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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: salvation; Baptism, however, is not our work, but God's (for, as was
stated, you must put Christ-baptism far away from a bath-keeper's
baptism). God's works, however, are saving and necessary for salvation,
and do not exclude, but demand, faith; for without faith they could not
be apprehended. For by suffering the water to be poured upon you, you
have not yet received Baptism in such a manner that it benefits you
anything; but it becomes beneficial to you if you have yourself
baptized with the thought that this is according to God's command and
ordinance, and besides in God's name, in order that you may receive in
the water the promised salvation. Now, this the fist cannot do, nor the
body; but the heart must believe it.
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