Question:

Appreciated your article on "Is baptism a work?" but could you cite your references to Luther's writings?

I'd never before heard that he wrote these things. The references would be valuable.

Answer:

"What gifts or benefits does Baptism bestow? ... It effects the forgiveness of sins."

Martin Luther, “The Small Catechism,” in The Book of Concord, tr. And ed. Theodore Tappert et al. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959), p. 340. Can be seen at:

"Through Baptism he is bathed in the blood of Christ and is cleansed from sins."

Martin Luther, “Kleine Antword auf Herzog Georgen,” Werke, Weimar Edition, Vol. 38, p. 147, cited in What Luther Says: An Anthology, ed. Ewald M. Plass (St. Louis: Concordia, 1959), I: 46.

"To put it most simply, the power, effect, benefit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is to save."

Martin Luther, "The Large Catechism," in The Book of Concord. Can be seen at: http://bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/6_baptism.html under #24.

"Yes, it is true that our works are of no use for salvation. Baptism, however, is not our work but God's."

Martin Luther, "The Large Catechism," translated by F. Bente and W.H.T. Dau, Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Ev. Lutheran Church, (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921)
pp. 565-773. Can be seen at: