<> Ask the Pastor Fr. Walter Snyder Q: What are your views concerning the role of Baptism? Is it the means to attain salvation, or is it simply a public declaration of a person's commitment to Christ? I have always leaned to the latter, but I would appreciate anything you have to say on the subject. A: The Bible says, "Baptism...now saves (1 Peter 3:21)" and calls it "washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)." Lutheran teaching calls Holy Baptism a "Means of Grace," along with Gospel, Absolution, and Lord's Supper. Through these, according to his Word, the Holy Spirit works forgiveness of sins, new life in Christ, and eternal salvation. I will send you previous columns which have discussed this question more fully. Q: I have a question about the "unforgivable sin." Can you tell me exactly what it means, and is it really unforgivable? Should we not try to minister to a person who has committed it because it is too late? A: The "unpardonable sin," also called "the sin against the Holy Spirit," involves willful, stubborn, persistent resistance to the divine truth after one has recognized it as such. Normally it would also include blasphemous hostility to this truth and its Author. We are not given to know for sure, but this may be the condition in which Pharaoh found himself at the time of the plagues: He recognized the truth and might of Israel's God, but hardened his own heart against the Lord. Finally, God confirmed this rejection by hardening Pharaoh's heart. Such a condition finds reference in Isaiah 22:14; Matthew 12:31 (also Mark and Luke); and Hebrews 6:4 6. Peter had made an outward confession and assent to the truth, yet he fell into denial. However, this was not a stubborn, persistent rejection, but a transgression based on fear. Of course, this fear was removed, and Peter preached boldly, even to those who had put Christ to death. Likewise, Saul the Pharisee knew the truth of the promises, but denied their fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth. His sin through ignorance was likewise forgiven. This is called the "sin against the Holy Spirit" because it is an affront to his "office" of revealing and testifying to divine truth. It is a rejection of his work of conversion through the Gospel and Baptism. It is "unpardonable" not because of God's unwillingness to forgive, nor because the work of Christ is incomplete. Rather, it is because the person willingly persists in this sinful course until the end. As for working with another, we have the words of 1 John 5:16 tells us, "If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that." Of course, unless we are absolutely certain that someone has descended into total rejection of God's revealed truth of grace in Christ Jesus, we continue in prayers and in speaking the Word of Truth. Q: What part does the Holy Ghost play in the Lutheran church, and how is the power of the Holy Ghost manifested in today's Lutheran church? A: The first two questions of the day help to answer this one. The short answer is that the Spirit works through the Means of Grace to create and maintain repentant faith in Jesus Christ, who has come to reconcile all mankind with his Father. Our Small Catechism says of the Spirit in the explanation to the Apostles' Creed, "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true" That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville, Texas and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1998 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.