162. From His Wounds Flow Blessings Gracious

1. From His wounds flow blessings gracious
Down on our baptismal flood;
With it is His Word most precious
And the strength of Christ our God.
He bade us to teach each nation,
By true faith to find salvation.
He His life for all once gave;
Now He comes the lost to save.
“Baptize them,” said He our Brother,
“In the Name of God the Father,
In the Son’s atoning merit,
In the power of the Spirit!”

2. By the deluge, in its water,
Noah’s house to life was borne;
Thus a thousand-fold, and better,
Joy and grace this flood adorn;
Drowning every doubt and evil,
It redeems from death and devil,
It establishes our peace,
Grants us joy that shall not cease.
Would that we were more believing,
More His gracious Word receiving!
Faith and baptism stand together, -
No Faith – then rejection ever!

3. Eyes of faith the spring are seeing
That from Word to water flows,
How the Christ from sins us freeing,
Shed His blood for all our woes.
Grace and strength are never-ending,
Thus this great salvation sending,
Richly for this Flood, our Lord
His good Spirit hath outpoured!
Sinners freed He calls us ever,
Newborn children, and forever
Heirs of life that know no sadness:
On this faith I’ll die with gladness.

4. But the nature of old Adam
In this flood must die, and then
From its waters, a new creature,
Pure and whole, must rise again.
In repentance, one must perish;
One doth live who faith doth cherish.
False desires, sin’s slavery,
Henceforth, be ye far from me!
Am I buried with the Savior,
His life must be in me ever,
And the powers to me be given
For the glorious life in heaven.