What is Baptism? Martin Luther in his Small Catechism answers it this way: "Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word" (Luther's Small Catechism). In Lutheran thought, it's not the water itself that is special, but the promise that God has attached to water. So is the water used in a baptism "holy water"? Well, the water has been used in a holy purpose, so in that sense, yes it is holy water. But the water itself has no magical properties. Luther says this about the water used in Baptism: " It is nothing other than a divine water. Not that the water in itself is nobler than other water, but that God's Word and command are added to it" (Large Catechism IV 14). There is another aspect to Christian Baptism, and it is the act of being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This constitutes Christian Baptism. Sects like the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of the Latter-Day Saints (AKA Mormons) who reject the Trinity do not administer Christian Baptism and thus if someone were to convert to Christianity from one of those sects would need to be baptized again. In conclusion, here is what Luther says about this: "[To baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit] means that in Baptism, God the Holy Trinity, receives me into communion or fellowship with Himself" (Small Catechism). Thanks for joining me for this first part of my series regarding Baptism. If you like what you read here and are interested in more, I invite you to leave me a comment or email me at Etovar1991@gmail.com.
God bless,
Manny
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