Is Baptism Law or Gospel?

Trinity Sunday| John 3:1-15| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| June 15, 2025

Is Baptism Law or Gospel? The conflict about Baptism among Christians centers around this question. The Bible is divided into two fundamental teachings: The Law and the Gospel. The Law is what God commands of us, summarized in the Ten Commandments. The Gospel is the good news of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, summarized in the Apostles Creed. Those who believe that Baptism is Law call Baptism an ordinance, which we must do out of obedience to God, but it cannot save us. Those who believe Baptism is Gospel call it a Sacrament, which works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe. These are two very different teachings. So, which is it? Is Baptism Law or Gospel?

Baptism is Gospel. And we know this for two reasons. First, because Scripture teaches us that Baptism is the work of God, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Second, because Scripture teaches us that Baptism does things for us that no human being could possibly do, but only God can do.

First, Baptism is a work of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yes, I know, you see a man pour the water and say the words. But the pastor is just an instrument. God is the one doing the baptizing. When Jesus commanded His Church to make disciples of all nations, He instructed them to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This means that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are working in Baptism. When God commanded that Aaron bless the people of Israel with the words, “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:26), God said that this was the way He would bless the people (vs. 27) So, when a pastor baptizes a person in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Triune God isn’t watching passively on the sideline, but He is working upfront and center, just as when the heavens opened up at Jesus’ Baptism, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove, an the Father spoke from heaven, “This is my beloved Son!” The same Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in every Baptism through the Word of God joined to the water.

And since it is undeniable that Baptism is a work of the Holy Trinity for us, Baptism is Gospel, not Law. The Law is the work we are commanded to do. The Gospel is the work God does for us. Our Catechism gives us a great introduction to the doctrine of Law and Gospel. First, we learn the Law by learning the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are all about what you should do. You shall have no other gods. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. You shall remember the Sabbath Day. You shall honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not commit adultery or bear false witness or covet. The Law is all about your works. Then the Catechism teaches us the Gospel by teaching us the Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles Creed teaches us about what the Triune God does for us.

The Father created you and gives you all you need in this life and still takes care of everything for you. And He does this only out of His own fatherly divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in you. Yet, the Father’s concern for you goes beyond the cares of the body. He cares for your immortal soul and for your eternal life. And so, the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who became man and was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered and died for our sins on the cross, and then rose again from the dead. Thus, God the Son redeemed you from sin, death, and hell. Finally, the Holy Spirit, who is true God with the Father and the Son, makes you holy. That is, the Holy Spirit calls you by the Gospel, causes you to be born again, creates faith in your heart, and through Jesus’ blood and righteousness, He forgives your sins and gives you everlasting life.

There is nothing done in the Apostles’ Creed that you could do for yourself. You cannot create yourself. You cannot redeem yourself. You cannot sanctify yourself. Only the Triune God can do this for you. The Gospel is about what God does for you. The Law is about what you fail to do. Baptism is not your failure. Baptism is God’s powerful work, because the powerful name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is joined to it.

Second, we know that Baptism is Gospel because Scripture teaches us that Baptism does things that we humans cannot do, but which God certainly can do. First, Baptism promises new birth! Nicodemus was shocked that Jesus told him that a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Yet, Jesus was not speaking of physical birth, but of spiritual birth. Obviously, a person cannot cause himself to be born. Your birth is completely out of your control. Likewise, you cannot cause yourself to be born again. That which is born of flesh is flesh. How can that born of flesh cause itself to be born of Spirit? It couldn’t even cause itself to be born of flesh! That which is of spirit is born of Spirit, that means that God, the Holy Spirit causes a person to be born again.

Yet, how does the Holy Spirit cause a person to be born again? Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” When Jesus speaks of water and the Spirit, He is speaking of Baptism. Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word. And the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God (Galatians 3:2). St. Paul likewise says in Titus 3, “He saved us, not by works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” This washing is done in Baptism, where Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit works rebirth. Jesus ascribes to Baptism the power of rebirth. No man could cause himself to be born again by works of the Law.

Scripture promises the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins in Baptism. St. Peter says in His Pentecost sermon, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) And Ananias said to Saul (St. Paul) when He was converted, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22:16) Scripture states that Baptism works forgiveness of sins and grants the Holy Spirit. No one can achieve forgiveness or the Holy Spirit through a work of the Law. Therefore, Baptism is not a work of the Law.

Finally, Scripture tells us that Baptism saves. Jesus says in Mark 16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” And St. Peter confesses in 1 Peter 3, “Baptism… now saves you.” Scripture does not teach that Baptism saves by winning your salvation. Rather, Scripture teaches that Baptism saves you by joining you to Christ’s redemption, to His death and resurrection, where your forgiveness and salvation was won. You cannot save yourself by works of the Law. Through the Law comes knowledge of sin, not forgiveness. But Baptism promises forgiveness and salvation to those who believe. St. Paul, in Romans chapter 1, calls the Gospel, “The power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” And since Baptism grants salvation to the one who believes, Baptism is Gospel.

That Baptism saves does not conflict with salvation through faith alone. In the same conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus tells him that a man must be born again of water and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God and that whoever believes in the Son of Man will have eternal life. These two things do not contradict each other. For a person to believe in the Son of Man, he must be born again. And the Holy Spirit works new birth through Baptism, as Jesus promises.

Our natural reason rejects this. But our natural reason knows nothing about being born again. The wind blows where it wishes, you hear its sound, but know neither where it comes from or where it goes. And so, it is with the Holy Spirit. He creates faith where and when it pleases God. Yes, some reject their Baptism and do not believe. While others are drawn to Baptism in true faith by the Holy Spirit who works through the proclamation of the Gospel. But this is clear. In order to be saved you must have faith in Christ. And in order to have faith in Christ, you must be born again. And it is the Holy Spirit who causes a person to be born again. And the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word to cause a person to be born again. And God promises to work through Baptism to bring about rebirth.

That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, but that which is born of the Spirit can. It’s Father’s Day. Being a father is an immense privilege and honor. It is also incredibly humbling. Scripture teaches us that sin is inherited from the father. A father according to the flesh cannot give his children eternal life. Rather, he gives them his sinful nature. And he witnesses that sinful nature work in his children, even as he sees it at work in himself. Yet, God has granted earthly fathers the great privilege of being spiritual fathers as well. Just as a father is required to care for the bodies of his children, to clothe them, feed them, and educate them. So also, is a father required to care for his children’s souls. St. Paul writes in Ephesians 6, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” And so, Christian fathers must not only bring their children to be baptized, so that they may be born again. But they must also continue to care for their souls by daily teaching them, praying for them, and bringing them to church. Just as a father’s responsibility for his child’s body does not end when the child is born, so a father’s responsibility for his child’s soul does not end when the child is baptized.

So, Christian fathers should teach their children, not only the Law, how each person should live on this earth in love and truth. But also, the Gospel, what the Triune God has done to save us. He is our Creator, who sent His Son to redeem His creation. The Holy Spirit is equally God with the Father and the Son. This is the only God who saves. And this is the God who is at work in the Gospel, just as He is at work in Baptism. May the Triune God keep you all in the grace of your Baptism, until you reach the salvation promised in it. Amen.