One Baptism. Cutting a Covenant.
by the Rev. Walter Snyder

Q: I was baptized when I was about 12 (it was in a Lutheran church). I remember being
very embarrassed about the fact that I wasn't a baby at the time. I am now 43 and don't go
to any church although I would like to. Do I need to be re-baptized? I need to know
because I have a terminal disease and although I have Jesus as my Savior, I am afraid to
die. I also am afraid because I have doubts. Please help me!

A: You do not need to be baptized again. We confess in the Nicene Creed, "I acknowledge one
Baptism for the remission of sins." You were baptized into the Name of God and into the Holy
Christian Church, not into a church body or a congregation. Even if you forgot God for a time,
He has never forgotten you. Find a Lutheran pastor who will sit down with you and go through
the wonderful blessings of Baptism from the Bible and the Catechism. You can also read them for
yourself online, if you'd like.

If you have other problems, worries, or doubts, I'll help, but I'm no replacement for a flesh and
blood pastor who can stand before you and tell you on Christ's behalf, "I forgive you *~all~*
your sins." He can respond to you more immediately and can hear your tone of voice and watch
your face, all of which makes answering with the right words so much easier. He can also prepare
you to return to the altar to receive the body and blood of Jesus, a medicine for spiritual health
and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

Should you need help finding a pastor, or if you're worried about approaching the Church after so
much time, let me know. If you need help in locating or contacting a pastor, let me know where
you are. I can see that you are willing to be honest with yourself and with God. This is a gift He
has given you and I urge you to use it to the fullest, knowing that He loves and cares for you.

Q: My Bible study group is stumped. The first passage we had trouble with is in Genesis 15
when Abram is told to take various animals and birds and cut the animals in half, but not
the birds. The question posed is "what is the significance of the animals being cut in half?"
We are not able to work that one out. The follow up is in Genesis 17, where we get into
circumcision. The question is why God chose circumcision to identify his people and how
does it refer back to the animals being cut in Genesis 15. Any insight would be appreciated.

A: The Bible often speaks of "cutting" a covenant. Some translations pick up the word, others
translate it "making" or some such. What you read in Gen. 15 is just that. Notice how it is God,
not Abram, who initiates and completes the covenant. "When the sun had gone down and it was
dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the
Lord made a covenant with Abram." Notice the smoking fire pot and flaming torch: They'll be
back, in a manner of speaking, in the Exodus, in tabernacle and temple, in the vision of Isaiah, and
in the Revelation to St. John.

A covenant was often made by the sacrifice of an animal or animals, and the two parties involved
would walk between the halves. Among other things, this signified the seriousness of intent,
saying in effect, "May this happen to me if I violate the covenant." Another reference to this
practice is in Jeremiah 34:18-19. As for why the birds weren't divided, I can't find a good answer.
Maybe they were too small. Notice in Gen. 15 that only God passes among the halves: He will
keep ~both~ sides, knowing that sinful men, even His beloved Abram cannot. When you think in
these terms, the promise to the Servant in Isaiah 42:6 takes on even greater meaning, "I have
given you as a covenant for the people." In Christ, there is finally One on our side who can and
will keep the agreement perfectly.

The connection of circumcision with the covenant is obvious when you see that a covenant is
~cut~, just as the foreskin is cut in circumcision. I've heard many reasons why God chose this
rite, but I think the best explanation is tied to the future generations. The vehicle for begetting is
marked as a reminder, a warning, and a promise. The reminder is of the Abrahamic Covenant and
of all that God has connected to it, including the warnings and the promises. It is further a
reminder that the sin of Adam is passed by sexual begetting to the next generation. The warning is
that one risks being completely and forever being cut off from God if he forsakes the covenant.
The promise is in the blessing to Abraham and his offspring, particularly his Seed who would bless
all nations---the coming Savior, Jesus Christ.

To Ask the Pastor, please write Ask the Pastor, PO Box 12, Emma, MO, 65327 or send email
to askthepastor@aol.com. Find old columns at members.aol.com/askthepastor on the internet.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."

Ask the Pastor is copyright (c) 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality,
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