Now, this is what the Lord says,
Isaiah 43: 1 (Watchword for the 6th Sunday after Trinity)
the one who created you,
and formed you:
“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you.
I call you by name, you are mine.”
We pray: “Almighty God, beloved heavenly Father, through Holy Baptism You have made us Your children and heirs of Your kingdom, grant us Your Holy Spirit, so that we, having died to sin, may live faithfully in a new life with Jesus Christ, who together with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.”
For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.”
Titus 3,3-7
How can water do such great things?
It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water and no baptism. But with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, chapter three: By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.
Luther´s Small Catechism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism Question 3
1 Baptized into your name most holy,
O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
I claim a place, tho’ weak and lowly,
among your seed, your chosen host.
Buried with Christ and dead to sin:
your Spirit e’er shall live within.2 My loving Father, me you’ve taken
fore’er to be your child and heir;
my faithful Savior, me you’ve given
your righteous, holy life to share;
O Holy Spirit, you will be
a comfort, guide, and help to me.3 My faithful God, your word fails never,
your cov’nant surely will abide;
oh, cast me not away forever,
should I transgress it on my side!
Though I have oft my soul defiled,
in love forgive, restore your child.4 Yes, all I am and love most dearly
I offer now, O Lord, to you.
Oh, let me make my vows sincerely,
and what I say, help me to do.
Let naught within me, naught I own,
serve any will but yours alone.5 And never let my purpose falter,
Johann J. Rambach (1693-1735)
O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
but keep me faithful to your altar,
till you shall call me from my post.
So unto you I live and die
and praise you evermore on high.
Wilhelm's space 