Baptism as a Means of Grace

I recently finished reading "In Living Color: Images of Christ and the Means of Grace" - Daniel R. Hyde and "Word, Water and Spirit: A Reformed Perspective on Baptism"- J.V Fesko. It was time well-spent because my faith was confirmed, strengthened and increased as I pondered on the nature and function of Baptism as argued by these particular authors. I once viewed baptism as merely an initiation into the covenant community and a testimony to the world. However, as I studied Scripture and referred back to the sixteenth and seventeenth century Reformed Confessions I noticed the frequent articulation of Baptism as a means of grace. Historically, the Church recognized two means of grace, namely, the Word and Sacrament. Although, I do acknowledge that some within the reformed circle argue that prayer is also included in the means of grace. In contradistinction Fesko and Hyde argue from Scripture that only the Word and Sacrament (Lord's Supper and Baptism) may be considered as a means of grace due to its objective nature in revealing Christ and the benefits of the covenant.

The first church I became a member of did not emphasize the importance of baptism and it was not uncommon in that congregation for a Christian to not be baptized after two years of profession. For five years of being a Christian I have never heard a sermon on baptism. So, what is the contributing factor to our decline in our understanding of the significance of baptism? Perhaps, it is the lack of expositional preaching and a decline in the role of catechisms and confessions in the Church. Sadly, we live in post-Enlightenment,  anti-confessional, anti-ecclesiastical age that has a disdain towards tradition, confessions and creeds. This essentially departs from the traditional Protestant understanding of "sola-scriptura." It was only until the eighteenth century that sola scriptura went from "No authority above the Bible" to "No authority except the Bible." Perhaps, we are not being taught what baptism means biblically and what it is confessed to mean within the history of the Christian Church.

My prayer is that Churches would recover the proper administration of the sacraments. As it is said, "the three marks of a true Church are the pure preaching of the Gospel, the proper administrations of sacraments and the exercise of Church discipline." I am learning that baptism is more than a testimony to the world and our pledge to God. But, it is primarily a sign and seal of the covenant of grace and God's pledge to our union with Christ and the benefits of the covenant. Therefore, baptism is not something we do at the beginning of our Christian life and forget as time passes on. Rather, baptism is something we ought to recall to ourselves continually. It is reported that Martin Luther said to himself every morning, "I am baptized."  Baptism is a sign of God's promise. Just as water washes the body of its impurities so God has washed us of our sin by virtue of the person and work of Christ. It is the Gospel made visible and as Augustine would say, "it is the Visible-Word." So, the next time you are tempted to doubt God's love, that your sins are too great for God to forgive, recall your baptism. Say with Martin Luther, "I am baptized." Beloved, God not only strengthens our faith through the audible Word when preached but the visible Word when administered on the Lord's Day. Remember, God knows that we are weak and feeble sinners who not only need to be reminded of His promises with our ears but also with our senses.