A truly Christian life is nothing other than a daily Baptism...

Lastly, we must also know what Baptism signifies and why God has ordained just this outward sign and ceremony for the Sacrament by which we are first received into the Christian Church.  The act or ceremony is this: we are sunk under the water, which passes over us, and afterward are drawn out again.  These two parts, (a) to be sunk under the water and (b) drawn out again, signify Baptism's power and work.  It is nothing other than putting to death the old Adam and affecting the new man's resurrection after that.  Both of these things must take place in us all our lives.  So, a truly Christian life is nothing other than a daily Baptism, once begun and ever to be continued.  For this must be done without ceasing, that we always keep purging away whatever belongs to the old Adam.  Then what belongs to the new man may come forth.

~BOC, LC, IV, 64-65

Baptism, as with the entire Gospel, is an outward, verbal preaching...

Now these "new spirits" are so crazy that they separate faith and the object to which faith clings and is bound, even if it is something outward.  Yes, it shall and must be something outward, so that it may be grasped by our senses and understood, and by them be brought into the heart.  For indeed, the entire Gospel is an outward, verbal preaching.  In short, what God does and works in us He intends to work through such outward ordinances.  Therefore, wherever He speaks--indeed, no matter what direction or by whatever means He speaks--faith must look there.  It must hold to that object.  Now here we have the words "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16).  What else can these words refer to but Baptism, that is, to the water included in God's ordinance?  Therefore, it makes sense that whoever rejects Baptism rejects God's Word, faith, and Christ, who directs us to Baptism and binds us to Baptism.
~BOC, LC, IV, 30-31

Baptism gives faith the outward thing upon which it stands and rests...

Our would-be "wise spirits" assert that faith alone saves, and that works and outward things do nothing.  We answer, "It is true, indeed, that nothing in us is of any use but faith, as we shall hear still further."  But these blind guides are unwilling to see this:  faith must have something that it believes, that is, of which it takes hold and upon which it stands and rests.  So faith clings to the water and believes in Baptism, there is pure salvation and life.  This is not through the water (as we have stated well enough), but through the fact that it is embodied in God's Word and institution, and that God's name abides in it.  Now, if I believe this, what else is it than believing in God as the One who has given and planted His Word into this ordinance and offers to us this outward thing by which we may gain such a treasure?
~BOC, LC, IV, 28-29

We are baptized by God Himself...

To be baptized in God's name is to be baptized not by men, but by God Himself.  Therefore, although it is performed by human hands, it is still truly God's own work.
~BOC, LC, IV, 10

Christ connects the promise of the forgiveness of sins to good works...

Christ often connects the promise of the forgiveness of sins to good works, yet not because He means that good works are an atoning sacrifice (for they follow reconciliation).  Christ makes this connection for two reasons.  One is because good fruit must necessarily follow.  He reminds us that if good fruit does not follow, the repentance is hypocritical and fake.  The other reason is that we have need of outward signs of so great a promise.  A conscience full of fear has need of much consolation. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are signs that continually remind, cheer, and encourage despairing minds to believe more firmly that their sins are forgiven.  So the same promise is written and portrayed in good works, in order that these works may remind us to believe more firmly. Those who produce no good works do not encourage themselves to believe, but despise these promises. On the other hand, the godly embrace them and rejoice that they have the signs and testimonies of so great a promise.  So they exercise themselves in these signs and testimonies.  Therefore, just as the Lord's Supper does not justify us by the outward act (ex opere operato) without faith, so alms do not justify us by the outward acts (ex opere operato) without faith.
~BOC, AP, V (III), 155-156

Baptism produces, begins, and exercises new life...

For Baptism not only illustrates such a new life, but also produces, begins, and exercises it.  For in Baptism are given grace, the Spirit, and power to suppress the old man, so that the new man may come forth and become strong.
~BOC, LC, IV, 75-76

How to think about Baptism...

We must think this way about Baptism and make it profitable for ourselves. So when our sins and conscience oppress us, we strengthen ourselves and take comfort and say, "Nevertheless, I am baptized. And if I am baptized, it is promised to me that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body."
~BOC, LC, IV, 44

The power, work, profit, fruit and purpose of Baptism...

Therefore, state it most simply this way:  The power, work, profit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is this--to save.  For no one is baptized in order that he may become a prince, but, as the words say, that he "be saved."  We know that to be saved is nothing other than to be delivered from sin, death, and the devil.  It means to enter into Christ's kingdom and to live forever.
~BOC, LC, IV, 24-25

God stakes His honor, power, and might on Baptism...

Understand the difference, then.  Baptism is quite a different thing from all other water. This is not because of its natural quality but because something more noble is added here.  God Himself stakes His honor, His power, and His might on it.  Therefore, Baptism is not only natural water, but a divine, heavenly, holy, and blessed water, and whatever other terms we can find to praise it.  This all as because of the Word, which is a heavenly, holy Word, which no one can praise enough.  For it has, and is able to do, all that God is and can do.
~BOC, LC, IV, 17-18

Body AND soul are saved in Baptism...

Now since both, the water and the Word, make one Baptism, therefore body and soul must be saved and live forever. The soul lives through the Word, which believes, but the body lives because it is united with the soul and also holds on through Baptism as it is able to grasp it. We have, therefore, no greater jewel in body and soul. For by Baptism we are made holy and are saved. No other kind of life, no work upon earth, can do this.
~BOC, LC, IV, 46

God is superabundantly generous in His grace...

We will now return to the Gospel, which does not give us counsel and aid against sin in only one way. God is superabundantly generous in His grace: First, through the spoken Word, by which the forgiveness of sins is preached in the whole world. This is the particular office of the Gospel. Second, through Baptism. Third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourth through the Power of the Keys. Also through the mutual conversation and consolation of bretheran, "Where two or three are gathered" (Matthew 18:20) and other such verses (especially Romans 1:12).
~BOC, SA, III, IV

The consolation and grace of Baptism...

It [Baptism] is, in short, so full of consolation and grace that heaven and earth cannot understand it.
~BOC, LC, IV, 39-40