We are Christians so the life we live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God. This is true in baptism. Baptism is a word from God. And faith answers to this particular baptism-word in the same way that faith answers to every other word from God. Baptism is not an empty ritual, or a mere tradition handed down from our fathers. Like all of God’s words, it is living and active. It is a sign and seal of God’s covenant. And the promise God makes to us in that covenant is this: “I will be God to you and to your children after you in their generations” (Genesis 17:7).