Small and Large Catechism - Third Article of the Creed

Small Catechism

Third Article

{SANCTIFICATION}

            I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

What does this mean?

            I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.

                        In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

                        In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.

                        On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

                        This is most certainly true.

Large Catechism

34] I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the

forgiveness of sins; theresurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

35] This article (as I have said) I cannot relate better than to Sanctification, that through the

same the Holy Ghost, with His office, is declared and depicted, namely, that He makes holy.

Therefore we must take our stand upon the word Holy Ghost, because it is so precise and

comprehensive that we cannot find another. 36] For there are, besides, many kinds of spirits

mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, as, the spirit of man, heavenly spirits, and evil spirits. But

the Spirit of God alone is called Holy Ghost, that is, He who has sanctified and still sanctifies

us. For as the Father is called Creator, the Son Redeemer, so the Holy Ghost, from His work,

must be called Sanctifier, or One that makes holy. 37] But how is such sanctifying done?

Answer: Just as the Son obtains dominion, whereby He wins us, through His birth, death,

resurrection, etc., so also the Holy Ghost effects our sanctification by the following parts,

namely, by the communion of saints or the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the

resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting; that is, He first leads us into His holy

congregation, and places us in the bosom of the Church, whereby He preaches to us and

brings us to Christ.

38] For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ, or believe on Him, and obtain

Him for our Lord, unless it were offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost

through the preaching of the Gospel. The work is done and accomplished; for Christ has

acquired and gained the treasure for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, etc. But if the

work remained concealed so that no one knew of it, then it would be in vain and lost. That

this treasure, therefore, might not lie buried, but be appropriated and enjoyed, God has

caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed, in which He gives the Holy Ghost to bring

this treasure home and appropriate it to us. 39] Therefore sanctifying is nothing else than

bringing us to Christ to receive this good, to which we could not attain of ourselves.

40] Learn, then, to understand this article most clearly. If you are asked: What do you mean

by the words: I believe in the Holy Ghost? you can answer: I believe that the Holy Ghost

makes me holy, as His name implies. 41] But whereby does He accomplish this, or what are

His method and means to this end? Answer: By the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 42] For, in the first place, He has a

peculiar congregation in the world, which is the mother that begets and bears every Christian

through the Word of God, which He reveals and preaches, [and through which] He illumines

and enkindles hearts, that they understand, accept it, cling to it, and persevere in it.

43] For where He does not cause it to be preached and made alive in the heart, so that it is

understood, it is lost, as was the case under the Papacy, where faith was entirely put under

the bench, and no one recognized Christ as his Lord or the Holy Ghost as his Sanctifier, that

is, no one believed that Christ is our Lord in the sense that He has acquired this treasure for

us, without our works and merit, and made us acceptable to the Father. What, then, was

lacking? 44] This, that the Holy Ghost was not there to reveal it and cause it to be preached;

but men and evil spirits were there, who taught us to obtain grace and be saved by our

works. 45] Therefore it is not a Christian Church either; for where Christ is not preached,

there is no Holy Ghost who creates, calls, and gathers the Christian Church, without which no

one can come to Christ the Lord. 46] Let this suffice concerning the sum of this article. But

because the parts which are here enumerated are not quite clear to the simple, we shall run

over them also.

47] The Creed denominates the holy Christian Church, communionem sanctorum, a

communion of saints; for both expressions, taken together, are identical. But formerly the

one [the second] expression was not there, and it has been poorly and unintelligibly

translated into German eine Gemeinschaft der Heiligen, a communion of saints. If it is to be

rendered plainly, it must be expressed quite differently in the German idiom; for the word

ecclesia properly means in German eine Versammlung, an assembly. 48] But we are

accustomed to the word church, by which the simple do not understand an assembled

multitude, but the consecrated house or building, although the house ought not to be called

a church, except only for the reason that the multitude assembles there. For we who

assemble there make and choose for ourselves a particular place, and give a name to the

house according to the assembly.

