Today’s Scripture

Psalm 29         Isaiah 42:1-9   Romans 6:1-11            Matthew 3:13-17

 

            The Passage from Romans is read at the beginning of nearly every funeral at Immanuel.  It is at a funeral we stare in the face of life and death or, should I say, life and death stare us in the face quite boldly at those times.  It is of great comfort to remember baptism at a funeral.  The reason for that comfort is that the gift that one is given in that baptism is now realized in earthly death.  It takes us to another death and life, Jesus’ death and his resurrection to life again.  As Paul writes to us, we are baptized into both Jesus’ death and resurrection.  As established by Jesus, we must die first to sin to receive the new life given in baptism.

 

            Today we celebrate Jesus’ baptism as we also celebrate each one’s own baptism.  Many of you were baptized as infants and may not necessarily remember the actual event, but you do not and cannot forget what baptism brought you that day.  Let us review what baptism is and what baptism does in Luther’s explanation in his Small Catechism.  Please turn to page 325 in the hymnal. 

 

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

As the Head of the Family Should Teach It in a Simple Way to His Household

First

What is Baptism?

Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.

Which is that word of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” [Matt. 28:19]

Second

What benefits does Baptism give?

It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are these words and promises of God?

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” [Mark 16:16]

Third

How can water do such great things?

Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three:

“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” [Titus 3:5–8]

Fourth

What does such baptizing with water indicate?

It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glow of the Father, we too may live a new life.” [Rom. 6:4]

 

            It is in the fourth and final section that we deal directly with death and life.  That “Old Adam,” is the sinful nature we are born with, the predisposition to sin, and the actual day-to-day, minute-by-minute sins we commit.  These are the sins we know and the sins we do not know.  These are the sins we actively do and the sins we do by not doing what we are to do.  In the waters of baptism those sins are drowned, they die, and are placed at the cross and in the grave with Jesus.  As Jesus rose to a new life, we too emerge daily to new lives as our old sinful lives are forgiven.  Baptism, like a flowing river, never ceases its work, cleansing you non-stop throughout your days.

 

            In baptism we note a specific order by which one receives this gift.  First is the Word of God.  God’s word is first from creation on.  Without that word connected with water, there is no baptism.  Without that word in the ears of the hearer, there is no faith.  Faith comes after the word as faith comes from hearing that word [Romans 10:17].  In faith one is baptized and receives the gifts that baptism brings.  That is why baptism is God’s word connected with the water.  That is why in the baptismal service God’s word regarding both law and Gospel are read.

 

            The jailer at Philippi asked, “What must I do to be saved?”  Paul and Silas responded, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-- you and your household."  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.  At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. [Acts 16:30-33]

 

            On Pentecost Peter preached to the crowds the message of both law and Gospel.  The people were “cut to the heart” only after they heard the word, and then were baptized.  Jesus speaks and in this order, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.”  You see, there are a couple of miracles here.  The first is the miracle of faith as one hears and believes the unbelievable.  The second is that water, connected with God’s word does all of this work in the believer. Faith comes from hearing and it leads to baptism. 

 

            One often wonders about infants and baptism.  We know they hear and we know the Holy Spirit works that miracle of faith in their hearts.  There is observable evidence as we know the newly born respond immediately to the sounds and stimuli around them.  Learning and believing are happening from the get-go.  Jesus commanded us to bring the little children, including infants to him.  Peter proclaims that faith and forgiveness are “for you and your children.”  [Acts 2:39].  Peter reminds us in his first letter that “baptism now saves you.”  [1 Peter 3:21]  There is no waiting around as God works his gifts, his miracles, his saving grace at any moment and in that moment.

 

            Jesus died your sin for you.  In baptism you are baptized into that death.  Jesus rose so that you too will live.  In baptism you are baptized into that resurrection, that life, both now and forever.  It is a matter of death and life.  Amen.