This Sunday, September 25, is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
This week’s sermon is Faithful with the Word.
This week’s readings are:
Message: Baptism – What Does This Mean?
1)
A complaint about Baptism.
a)
Magic!
b)
Ex opere operatum.
c)
We must be clear – Baptism is not fire
insurance.
i)
Christ’s command is to baptize and teach.
ii)
Being one of Jesus’ disciples is rooted in
Baptism – but there is more to the Christian life than being baptized.
(1)
Matthew 28:20 – Baptize and Teach.
(2)
Acts 2:38 – Repentance
2)
Fully Forgiven
a) Not just for original sin – all sin.
b) Forgiven changes your relationship with your sin – free!
3)
Taught God’s Word.
a) Law and Gospel
b) Law – Three Functions
i)
Curb
ii)
Mirror
iii)
Guide
iv)
All of them accuse us.
c) Gospel –
i)
Proclaims God’s mercy and forgiveness for the
sake of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
ii)
Delivers forgiveness, life and salvation.
iii)
Sacraments are a tangible expression of the
Gospel.
4)
Repentance
a) “… if you live in repentance, you walk in Baptism.” - Luther
b) To turn
c) To change the way we think and act.
d) “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.”
e) Baptism does not mean we get to keep living in our sin.
5)
Only needed once.
a) Eph 4:5-6 – One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.
b) Seal – like the mark of the beast in Revelation 13. Revelation 7 has God’s chosen people marked.
i) God’s name is on you.
ii)
John 10:28-29 – No one can pluck you out of
Jesus hand … and by extension, no one can pluck you out of the Father’s hand.
iii)
A great gift of comfort.
6)
Remember your baptism.
a) Sign of the Cross.
b) Blessing others.
Comments