| Baptism is a sermon about pure grace. Baptism is about what God does, not what a human does. Martin Luther in his Large Catechism wrote about baptism, "For God Himself here puts His honor, might, and power on the line. Therefore it is not merely natural water but a divine, heavenly, holy, and blessed water - add whatever terms of praise you will - all because of the Word." God is at work in holy baptism. At the command of Christ, water is connected with the powerful Name of the Savior God, and that washing with the Word is what the Spirit uses to create faith. Baptism is where I received the blessings of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.
In Galatians chapter 3 we read, "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ." (verse 27) We are dressed up in the robes of Christ's obedience. We stand before the holy God shining in Jesus' righteousness. In Romans chapter 6 the apostle reminds us that baptism unites us into the death and resurrection of Christ. "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." (Ro. 6:4) We died with Christ. His death is our death. That means that my "wages" have been paid in full by Jesus. (Remember the passage? "The wages of sin is death." Jesus' death is my death, so my payment has been paid in full.) Furthermore, we are united into Christ's resurrection power, for a new life now and for a new life forever.
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