Luther's Order

Luther's order of salvation reflected the Catholic view of baptism, that baptism was a grace distributed by the church independent of faith. He held to infant baptism and his primary theology was based upon infant baptism.

1. baptized as an infant without faith.

2. Taught or confirmed.

3. Faith consummated justification.

This order does not fit with those who believe baptism is an act of faith preceeding justification. Our order is quite different, even backwards from his.

1. A person is taught the Gospel.

2. They adopt the faith and believe it.

3. They are baptized in faith

4. After baptism our faith is accounted to us.

5. Justification is consummated as God uses the blood of Christ to cover our sins individually.

Plus it doesn't fit with the concept of justification thru faith until confirmation, the child in their view being justified solely by grace apart from faith.

We both teach that our faith is imputed to us as do the Antinomianist. The difference is when and under what guidelines.

1. Faith imputed at belief without any works. (Antinomian)

2. Faith imputed at belief during confirmation after infant baptism. (Catholic/Lutheran)

3. Faith imputed after baptism in faith. (Us)

Since faith is imputed, then all previous steps before faith being imputed are toward remission of sins, they don't consummate forgiveness, they are steps for it or toward it.

The concept that Jesus spilled his blood "for the remission of sins" and we are "baptized for the remission of sins" are very similar, exact grammatical statements. See Matt 26:28 & Acts 2:38

The greek word eis in both cases means toward, in other words, it shows movement towards without the process necessarily being finished.

When Jesus died forgiveness wasn't consummated in us individually, but it was a necessary step. It was "For" or "toward" remission, it was a necessary act.

Likewise when baptized, it is a necessary step toward remission, but remission isn't consummated yet. It is toward remission.

God has to account our faith as righteousness next.

Though Luther taught baptism saves instantaneously, in reality there is another step that God must perform. He must account your faith and view your sins in accordance with Christ's sacrafice.

The exact order is:

Christ died for the remission of sins

hearing, we hear about it

believing

repentance thru baptism for the remission of sins

God accounts Faith

Saved through the Blood of Christ

Since there are three main views: Catholic (including Lutheran), Christian, Antinomial (Baptist or Methodist etc)

Catholic - baptism then faith, saved in both phases

Christian - faith, baptism, faith accounted, saved

Antinomial - faith, saved, baptism before or after faith has no effect, it is symbolic

All three teach justification when Christ accounts our faith, all three believe it occurs at different points. Only Christians teach salvation comes after works.

Abraham's faith was accounted after works when he offered Isaac. They simply don't want to admit his faith was imputed after works.

You see a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Works proceeded his faith being accounted as baptism proceeds our faith being accounted. James 2:19-24