3. Baptism is the water comprehended in God's command, that is, _we use the water in baptism because God has commanded it._ Without this command of God Baptism would be water only. Before our Lord ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples this command: _"Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."_ Holy Baptism, therefore, is an act instituted and ordained by God. For that reason we call it a _sacred act._ Christ gave this command to His _disciples, to His Church, to all Christians._ The called ministers of Christ, our pastors, ordinarily administer baptism; but in cases of necessity every Christian can and should perform it. Christ commands us to _baptize;_ that means He commands us to _apply_ the water _by washing or sprinkling the person to be baptized with water, or by immersing him into the water._ 4. _Baptism is the water connected with God's word._ The word which Christ has commanded us to use in baptism is this: _"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."_ This word must always be connected with the water to make it a Baptism. _"Without the word of God the water is simple water, and no baptism. But with the word it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life."--We are baptized in the name of the Triune God._ What does this mean? God's name is God Himself, as we have learned in the Second Commandment. We are baptized in God the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. By baptism we are _received into communion with the Triune God._ He gives Himself to us _as our Father_ and accepts us _as His children,_ He bestows upon us all His blessings, all that He has done for us to save us. _With_ the word of God baptism is indeed a gracious water of life. 5. Our Lord commands us to baptize _all nations,_ that is, _all human beings,_ old and young, men and women. _"Preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."_ Mark 16,15.16. Baptism is necessary to salvation; consequently God wants all who believe in Him to be baptized. But a _certain distinction_ should be made. Those who are old enough to be instructed we baptize after they have been _previously_ taught the main doctrine of the Word of God, _confess their faith_ in Jesus Christ, and _desire to be baptized_ and thus become Christians.