By the way, the special music for the day was a very lively tune that I accidentally recorded by forgetting to turn off the recorder after my sermon. So I thought I would publish it. Mary Trelstad is singing. I'm playing guitar and singing backup.
A Treasure Greater Than Heaven and Earth!
Last week, we started this journey through the catechisms’ (Large and Small) thoughts on baptism. And we remembered that baptism might seem like a human act – but is really God’s action. Today, we forge ahead with more. After hearing such wonderful news about God’s action in baptism, about the benefits we receive, including forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life, our next thought might be that of skepticism. So the Small Catechism leads us to ask, “How can water do such great things?” The answer: “It is not the water that does these things, but God’s Word with the water and our trust in this Word. Water by itself is only water, but with the Word of God it is a life-giving water which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy Spirit.” In the Large Catechism, Luther says even more on this topic: “Yes, my friend! Who does not know that water is water, … But how dare you tamper thus with God’s ordinance and rip out his most precious jewel?...
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