Thus the word Kirche (church) means really nothing else than a common assembly, and is not

German by idiom, but Greek (as is also the word ecclesia); for in their own language they call

it kyria, as in Latin it is called curia. Therefore in genuine German, in our mother‐tongue, it

ought to be called a Christian congregation or assembly (eine christliche Gemeinde oder

Sammlung), or, best of all and most clearly, holy Christendom (eine heilige Christenheit).

49] So also the word communio, which is added, ought not to be rendered communion

(Gemeinschaft), but congregation (Gemeinde). And it is nothing else than an interpretation or

explanation by which some one meant to explain what the Christian Church is. This our

people, who understood neither Latin nor German, have rendered Gemeinschaft der Heiligen

(communion of saints), although no German language speaks thus, nor understands it thus.

But to speak correct German, it ought to be eine Gemeinde der Heiligen (a congregation of

saints), that is, a congregation made up purely of saints, or, to speak yet more plainly, eine

heilige Gemeinde, a holy congregation. 50] I say this in order that the words Gemeinschaft

der Heiligen (communion of saints) may be understood, because the expression has become

so established by custom that it cannot well be eradicated, and it is treated almost as heresy

if one should attempt to change a word.

51] But this is the meaning and substance of this addition: I believe that there is upon earth a

little holy group and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ, called

together by the Holy Ghost in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with manifold gifts,

yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms. 52] I am also a part and member of the same,

a sharer and joint owner of all the goods it possesses, brought to it and incorporated into it

by the Holy Ghost by having heard and continuing to hear the Word of God, which is the

beginning of entering it. For formerly, before we had attained to this, we were altogether of

the devil, knowing nothing of God and of Christ. 53] Thus, until the last day, the Holy Ghost

abides with the holy congregation or Christendom, by means of which He fetches us to Christ

and which He employs to teach and preach to us the Word, whereby He works and promotes

sanctification, causing it [this community] daily to grow and become strong in the faith and

its fruits which He produces.

54] We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is

wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution, moreover, through all manner of

consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever is to be preached concerning

the Sacraments belongs here, and, in short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of

Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace

of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through the

Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear

about with us we are never without sin.

55] Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily

obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and

encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of

the] Holy Ghost does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church,

where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God

forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.

56] But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as

also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit

holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works,

have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church].

57] Meanwhile, however, while sanctification has begun and is growing daily, we expect that

our flesh will be destroyed and buried with all its uncleanness, and will come forth gloriously,

and arise to entire and perfect holiness in a new eternal life. 58] For now we are only half

pure and holy, so that the Holy Ghost has ever [some reason why] to continue His work in us

through the Word, and daily to dispense forgiveness, until we attain to that life where there

will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness and

righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and

glorified body.

59] Behold, all this is to be the office and work of the Holy Ghost, that He begin and daily

increase holiness upon earth by means of these two things, the Christian Church and the

forgiveness of sin. But in our dissolution He will accomplish it altogether in an instant, and

will forever preserve us therein by the last two parts.

60] But the term Auferstehung des Fleisches (resurrection of the flesh) here employed is not

according to good German idiom. For when we Germans hear the word Fleisch (flesh), we

think no farther than of the shambles. But in good German idiom we would say Auferstehung

des Leibes, or Leichnams (resurrection of the body). However, it is not a matter of much

moment, if we only understand the words aright.

61] This, now, is the article which must ever be and remain in operation. For creation we

have received; redemption, too, is finished But the Holy Ghost carries on His work without

ceasing to the last day. And for that purpose He has appointed a congregation upon earth by

which He speaks and does everything. 62] For He has not yet brought together all His

Christian Church nor dispensed forgiveness. Therefore we believe in Him who through the

Word daily brings us into the fellowship of this Christian Church, and through the same Word

and the forgiveness of sins bestows, increases, and strengthens faith, in order that when He

has accomplished it all, and we abide therein, and die to the world and to all evil, He may

finally make us perfectly and forever holy; which now we expect in faith through the Word.

