How can water do such great things?
It is certainly not the water that does such things, but God's
Word which is in and with the water and faith which trusts this
Word used with the water. For without God's Word the water is
plain water and not Baptism. But with this Word it is Baptism,
that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of rebirth by
the Holy Spirit.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Titus, chapter 3, "(God our Savior) saved
us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of
the Holy Spirit, which He poured out on us abundantly through
Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace
we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is a faithful saying."
What does baptizing with water do for us?
Baptism means that the Old Adam in us should be drown by daily
contrition and repentance, and that all its evil deeds and desires
be put to death. It also means that a new person should daily
arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Romans, chapter 6, "Therefore we were
buried with (Christ) through Baptism into death, that just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life."
GOD’S SERVICE OF HOLY BAPTISM
NOTE: This Rite can be observed both privately
or at the beginning of God's Service
(In the entrance to the Church proper)
P: Depart you unclean spirit and make room
for the Holy Spirit.
P: Receive the sign of the holy cross †
on your forehead and † your heart to mark you as one
redeemed by Christ the crucified.
P: Let us pray: O almighty and eternal God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I cry out to you for
the sake of your servant Name, who prays for the gift of your
Baptism and desires your eternal grace through spiritual rebirth:
Receive her, Lord, and as you have said, “Ask, and it
will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and
the door will be opened for you,” so now give the good
to him that asks and open the door to him that knocks so that
he may obtain the eternal blessings of this heavenly bath
and receive the promised kingdom of your grace through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
P: Almighty, eternal God, who according to
your righteous judgment condemned the unbelieving world through
the Flood and in your great mercy did preserve believing Noah
and his family, and who drowned hardhearted Pharaoh with all
his army in the Red Sea, after you led your people Israel
through the same on dry ground thereby foreshadowing this
bath of your holy Baptism, and who through the Baptism of
your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, sanctified
and set apart the Jordan and all water as a blessed flood
and a rich and full washing away of sins: we pray through
this same groundless mercy that you will graciously regard
Name and bless him with true faith in the Spirit so that, by
means of this saving flood, all that has been born in him
from Adam may be drowned in him and engulfed; that he may
be separated from unbelievers, preserved dry and secure in
the holy ark of Christendom, to serve your name at all times
fervent in spirit and joyful in hope; so that with all believers
she may be made worthy to attain eternal life according to
your promise; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
C: Amen.
P: I adjure you, unclean spirit, in the name
of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit,
come out of and depart from Name, the servant of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
P: Let us hear the Gospel of St. Mark:
People were bringing little children to Jesus
to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When
Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let
the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for
the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the
truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will never enter it. And he took the children
in his arms, put his hands on them and bless them.
P: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be
thy name, thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive
us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against
us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us †
from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the
glory forever and ever. Amen.
The group proceeds to the Baptismal font.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN
P: The Lord preserve your coming in and going
out now and forevermore.
P: Name, do you renounce the devil?
Sponsors: I renounce.
P: And all his works?
Sponsors: I renounce.
P: And all his ways?
Sponsors: I renounce.
P: Do you believe in God the Father almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth?
Sponsors: I believe.
P: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his
only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The
third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From
there he will come to judge the living and the dead?
Sponsors: I believe.
P: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy
Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting?
Sponsors: I believe.
P: Do you desire to be baptized?
Sponsors: I do.
P: Name, I baptize you in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Minister anoints the baptized on the
forehead saying:
P: The almighty God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has given you a rebirth through water
and the Holy Spirit and has forgiven you all your sin, strengthen
you with his grace to life everlasting.
C: Amen.
A white robe may be put on the baptized
while the Minister says:
P: Receive this white garment to show that
Christ has taken away and borne your sin and put on you his
perfect righteousness. So shall you in faith ever stand before
him.
A white candle may be lit from the Paschal
Candle and given to the baptized while the Minister says:
P: Receive also this burning torch. Live always
by the light of Christ, and be ever watchful for his coming,
that you may meet him with joy and enter with him into the
marriage feast of the Lamb in his kingdom that shall have
no end. Peace † be with you.
