A spiritual song about our Holy Baptism, wherein is right briefly summarized what it is, who instituted it, of what use it is, etc.

Dr. Mart. Luth.

1. Christ our Lord to the Jordan came,
   For thus His Father willèd.
   John’s baptism for Himself He claimed,
   His office thus fulfillèd.
   Thereby He drew for us a bath,
   To wash us from transgression,
   And drowned He also bitter death,
   Through His own blood and passion;
   A new life thus availeth.

2. So mark ye well, and all perceive
   What God doth say of Baptism,
   And what a Christian should believe
   Lest heresy entrap him.
   Though lowly water, plain and clear,
   Is His good will and pleasure,
   His holy Word is also here,
   His Spirit without measure:
   He doth Himself baptize us.

3. Such hath He made clear as can be,
   With signs both shown and spoken.
   The Father’s voice was openly
   Heard loud upon the Jordan.
   He said: This Man is My dear Son
   In whom I am delighted.
   I now command you, every one,
   That ye, through Him invited,
   Should follow all His teachings.

4. The Son of God Himself here stands
   In tender human nature;
   The Holy Ghost on Him descends,
   Clad in a dove’s fair vesture.
   We therefore should not doubt at all,
   When to the font we’re wending,
   That all three Persons us do call,
   To earth in grace descending
   With us to make their dwelling.

5. To His disciples spake the Christ:
   Go hence, the whole world teaching,
   The lost, for whom I’ve paid the price,
   Repenting through your preaching.
   He who believes and is baptized
   Shall be thereby most blessèd
   And, born anew in heav’nly wise,
   No more by death oppressèd;
   He shall inherit heaven.

6. Who in this mercy hath not faith,
   Sin still his soul possesses.
   He is condemned t’eternal death
   Deep in hell’s dark recesses.
   No help is his own holiness,
   His deeds have not availed him,
   Turned by that sin to worthlessness
   Which from his birth assailed him;
   He can’t himself deliver.

7. The eye doth naught but water see,
   Plain men the water pouring;
   But from this blindness faith is free,
   Christ Jesus’ blood adoring.
   It is for faith a flood of red,
   By Christ’s own blood thus tinted,
   For all our sin and weakness shed
   Which Adam has transmitted,
   And we too have committed.

Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam
Martin Luther, 1541
Tr. composite