It is the body and blood that Jesus gives that is received with the mouth, but the promise of the forgiveness of sins is always received by the heart by faith. So I can't eat a promise; I can't drink a promise. I can only believe a promise. So the promise of forgiveness of sins is received by faith, not by any activity or action or anything else like this. Same with baptism. Forgiveness of sins cannot be received by the head or by the body being soaked in water. The benefit is received by the heart that believes the promise that's spoken. The promise of Jesus is connected to those elements, those things, those physical things, to His body and blood, the bread and wine, and the water being splashed. So our faith believes simply the promise Jesus gives there. So baptism offers the forgiveness of sin; the Lord's Supper offers the forgiveness of sin, and faith receives that promise and rejoices in it.
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