to us all the treasures of Christ's redemption. Through this sacrament
He adopts us as His children and receives us into membership in His
Church. [Gal. 3:36, 27+] We are baptized in (into) the name of the
Father (who sent His Son to save us), and of the Son (who died to redeem
us), and of the Holy Ghost (who applies Christ's redemption to our
souls). Therefore every baptized person may say, "God is _my_ Father,
Christ is _my_ Redeemer, the Holy Ghost is _my_ Sanctifier, and all the
benefits of Christ's redemption are offered to _me_." Hence we declare
of baptism, that

IT WORKS FORGIVENESS OF SINS, [Acts 2:38+, Acts 22:16, Eph. 5:25, 26]
DELIVERS FROM DEATH AND THE DEVIL, AND CONFERS EVERLASTING SALVATION.
These are the very benefits which Christ has acquired for me by His
innocent sufferings and death (see Article II, of the Creed, Chapter
XIX.). And since I have been "baptized into Christ's death," [Rom 6:3+]
all these benefits belong to me if I only accept them by faith. [Mark
16:16] I am regarded by God as having already suffered the full penalty
of my sins in Christ's death, and for His sake I am pardoned and saved.

ON ALL WHO BELIEVE. Faith is the hand with which we grasp and hold fast
the treasures of God's grace offered in this sacrament. The benefits are
offered to every one who is baptized, but they are accepted and
possessed only by him who believes.

AS THE WORD AND PROMISE OF GOD DECLARE. The benefits belong to all who
are baptized and believe, because God has said so. [Numb. 23:19] He has
promised, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."

WITHOUT FAITH baptism will not save any one. "He that believeth not
shall be damned" even though he is baptized. For while such a person has