Baptism: Special Delivery - Monday Morning Devotions - Week 5
Join Pastor Ricky Jacob as he discusses baptism in this 7-week devotion series.
Need to start at the beginning? Read Week 1 here
[Holy Baptism - Part 2] Which are these words and promises of God?
Dr. Martin Luther explained the words and promises of Holy Baptism in this way:
In the last chapter of Mark we read that "he who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). And in this passage Christ declares that whoever is not born anew of the water and the Holy Spirit cannot come into the kingdom of God. Therefore God's words dare not be tampered with. Of course, we are well aware that Baptism is natural water. But after the Holy Spirit is added to it, we have more than mere water. It becomes a [true] (veritable) bath of rejuvenation, a living bath which washes and purges man of sin and death, which cleanses him of all sin.
Christ wants to say: "You are not yet born anew. But I have come to bring you a new way of being born again, namely, a rebirth by water and the Holy Spirit, and to proclaim to you the necessity of this rebirth. I bring you a washing of regeneration which gives you a new birth and transforms you into a new person." [AE 22:283-84]
Certainty in Christ's Promise - Jonathan Rusnak
Jesus took a basin, filled it with water, and began washing His disciples' feet. Peter resisted. "That's not for You to do, is it?" Why did Peter give in to Jesus? Jesus had told him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me" (John 13:8). At that, Peter wanted a full-blown bath.
Jesus' words in Mark 16 seem less restrictive. Baptized believers will be saved. Unbelievers, not the unbaptized, will be condemned. If there is a loophole, it's for the sake of those who have not had the opportunity to receive Baptism in this life. They are not necessarily outside of God's grace in Christ. For everyone else, though, there is no other way to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Like Peter, we must join Jesus at the font, where He promises to give us a share with Him (Romans 6:4-5).
Why does Jesus pinpoint Baptism as His saving washing? (Above all), He does this for our benefit, that we would know, without a doubt, that when He washes us, He saves us (1st Peter 3:21). He gives what He promises. When we doubt this bath, we, like Peter, resist Jesus and His promised salvation.
We pray: Dear Lord Jesus, You forgive, enliven, and save through Baptism. I resist You. Washed and cleansed from all sin, I doubt You and my standing before You. Rescued and made new, I return to my old ways of sin. Turn me back to the facts that I may trust your promise for me. In Your name I pray. Amen.