Baptism And the Lord's Supper.
Review Lesson.
1. We have two Sacraments in our Church. What do we mean by a sacrament?
By whom have the Sacraments been instituted? What has God ordained in
the Sacraments to offer His grace? With what are these visible, external
means connected? What does God offer and give through the external means
connected with His word? What are the two Sacraments called?
2. Our first Sacrament is Baptism. How does our Catechism answer the
question, "What is Baptism"? What is the external means in Baptism? What
kind of water must we use when we baptize a person? If we have no water,
we cannot baptize. But the water in Baptism is not simple, common water;
what, then, is it?--Baptism is the water comprehended in God's
command. What command did Christ give His disciples before He ascended
into heaven? Matt. 28,19. Who, therefore, has instituted Baptism? Who,
at the present time, ordinarily performs this sacred act? In which case
can and should every Christian do it? Christ has commanded us to
baptize? What does the word baptize mean?--Which is the word of God
connected with the water in Baptism? We are baptized in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, in the name of the Triune
God. God's name is God Himself. We are baptized in God Himself, in the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. What does God bestow upon us in Baptism?
God there gives us Himself as our true Father and accepts us as His dear
children. Since the water of Baptism is connected with God's word and
name, it is indeed not common water, but a gracious water of life.--
Whom are we to baptize according to God's command? What is meant by the
word _nations_? We make a distinction in baptizing adults and children.
When do we baptize adults? We baptize our children in their infancy,
when they are still babies, not able to be instructed in the Word of
God. We instruct them in the doctrines of God's Word after they have
been baptized, when they are able to understand and to learn the Word of
God. What kind of schools do we Christians therefore establish? Which
word of Christ induces us to baptize our little children? Mark 10,14.
To whom are our children brought in Baptism? What does the Holy Ghost
kindle in them by Baptism? In Holy Baptism our children become God's
children. Christ takes them up in His arms and blesses them.
3. Baptism is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with
God's word. Baptism is indeed a great and wonderful institution. Why?
What three great blessings of Baptism are mentioned in our Catechism?
Where has Christ promised these three blessings? Mark 16,16. Christ here
only says that he that believeth and is baptized _shall be saved._ He
mentions only salvation; how, then, can we prove that Baptism also works
forgiveness of sins and delivers from death and the devil?--Baptism
works forgiveness of sins. Christ by His innocent sufferings and death
has earned us this great gift, and yet we say that baptism works
forgiveness of sins. What do we mean to say by this? By what means does
the Holy Ghost make forgiveness of sins our own? What does the Apostle
write Gal. 3,26.27? Whom do we put on in Baptism? What does this mean?
By Baptism all the merits of Christ are imputed to us, His spotless
righteousness is made our own. The second great blessing of Baptism is
this, that it delivers us from death and from the devil. How did death
come into this world? If Baptism works forgiveness of sins, from what
must it deliver us? Baptism delivers us from the devil. How does Baptism
deliver us from the devil? How does it give us salvation? To whom does
Baptism give all these great things? What does our Lord say Mark 16,16?
It is true, Baptism offers all these heavenly gifts to us, whether we
believe or not. But we must take and receive them by faith. As God
offers all these things in Baptism, with what may we compare Holy
Baptism as far as God is concerned? What is the hand with which we take
all God's blessings which are offered in Baptism? We should remember our
baptism during our whole life. When especially should we think of it?
How long will God keep His promises?
4. Our second Sacrament is the Lord's Supper. What is it also called? By
whom was it instituted? What does our Lord mean to say when He adds:
"This do in remembrance of Me"? Christ wants His Sacrament to be
celebrated in His Church till He again comes visibly on the Last Day.--
What are the visible means in this Sacrament? What are we to do with the
bread and wine? In the Lord's Supper as in baptism the visible means,
bread and wine, are comprehended in God's command.--What is the word
of God connected with the bread and wine? What does Christ give us in
the Sacrament under bread and wine? We, indeed, cannot understand this,
cannot see how it is possible. Why do we nevertheless believe it to be
true? Can Christ fulfil what He has promised us? Why? In which of His
words of institution is the benefit of such eating and drinking shown?
What is given us in the Sacrament through these words? We are given
forgiveness of sins; what must be there also, where there is forgiveness
of sins? What is especially strengthened in us when we partake of the
Lord's Supper?
Lord, grant that we e'er pure retain
The catechismal doctrine plain
As Luther taught the heavenly truth
In simple words to tender youth.
That we Thy holy Law may know
And mourn our sin and all its woe,
And yet believe in Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One.
That we on Thee, our Father, call,
Who canst and wilt give help to all;
That as Thy children we may live,
Whom Thou in Baptism didst receive.
That, if we fall, we rise again,
Repentingly confess our sin,
And take the Sacrament in faith;--
Amen. God grant a happy death!