CD - The Benefits of Baptism - Romans 6:3-5

So, does Baptism offer only three gifts? No, and Dr. Luther is not trying to imply or suggest that the three gifts he mentions are the only three offered and giving in Holy Baptism. No, when God gives His gifts He does not do fractions. He does not say, “I will give you some gifts now, and some gifts later.” When God gives His gifts He gives the whole lot and He gives a whole lot more.

The blessings of Baptism certainly are, “forgiveness of sins, rescue from death and the devil, and eternal salvation,” but that is not just a one time gift. For we daily sin much and are in need of forgiveness, thus the gift of forgiveness is a constant gift. We daily face temptations from the devil and are in constant need of strength to keep from sinning, thus the gift of rescue is a constant gift. And we are in constant need of being reminded of our inheritance in heaven, thus this too is a constant gift.

The benefits, the blessings of Holy Baptism are beyond our comprehension, as are all of God’s glories. God gives us each day as much of His grace as we can handle. If He were to give us all of His grace at one time it would literally kill us, because we cannot handle it all of His grace at one time. The benefits, the blessings of Holy Baptism are immediate, God puts His name on us, He makes us His own. He puts faith in our hearts. He gives us forgiveness, life and salvation.

That God puts His name on us is extremely important. In Old Testament times, the putting of your name on something was to claim it and make it yours. God puts His name on us making us His. It is much like when you first went to school, your mother would write your name on everything, your coat, your lunch box, your books, and so on, so that you would know what was yours.

God puts faith in our hearts. There are some who do not believe that children can have faith. They can have faith, it is just that they do not express their faith as an older person, mostly because they cannot speak. A child shows his faith in his mother by opening his mouth and believing that she will not feed him poison, but good food to eat. A child shows her faith in her mother by understanding that what her mother does for her she does out of love. Yes, a child can have faith and God does give faith through Holy Baptism.

The most exciting thing about the blessings, or benefit of Holy Baptism is the fact that each and every morning you wake up you can remember your baptism. You can remember that you are a Christian, that you are God’s child, made His by the faith which He has put in your heart. You can remember that God keeps His promises so you do not have to worry about His leaving you. You can remember that you are forgiven which means that you get to start over for this day. Yesterday’s sins are gone, you get a fresh, clean slate for today. And after 10 a.m. you can remember that same thing again, and so on throughout the day. And finally, what a joy to know that heaven is yours, it is a present reality. You may have to wait to move in, but you do not have to worry about whether you are “in” or not, because you are “in,!” by grace through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection!

Dear Lord, thank You for making me Your own, for putting Your name on me, for giving me forgiveness, faith, life and salvation. Forgive me when I take my Baptism for granite. Help me, daily, to remember my Baptism and through my Baptism strengthen me to face the day ahead. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.