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I don't know about that. It seems everything Jesus was speaking of went beyond natural understanding. Yet let me ask you this question. What is it about the water that makes it so special? I mean we know the Holy Spirit empowers us, and confirms who we are in Christ. What is it about the act of being dumped in water, in and of itself, is special?
This is how Luther explained it:
It is not the water that does it, but the Word of God which is in and with the water,
and faith which trusts this Word of God in the water.
For without the Word of God the water is simple water, therefor it would not be Baptism;
but with the Word of God it is Baptism; that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Spirit.
God saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit;
which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior;
that being justified by his Grace, we should be made heir according to the hope of eternal life.
Baptism with water signifies that the old Adam in us is to be drowned by daily repentance...
and that again a new man should daily arise who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
As Paul wrote to the Romans (Romans 6:3-4)
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
It is not the water that does it, but the Word of God which is in and with the water,
and faith which trusts this Word of God in the water.
For without the Word of God the water is simple water, therefor it would not be Baptism;
but with the Word of God it is Baptism; that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Spirit.
God saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewal of the Holy Spirit;
which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior;
that being justified by his Grace, we should be made heir according to the hope of eternal life.
Baptism with water signifies that the old Adam in us is to be drowned by daily repentance...
and that again a new man should daily arise who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
As Paul wrote to the Romans (Romans 6:3-4)
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Luther could have just stopped with the Gospel being preached. If he is saying the word transforms the water into something special, that's not necessary. The word itself is what baptizes us, those who listen and receive it. Those who receive Jesus into their hearts and confession is made from it, are baptized into His death. Going under the water is just the ceremonial act, a visual representation of what has already happened. The word doesn't transform the water into something unique, the word is unique in itself because it is God's good news. It's the message of grace, and those who receive it are a new creature.
Luther could have just stopped with the Gospel being preached. If he is saying the word transforms the water into something special, that's not necessary. The word itself is what baptizes us, those who listen and receive it. Those who receive Jesus into their hearts and confession is made from it, are baptized into His death. Going under the water is just the ceremonial act, a visual representation of what has already happened. The word doesn't transform the water into something unique, the word is unique in itself because it is God's good news. It's the message of grace, and those who receive it are a new creature.
The reason he didn't is simple:
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Luther could have just stopped with the Gospel being preached. If he is saying the word transforms the water into something special, that's not necessary. The word itself is what baptizes us, those who listen and receive it. Those who receive Jesus into their hearts and confession is made from it, are baptized into His death. Going under the water is just the ceremonial act, a visual representation of what has already happened. The word doesn't transform the water into something unique, the word is unique in itself because it is God's good news. It's the message of grace, and those who receive it are a new creature.
No Scripture says baptism is a visual representation of what has already happened.
I agree that baptism is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, but nowhere are we told that baptism represents something that already happened.
Baptism is the saving event, not the cause, just as the flood was the saving event for Noah and his family, but not the cause.
God bless,
Katie
Last edited by MissKate12; 02-16-2013 at 02:29 PM..
You have no way of knowing whether the thief was baptized or not. He very well could have been. I don't think we have the right to say he was or wasn't baptized. So to use the thief to teach that baptism isn't necessary is dishonest.
I'll say it again, baptism is the saving event, not the cause, and it is most definitely necessary.
SOMEONE please show me in Scripture where the thief was or was not baptized.
We have no way of knowing either way. We don't know anything about this man. We don't know how long he was in prison. We don't know what his crime was. We can speculate till the cows come home, but in the end, we can't say whether the thief was baptized or not. The Scriptures don't say it, so neither should we.
Blessings,
Katie
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