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Dear
Saints:
Funny
how things come in bunches.
Over
the last few days, I've had three in-depth discussions with people
about baptism, and I've been thinking about it since. Two of
the three have been baptized more than once, which raises the
questions: Just what is baptism anyway? And, when,
or how many times, should one be baptized?
Luther,
in the Small Catechism, answers the first question this
way: "Baptism is not water only, but it is water used
together with God's Word and by his command." His Word and
command are found in Matthew 28:19, which says, "Go therefore to
all nations and make them my disciples; baptize them in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
And,
what does baptism accomplish? In it "God forgives sin,
delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to
all who believe what God has promised." And, what is God's
promise? That those who believe the Gospel message and are
baptized will be saved (Mark 16:15-16).
"It
is not water that does these great things," he insists,
"but God's Word with the water and our trust in his Word.
Water by itself is only water, but with the Word of God it is
life-giving water which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy
Spirit" (see Titus 3:4-7). He continues, "It means
that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be
drowned through daily repentance; and that day after day a new self
should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity
forever" (see Romans 6:1-4).
In
baptism God forgives us of our sins, claims us as his own child,
implants within us the seed of faith that should, over time, grow
into a full-blown faith, and pours out his Holy Spirit upon us to
sustain us in our journey, and as a pledge of our inheritance to come.
As
to the second question, Luther doesn't respond to the number of
times one should be baptized in his catechism —
but he does elsewhere.
He
says, "Our baptism is of permanent value. Although
someone falls from its grace and sins, we nonetheless always have
access to it that we may again subdue the old man. But we must
not be sprinkled with water again; for though we were immersed in
water a hundred times, it would nonetheless be no more than one
baptism. The effect and significance of the Sacrament continue
and remain."
Some
denominations don't recognize past baptisms (especially infant
baptisms). Therefore, they require that a new member be
re-baptized. Luther says in effect, "No way! Once
baptized always baptized!" Its benefits are permanent for
the believer. When we sin, we don't have to keep getting
re-baptized. We're able to return in repentance and receive
again the benefits it offers us.
He
doesn't refer to this scripture, but I believe it supports the point
he makes. It's found in Ephesians 4:4-6 where Paul says,
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope
held out in God's call to you; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in
all" (my emphasis).
There's
a tendency to connect baptism with re-dedication. If I want to re-dedicate
my life to Christ, then I get re-baptized. But, this is faulty
thinking. Baptism isn't connected with re-dedication, but salvation.
That's why there's only "one baptism." We can
only be saved once. Re-dedication, on the other hand, is
connected —
not with baptism —
but with repentance, which we can (and should) do over and
over again.
Theology
is important. Different theologies will be played out in
different ways. That's why we need to know why we believe what
we believe.
So
much more could be said about baptism, but space won't allow
it. All the same, I do hope you may find this brief article
helpful the next time you're asked to give an account of your
Lutheran faith.
Grace
and peace,
Pastor
Larry |
