September 11, 2001 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org) The August 2001 issue of The Berean Call contains the following warning from a reader of that publication:

"Enclosed is my 'Memento and Certificate of Baptism' and my daughter's 'Certificate of Holy Baptism,' both as babies into the Lutheran Church. As you can see, my certificate was printed by the Missouri Synod's Concordia Publishing House and reads, 'In Baptism full salvation has been given unto you; God has become your Father, and you have become His child.' My daughter's reads, 'You are a child of God because God has made you His child through this act. All of God's promises belong to you as you live under Him in His Kingdom.' [Copies of these certificates may be viewed at http://www.thebereancall.org/images/aug01/certificate1.htm and http://www.thebereancall.org/images/aug01/certificate2.htm]

"You must know that Luther's Catechism, used in every Lutheran Synod, declares concerning the 'Sacrament of Baptism,' that 'it works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.' It also states regarding the 'Sacrament of the Altar' [the Lord's Supper], 'namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words.'

"This false sacramental gospel kept my parents from ever telling me that I was a sinner and needed a Savior. They thought that I had received eternal life in baptism. I am positive that there are millions of Lutherans believing the same thing my parents did and which I was taught and believed for many years.

"I was saved at age 45 when I finally heard the true gospel and believed it. Martin Luther protested some of the obvious error and corruption in the Catholic Church, but kept the sacraments as the means of grace by which a person must be saved. This is taught from his Catechism in every Lutheran Church today.

"Furthermore, like the Roman Catholics, both Luther and Calvin and their followers at that time persecuted our true spiritual forefathers, the Anabaptists, who refused to submit to baby baptism or to acknowledge the physical presence of Christ in the bread and wine at the Lord's Table.

"We believe that millions of souls are at stake because of this false teaching."