Why Luther is Not Quite Protestant: The Logic of Faith in a Sacramental Promise
by Phillip Cary, Ph.D.
Pro Ecclesia 14/4 (Fall 2005) 447-486
This is why for Luther Christian faith is quite literally faith in one's baptism. To have faith in Christ is to believe him when he says, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Since baptism signifies new life in Christ, faith justifies us by receiving this new life. Faith in effect speaks thus: Christ says he baptizes me, and therefore (since baptism means new life in Christ) I have new life in Christ. Hence for Luther justification does not require us to have a conversion experience or make a decision for Christ. These are acts of will that would detract from Luther's point about faith alone: that we are justified merely by believing what Christ says is true. The logical connection is made by Luther's motto, "believe it and you have it": to believe in your baptism is to have the new life Christ signifies when he baptizes you.
Hence the logic of faith in Luther can be represented as follows:
Major premise: Christ told me, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
Minor premise: Christ never lies but only tells the truth.
Conclusion: I am baptized (i.e., I have new life in Christ)."
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