Excerpts – Baptism

Excerpts Regarding Baptism

Excerpt from: A Brief Sketch of the Doctrinal Position of the Concordia Lutheran Conference

Baptism is the divinely-instituted application of water by any convenient mode, according to Christ’s command and connected with His Word. As a “washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost“ (Titus 3), Baptism is the only Means of Grace revealed by God for little children who, like all men, are conceived and born in sin. Since they are too young to be taught the saving Gospel, faith cannot be worked in them by telling them of Christ; but they are received into the kingdom of God’s grace by the washing of Baptism, are brought to saving faith in Christ, and thereby become the children of God and heirs of eternal life. In the case of adults who are brought to faith by the hearing of the Gospel (Rom. 10:17), Baptism confirms and seals to them the blessings of the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation merited for them by Christ and apprehended by faith. (Bible References: Matt. 28:19; John 3:5,6; Acts 22:16; I Pet. 3:21; Gal. 3:26,27; Mark 10:14; Matt. 18:6; Acts 2:38,39.)

Excerpt from Of the Means of Grace found in the The Brief Statement of 1932

21. Although God is present and operates everywhere throughout all creation and the whole earth is therefore full of the temporal bounties and blessings of God, Colossians 1:17; Acts 17:28; 14:17, still we hold with Scripture that God offers and communicates to men the spiritual blessings purchased by Christ, namely, the forgiveness of sins and the treasures and gifts connected therewith, only through the external means of grace ordained by Him. These means of grace are the Word of the Gospel, in every form in which it is brought to man, and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and of the Lord’s Supper. The Word of the Gospel promises and applies the grace of God, works faith and thus regenerates man, and gives the Holy Ghost, Acts 20:24; Romans 10:17; I Peter 1:23; Galatians 3:2. Baptism, too, is applied for the remission of sins and is therefore a washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, Acts 2:38; 22:16; Titus 3:5. Likewise the object of the Lord’s Supper, that is, of the ministration of the body and blood of Christ, is none other than the communication and sealing of the forgiveness of sins, as the words declare: “Given for you,” and “Shed for you for the remission of sins,” Luke 22:19, 20; Matthew 26:28, and “This cup is the New Testament in My blood,” I Corinthians 11:23; Jeremiah 31:31-34 (“New Covenant”).