The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum "We sometimes allow children to die unbaptized. ."

J_Edwards said:
VERY much like the false, “Name It, Claim It, Frame It,” doctrine of many, the Lutheran Church has the, “Baptize It, Utilize It, Exercise It,” doctrine of the church. That is when Lutherans “baptize,” they believe they “utilize” the Holy Spirit (an instrument of their cause), and thereby “exercise” out sin and redeem the sinner from the Devil, which gives eternal salvation. God becomes a manipulated secondary cause of salvation and not the primary cause! This is not salvation by grace alone!

Martin Chemnitz, Loci theologici we need to be on guard also against this, that we do not with the Sacramentarians reduce the real efficacy of the sacraments, as if they are only external signs which only remind of or testify to something before the church. But we must believe and speak according to Scripture that the sacraments are actions of God Himself, who through this outward ministry, by offering, showing, applying, and sealing His promise to individuals, works and accomplishes by His divine efficacy those things about which the promises connected with the sacraments speak. Therefore people are to be taught that in the sacraments they should not only see the external elements or the person of the minister and only his outward action, but by faith in the Word they should see God Himself present and working through the sacraments according to [His] promise. Then they must and can easily distinguish between the external action of the minister and the internal working of God, but they must not be separated. For it is God who saves, cleanses, and regenerates, but [He does so] through the washing of water in the Word.