63] Behold, here you have the entire divine essence, will, and work depicted most exquisitely

in quite short and yet rich words, wherein consists all our wisdom, which surpasses and

exceeds the wisdom, mind, and reason of all men. For although the whole world with all

diligence has endeavored to ascertain what God is, what He has in mind and does, yet has

she never been able to attain to [the knowledge and understanding of] any of these things.

64] But here we have everything in richest measure; for here in all three articles He has

Himself revealed and opened the deepest abyss of his paternal heart and of His pure

unutterable love. For He has created us for this very object, that He might redeem and

sanctify us; and in addition to giving and imparting to us everything in heaven and upon

earth, He has given to us even His Son and the Holy Ghost, by whom to bring us to Himself.

65] For (as explained above) we could never attain to the knowledge of the grace and favor

of the Father except through the Lord Christ, who is a mirror of the paternal heart, outside of

whom we see nothing but an angry and terrible Judge. But of Christ we could know nothing

either, unless it had been revealed by the Holy Ghost.

Large Catechism First Petition

The First Petition.
35] Hallowed be Thy name.
36] This is, indeed, somewhat obscure, and not expressed in good German, for in our
mother‐tongue we would say: Heavenly Father, help that by all means Thy name may be
holy. 37] But what is it to pray that His name may be holy? Is it not holy already? Answer:
Yes, it is always holy in its nature, but in our use it is not holy. For God's name was given us
when we became Christians and were baptized, so that we are called children of God and
have the Sacraments, by which He so incorporates us in Himself that everything which is
God's must serve for our use.
38] Here now the great need exists for which we ought to be most concerned, that this name
have its proper honor, be esteemed holy and sublime as the greatest treasure and sanctuary
that we have; and that as godly children we pray that the name of God, which is already holy
in heaven, may also be and remain holy with us upon earth and in all the world.
39] But how does it become holy among us? Answer, as plainly as it can be said: When both
our doctrine and life are godly and Christian. For since in this prayer we call God our Father, it
is our duty always to deport and demean ourselves as godly children, that He may not
receive shame, but honor and praise from us.
40] Now the name of God is profaned by us either in words or in works. (For whatever we do
upon the earth must be either words or works, speech or act.) 41] In the first place, then, it is
profaned when men preach, teach, and speak in the name of God what is false and
misleading, so that His name must serve to adorn and to find a market for falsehood. That is,
indeed, the greatest profanation and dishonor of the divine name. Furthermore, also when
men, by swearing, cursing, conjuring, etc., grossly abuse the holy name as a cloak for their
shame. In the second place, also by an openly wicked life and works, when those who are
called Christians and the people of God are adulterers, drunkards, misers, envious, and
slanderers. 42] Here again must the name of God come to shame and be profaned because
of us. 43] For just as it is a shame and disgrace to a natural father to have a bad, perverse
child that opposes him in words and deeds, so that on its account he suffers contempt and
reproach, 44] so also it brings dishonor upon God if we who are called by His name and have
all manner of goods from Him teach, speak, and live in any other manner except as godly and
heavenly children, so that people say of us that we must be not God's, but the devil's
children.
45] Thus you see that in this petition we pray just for that which God demands in the Second
Commandment; namely, that His name be not taken in vain to swear, curse, lie, deceive, etc.,
but be usefully employed to the praise and honor of God. For whoever employs the name of
God for any sort of wrong profanes and desecrates this holy name, as aforetime a church was
considered desecrated when a murder or any other crime had been committed in it, or when
a pyx or relic was desecrated, as being holy in themselves, yet become unholy in use. 46]
Thus this point is easy and clear if only the language is understood, that to hallow is the same
as in our idiom to praise, magnify, and honor both in word and deed.
47] Here, now, learn how great need there is of such prayer. For because we see how full the
world is of sects and false teachers, who all wear the holy name as a cover and sham for their
doctrines of devils, we ought by all means to pray without ceasing, and to cry and call upon
God against all such as preach and believe falsely and whatever opposes and persecutes our
Gospel and pure doctrine, and would suppress it, as bishops tyrants, enthusiasts, etc.
Likewise also for ourselves who have the Word of God, but are not thankful for it, nor live as
we ought according to the same. 48] If now you pray for this with your heart, you can be sure
that it pleases God; for He will not hear anything more dear to Him than that His honor and
praise is exalted above everything else, and His Word is taught in its purity and is esteemed.

