God chooses to work through means to create faith and save sinners. He works through the Word of God, written, spoken, preached, taught. He works through the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. A sacrament is that which is commanded by the Lord when the Word of God is attached to a visible element for the giving of forgiveness, life and salvation. Baptism unites the sinner with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through water and Word, drowning the sinful nature and raising up a new creation in Christ. The Lord’s Supper gives the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in, with and under the elements of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins and strengthening of faith and love. (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-39; 1 Peter 3:21; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32)
