The
Sacrament
Holy
Baptism
Luther's Small
Catechism
As the head of the family should teach
it in a simple way to
his household.
1st What
is Baptism?
Baptism
is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in
God's command and connected with God's Word.
Which
is that word of God?
Christ,
our Lord, says in the last chapter of Matthew: Go ye into all
the world and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit.
2nd
- What
does Baptism give or profit?
It works
forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives
eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and
promises of God declare.
Which
are such words and promises of God?
Christ,
our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark: He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.
3rd - How
can water do such great things?
It is
not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is
in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in
the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water
and no baptism. But with the word of God it is a baptism, that is,
a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy
Spirit, as St. Paul says, Titus, chapter three: By the washing
of regeneration and renewing 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 heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This
is a faithful saying.
4th
- What
does such baptizing with water signify ?
It
signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and
repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and,
again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before
God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is
this written?
St. Paul
says in Romans, chapter 6: We are buried with Christ by Baptism
into death, that, like as He was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
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The
Sacrament of The
Altar
(Holy Communion1)
As
the head of the family should teach it
in a simple way to his household.
What
is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It
is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,
under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and
to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.
Where
is this written?
The
holy evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul,
write thus:
Our
Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He
was betrayed, took bread: and when He had given
thanks, He broke it, and gave it to
His disciples, and said, Take, eat;
this is My body, which is given for you. This
do in remembrance of Me.
After
the same manner also He took the cup, when He
had supped, gave thanks, and gave it
to them, saying, Take, drink
ye all of it. This cup is the new testament in My blood,
which is shed for you for the remission of sins.
This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of Me.
What
is the benefit of such eating and drinking?
That
is shown us in these words: Given, and shed
for you, for the remission of sins;
namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life,
and salvation are given us through these words. For
where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life
and salvation.
How
can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
It
is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does them,
but the words which stand here, namely: Given, and
shed for you, for the remission of sins.
Which words are, beside the bodily eating and drinking,
as the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he that
believes these words has what they say and express,
namely, the forgiveness of sins.
Who,
then, receives such Sacrament worthily?
Fasting
and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward
training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who
has faith in these words: Given, and shed
for you, for the remission of sins.
But
he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is
unworthy and unfit; for the words For you
require altogether believing hearts.
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2006
Program
& Information
All Rights Reserved®
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