317. Is a Christian's faith in Baptism or in Jesus?
This is a false alternative; Baptism and Jesus cannot be separated. The Christian's faith is in Jesus and in Baptism, for Jesus has put His Word of promise in the water. Faith takes hold of Christ where He has promised to be for us. To trust in Baptism is to trust in Christ, who saves us through the washing He has joined to His Word. As Luther explains, it is "certainly not just the water, but the Word of God in and with the water [that] does these things, along with the faith which trusts this Word of God in the water."
1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this [Noah's flood], now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Note: At the time of the Reformation, there were several false understandings of Baptism. Roman Catholics taught that Baptism worked simply by the performance of the rite apart from faith. Others (Luther calls them "new spirits") taught that Baptism was an empty ceremony with no power to bestow the salvation promised by God's Word. Both false teachings are also present today. Luther's answer in the catechism rightly emphasizes both the power of Baptism to create faith and the need to receive Baptism in faith. (See LC IV 28-29).
Eventual commentary
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