,
Eternal life bestowing.
Luther: To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ L 260: 6-7 ELH 247:6-7 tr. Composite;
tune: Christ unser Herr