Does baptism save?
I’ve got a nasty head cold (BLECH), so I’m just going to post an abbreviated LCMS doctrine on the subject and if anyone wants to discuss I hope I’ll be feeling better after a hard nap or tomorrow.
Pardon me if my words are a little clunky. Trying to think feels like slogging through a swamp full of molasses.
Does Baptism save? If you mean in the sense that Baptism is a work that we do to please God, then no. If Baptism is an act of man, then it has no salvation in it, just as even the most righteous acts of man are filthy rags.
Does Baptism save? If you mean in the sense that Baptism is a gift of God, which delivers grace and faith to the baptized through means of Water and the Word, then yes. Because Baptism seen in this way is an act of God. A gift that the Lord has given the church in order to give assurances of salvation. Just as grace and faith are both gifts of God.
Beautifully said. Thank you. Sacraments are an outward sign of an invisible grace. I am also suffering from the same nasty virus. Rest and peace to you.