In the Bible

The Sacrament of Baptism

Leviticus 8:6-12

  ⁶ Then Moses had Aaron and his sons come near and washed them with water. 

 7  He put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed him iwth the robe and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the artistic band of the ephod with which he tied it to him.

  8 He then placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummin.

  9 He then placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

 10 Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.

 11 He sprinkled some of ti on the altar sevent imes and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them.

 12 Then he poured some of the anoining oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him. 

The ephod was the priest's robe.  It is described in detail in Exodus 28.

Mark 16:16

16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.

Romans 6:3-7

 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 

 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

from Luther's Small Catechism

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

What is Baptism?

Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.

Which is that word of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19)

What benefits does Baptism give?

It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

How can water do such great things?

Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5–8)

What does such baptizing with water indicate?

It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “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.” (Rom. 6:4)

Luther's Large Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

January 2017
In the Bible	Coloring Page*	Wordsearch*	Music	Craft Project
Story Home