CD - The Blessings of Baptism - Mark 16:16

As a means of grace, baptism gives great blessings. Baptism gives, first of all, forgiveness of sins. At our baptism we are given forgiveness of sins. At our baptism we are given forgiveness from our in-born, original sins. We are given forgiveness, as we daily remember our baptism, of our actual sins of commission, those sins we have actually committed, and omission, those sins where we have omitted to do something we should have done.

A second blessing we are given from baptism is deliverance from death and the power of the devil. I do not mean that we will not die. I mean that we will be delivered from the death of eternal damnation in hell. With this deliverance from hell, we are also given deliverance from the devil. The devil no longer has any claim on us as we are baptized in the name of the Triune God. We have the power to rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus and he no longer has any power over us.

The third blessing, then, is the certainty of eternal salvation. We have the promise of eternal life in heaven. Our Bible reading today expresses it best. “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.”

Why do we need baptism, then, if our salvation depends on faith (by grace through faith)? Baptism does not save you, nor does lack of baptism necessarily condemn you. Faith, especially with no time to baptize, as in the case of the thief on the cross with Jesus, does save you. On the other hand, refusal to be baptized does condemn you, because faith’s desire is baptism.

Baptism is a means of grace, a means whereby we are given forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death and the power of the devil, and the certainty of eternal salvation. These blessings are promised to all who believe and are denied to those who do not believe. To one who has believed and has been baptized, but has fallen away and no longer believes, the promises are not valid, but are void, and the blessings of baptism are also no longer good, or valid, simply because he no longer believes.

Believe the words and promises of God, have faith, and be baptized, everyone of you, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this and you will be given the great blessings of baptism: forgiveness of sins, deliverance from eternal death (hell) and the power of the devil, and the certainty of eternal life in heaven.

Dear Lord, forgive me when I have doubts. I pray that You would continue to work through Your Word to strengthen my faith. I pray that You would help me to remember my baptism and also use that to strengthen my faith. Guide me in the way You would have me to go. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.