Sermon list

"Baptism of our Lord"
Mark 1:11
First Sunday after the Epiphany	January 12, 2003
Ascension Lutheran Church	Jackson, MS
A sermon by Pastor Tom Clark

 

Today we remember the baptism of Christ by John. It occurred to me that it might be a good time to review some basic understandings about our own baptism. I looked in Luther's Small Catechism (I'm sure you all keep a copy by your bed to read every evening). Anyway, for those of you who might not have looked at it lately, say since your confirmation, I will help you by reading a few passages from Martin on the subject of "baptism." You may remember that the Catechism is in the form of qestion and answer form. Here goes:

"What is baptism?" Answer: Baptism is not merely water, but it is water used according to God's command and connected with God's Word...

"How can water produce such great effects? Answer: It is not the water that produces these effects, but the Word of God connected with the water, and our faith which relies on the Word of God connected with the water. For without the Word of God the water is merely water... But when connected with the Word of God it is ... water of life and a washing of rebirth in the Holy Spirit...

"What does such baptizing with water signify? Answer: It signifies that the old Adam in us, together with all sins and evil lusts, should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance and be put to death, and that the new man should come forth daily and rise up, cleansed and righteous, to live forever in God's presence.

"Where is this written? Answer: In Romans 6:4, St. Paul wrote, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

To further clarify Luther's position that baptism is the most important Spiritual gift we can receive, I'll read just a very few lines from his Large Catechism (sort of an expanded Small Catechism). He says, "To be baptized in God's name is to be baptized not by men but by God himself. Although it is performed by men's hands, it is nevertheless truly God's own act.

He says, "God himself stakes his honor, his power, and his might on it. Therefore it is not simply a natural water, but a divine... water ...it contains and conveys all the fullness of God.

"...To appreciate and use Baptism aright, we must draw strength and comfort from it when our sins or conscience oppress us, and we must reply, "But I am baptized! And if I am baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body."

This last part was not just general advice for those who were weak. Luther himself, when his own doubt and uncertainty set in would remind himself that he too was claimed by God through baptism.

How can we understand this? What about our own fear and doubt? And how may we explain our faith to those who see baptism only for those who are old enough to make decisions for themselves?

I like to explain baptism as adoption. Think of what happens in an adoption. Parents take on a child that is not theirs biologically, but they love it as their very own. Indeed, their love is so great that it begins even before the child is laid in their arms.

For those who say that children who are baptized as infants don't know what they are doing (or even what is being done TO them), think again about adoption. Does the child being adopted know and agree to become the child of these parents? Should they make the adoption provisional until the child becomes old enough to decide it he or she wants to become part of this family? That would be ridiculous! The child will grow up in the family knowing that he or she belongs and knowing that he or she is loved just as much as a "biological" child. Adoption is more than just a legal act that is recorded in the county courthouse. It is an act of love and belonging.

Similarly, baptism is not about having your name on a church role. It's about enlisting (or being enlisted) as a disciple of Christ. If baptized as an infant, you claim as your own the baptismal blessings and responsibilities at Confirmation. That's why confirmation is called "affirmation of baptism" in the rites of the church found in the front of the green book.

A few years ago I had the task of teaching one session at confirmation camp at Lutheridge on the topic of "confirmation." We were doing a series on the rites of the church and I must have lost it when I said, "Sure, I'll do that one." The more I thought about it, the more I wondered, "How can I make this topic come alive? How can I keep from putting them all to sleep?"

I thought about Confirmation, not as it has often been viewed (that is, as "graduation" from church until marriage or the birth of one's first child) but as preparation for a life of service as a mature Christian. I remembered the Apostle Paul's words about putting on the armor of Christ. It sounded like a soldier preparing for battle. I thought about all the training that a soldier went through before they actually began "soldiering." Then I made this leap of imagination to "Star Wars" and Jedi knights (you know, Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Master Yoda).

My purpose was to show how confirmation is a vital part of our Christian growth and teaches us how to live for Christ. I also wanted to help them recognize the need for the "armor" God gives us that helps us live faithfully and to emphasize that confirmation is not a "goal" but a training period. I thought they could get into the whole Jedi preparation "thing" and began seeing confirmation as a similar preparation for the great adventure of Christian living. And I believe this. Though I think we often do a poor job of being examples of the kind of faith and commitment it takes. Some might even say that it's a lot harder being a soldier of Christ than it is to be a Jedi.

At our baptism our parents chose a path for us. At confirmation we got to say yes or no. In the life we live for the rest of our days, we get to live out our baptism. We can struggle with what God calls us to do. Sometimes we will see someone who seems bent on spurning God's love. Sometimes we are those "someones". But we never have the final word. Only God does and he listens to Jesus, who has covered our sins with his sacrifice and death. We can help and encourage those who struggle and look for God. We can call to those who reject him. But thankfully, through our baptism, God as adopted us as his dear children, and I'd rather have God's love than all the questions we can imagine.

We never have ALL the answers in this life. We can only have THE answer that God loved us so much that he sent his Son to take our place before his throne of judgment. It's all about grace. It's about a loving God whose mercy knows no limits.

We all need a merciful God. Thank God he claims us! Thank God, we are baptized!