Large Catechism Second Petition

The Second Petition.

Thy kingdom come.

49] As we prayed in the First Petition concerning the honor and name of God that He would prevent the world from adorning its lies and wickedness with it, but cause it to be esteemed sublime and holy both in doctrine and life, so that He may be praised and magnified in us, so here we pray that His kingdom also may come. 50] But just as the name of God is in itself holy, and we pray nevertheless that it be holy among us, so also His kingdom comes of itself, without our prayer, yet we pray nevertheless that it may come to us, that is, prevail among us and with us, so that we may be a part of those among whom His name is hallowed and His kingdom prospers.

51] But what is the kingdom of God? Answer: Nothing else than what we learned in the Creed, that God sent His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, into the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, and to bring us to Himself, and to govern us as a King of righteousness, life, and salvation against sin, death, and an evil conscience, for which end He has also bestowed His Holy Ghost, who is to bring these things home to us by His holy Word, and to illumine and strengthen us in the faith by His power.

52] Therefore we pray here in the first place that this may become effective with us, and that His name be so praised through the holy Word of God and a Christian life that both we who have accepted it may abide and daily grow therein, and that it may gain approbation and adherence among other people and proceed with power throughout the world, that many may find entrance into the Kingdom of Grace, be made partakers of redemption, being led thereto by the Holy Ghost, in order that thus we may all together remain forever in the one kingdom now begun.

53] For the coming of God's Kingdom to us occurs in two ways; first, here in time through the Word and faith; and secondly, in eternity forever through revelation. Now we pray for both these things, that it may come to those who are not yet in it, and, by daily increase, to us who have received the same, and hereafter in eternal life. 54] All this is nothing else than saying:

Dear Father, we pray, give us first Thy Word, that the Gospel be preached properly throughout the world; and secondly, that it be received in faith, and work and live in us, so that through the Word and the power of the Holy Ghost Thy kingdom may prevail among us, and the kingdom of the devil be put down, that he may have no right or power over us, until at last it shall be utterly destroyed, and sin, death, and hell shall be exterminated, that we may live forever in perfect righteousness and blessedness.

55] From this you perceive that we pray here not for a crust of bread or a temporal, perishable good, but for an eternal inestimable treasure and everything that God Himself possesses; which is far too great for any human heart to think of desiring if He had not Himself commanded us to pray for the same. 56] But because He is God, He also claims the honor of giving much more and more abundantly than any one can comprehend,—like an eternal, unfailing fountain, which, the more it pours forth and overflows, the more it continues to give,—and He desires nothing more earnestly of us than that we ask much and great things of Him, and again is angry if we do not ask and pray confidently.

57] For just as when the richest and most mighty emperor would bid a poor beggar ask whatever he might desire, and were ready to give great imperial presents, and the fool would beg only for a dish of gruel, he would be rightly considered a rogue and a scoundrel, who treated the command of his imperial majesty as a jest and sport, and was not worthy of coming into his presence: so also it is a great reproach and dishonor to God if we, to whom He offers and pledges so many unspeakable treasures, despise the same, or have not the confidence to receive them, but scarcely venture to pray for a piece of bread.

