In a simple way in which the head of a house
is to present it to the household
First77
What is baptism? Answer:
Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead it is water enclosed in God’s command and connected with God’s Word.
What then is this Word of God? Answer:
Where our Lord Christ says in Matthew 28[:19*], “Go into all the world, teach all nations,78 and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Second
What gifts or benefits does baptism grant? Answer:
It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare.
What are these words and promise of God? Answer:
Where our Lord Christ says in Mark 16[:16*], “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be damned.”
Third
How can water do such great things? Answer:
Clearly the water does not do it, but the Word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and faith, which trusts this Word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is plain water and not a baptism, but with the Word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a “bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,” as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3[:5–8*], “through the bath of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, which he richly poured out over us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that through that very grace we may be righteous and79 heirs in hope of eternal life. This is surely80 most certainly true.”
Fourth
What then is the significance of such a baptism with water? Answer:
It signifies that the old creature81 in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily contrition and repentance,82 and on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written? Answer:
St. Paul says in Romans 6[:4*], “We were buried with Christ through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we, too, are to walk in a new life.”
77 Woodcut: The baptism of an infant. The pastor holds the naked infant face down over the water of a large font with one hand and scoops water with the other. A deacon holds an open book for him to read and three lay people pray. The Holy Spirit, depicted as a dove, hovers over the scene. Caption: “The figure: Matthew 28[:16–20*].”
* 19 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, Matthew 28:19 (NRSV)
78 Heiden: or, heathen.
* 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16 (NRSV)
* 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. Titus 3:5–8 (NRSV)
79 “Righteous and” is parallel to Luther’s Bible. Versions before 1536 read “justified.”
80 “Surely” is lacking before 1536.
81 Literally, the Old Adam.
82 CA XII, 3.
* 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 (NRSV)