Devotional #69

Question 69. How does baptism remind you and assure you that Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross is for your personally?

Answer: In this way: That Christ appointed this external washing with water (a), and added the promise (b), that I am washed by his blood and Spirit from all the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins (c), as certainly as I am washed externally with water, by which the filthiness of the body is washed away.

(a) Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
(b) Matthew 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38: And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:11: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Romans 6:3-4: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

(c) 1 Peter 3:21: Baptism, which corresponds to this, 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.
Mark 1:4: John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

For your personal reflection:
If baptism were a creation of the church, or of man, it would offer no assurance of faith nor any hope for our future.  However, as something instituted by Christ it does both.  Think of it like this:  If we were friends and I wanted some sense of security, some sense of assurance that we are truly friends, and I greeted you with a warm handshake or embrace does that give me assurance?  No.  However, if upon greeting you extended your hand to me, or embraced me, then I would have some sense of assurance.  In a similar way this is what Christ has done in baptism.  It is His sacramental sign expressing to us what He has done for us.

What difference does it make that Jesus instituted the sacrament of baptism?