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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: itself a divine superabundant treasure. Therefore this single word (He
that believeth) effects this much that it excludes and repels all
works which we can do, in the opinion that we obtain and merit
salvation by them. For it is determined that whatever is not faith
avails nothing nor receives anything.
But if they say, as they are accustomed: Still Baptism is itself a
work, and you say works are of no avail for salvation; what then,
becomes of faith? Answer: Yes, our works, indeed, avail nothing for
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,
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