Held 1520.
1. the law has a baptism of the flesh; John a baptism of repentance; but Christ a baptism of grace.
2 Among these, Christ's baptism alone is a sacrament for the sake of the Word, which is powerful and effective in it and not in the others.
The baptism of the law cleansed the members, garments and vessels, and presented in the spirit the outward sanctity of works and the covering of the law.
4. John's baptism pulled away the cover of the law, sinking all into sin and making them eager for grace.
5. the baptism of Christ attracts those who are in
sin and are eager for grace, come forth again as righteous and make them new creatures.
6. just as the baptism of the law did not work repentance, but only gave a foreshadowing of it, until it ceased in the baptism of John ;
(7) Even John's baptism did not give grace, but set hearts in fear and despair until Christ's baptism came.
8. nothing is more opposed to the baptism of Christ than the baptism of the law; and nothing is a better preparation for it than the baptism of John.
2128 L. IV, p41st; 64,316. disputation of the baptism of the law, John etc. W. X, 2613,2614. 2129
9 John did not baptize merely because the baptism was to be instituted with a view to the future baptism of Christ;
10. but to prepare for Christ those who were humbled both by his own ministry and by the ministry of the killing letter.
Of this can also be read in:
I. Part, 1. B. Mos., 17. cap., § 135-139. 146.
VII. part, interpretation of the Ev. Matth. Zwei Pred. etc., 2. Pred., § 12 ff, of the baptism of Christians.
(11) It seems that Christ did not invalidate and abolish the baptism of John, but rather completed it by means of the added word of promise.
12, For this reason, those who had already been baptized by John had to be baptized again with Christ's baptism.
XII. Theil, IV. two sermons; sermon on the day of Christ's appearance, about holy baptism - XXXIII. some short sermons; sermon on the day of Trin, about holy baptism. Baptism.