58] All this is the fault of the shameful unbelief which does not look to God for as much good as will satisfy the stomach, much less expects without doubt such eternal treasures of God.Therefore we must strengthen ourselves against it, and let this be our first prayer; then,indeed, we shall have all else in abundance, as Christ teaches [Matt. 6, 33]: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. For how could He allow us to suffer want and to be straitened in temporal things when He promises that which is eternal and imperishable?

- http://www.lcms.org/?pid=414

God Really Wants You to Know

Grace, mercy, and peace in Christ Jesus!

At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and un-athletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose "loud" as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical. Interesting findings, to say the least! With such widely divergent personalities and perceptions, how could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music? The answer is simple: regardless of how those musicians view each other, they subordinate their feelings and biases to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play beautiful music. (Today in the Word, June 22, 1992)

When Paul described the church as the body of Christ, it was clear that Jesus is the head (Ephesians 4:15), and our mind is the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).  It is when we submit to His headship that we have unity and fulfill the purpose for which He called us – that we operate like the symphony in concert. 

How do we know the thoughts of the Head?  How do we know the mind of Christ? 

God’s mind and will are revealed to us in His Word.  The Bible is God speaking to us, communicating His Law and Gospel, revealing His attitude, will, and message.  This is one of the reasons it is so important for us to read (or listen to) our Bibles and hear for ourselves what God has said! 

If that is the case, why don’t all Christians believe the exact same thing?  Why is there so much division within the body of Christ? 

It is because of Sin.  Our sin and pride cause us to take the clear meaning of God’s Word and twist it to fit our own understanding of the world, preconceived notions, and personal preferences.  A good example of this is when Thomas Jefferson cut out all the references to miracles from his Bible, including Jesus’ resurrection.  In his mind these things cannot happen, therefore the text must be wrong.  And when there is not a clear meaning in the passages, people often insert their own opinions instead of drawing from the larger message of the Bible.

How, then, can we be confident that when we read the Bible we won’t, “get it wrong”? 

Faith. 

The Communicator desires to be understood.  God wants us to hear what He says, and wants us to know His mind.  (John 1:18, 1Timothy 2:4, Romans 10:17)  This is part of why Jesus came, to communicate God’s Word and love to us.  The Spirit still guides us and opens God’s Word and creates faith in us (1 Corinthians 12:3).  Our confidence in reading the Word is not rooted in our ability to understand, but in God’s ability to make Himself known. 

So take up the Bible and read, O Body of Christ!  Know the mind of Jesus, and be strengthened in faith, hope, and love. 

Questions to Ponder

-          How does God speak to us? 

-          Why can we be confident that we can understand God’s Word?

-          When we don’t understand something in the Bible, where can we turn to understand?  

-          What hinders or prevents you from reading the Bible? 

-          “God wants us to hear what He says, and wants us to know His mind.”  Have you ever considered this proposition?  How might this comfort us?  How might it challenge us? 

-          When have you read God’s Word and been comforted?  Challenged?  Confused?  Enlightened? 

You are invited to join me on a journey through the New Testament!  You can get the readings, read some explanations of the readings, and even ask questions at www.lotrittens.blogspot.com

Jesus Was Born With A Body. Rose With One Too.

Dear Fellow Redeemed,

Grace.  Mercy.  Peace.  Each of these is yours through the death and resurrection of Jesus, who was, “conceived by the Holy Spirit,” and, “born of the virgin Mary.”  In other words, from egg to embryo to birth, Jesus was conceived miraculously and born normally, spending nine months in Mary’s womb. 

Jesus’ incarnation is central to our salvation.  It was with His body that he bore our sins.  (1 Peter 2:24) He was fully human so he completely understands our weakness.  (Hebrews 4:15)  And even now He retains his humanity, for after his crucifixion, Jesus bodily rose from the dead.  (Luke 24:36-43)  And He never left His body, but ascending into heaven in the state of being fully human and fully divine.  And He will bodily return on the Last Day to judge the living and the dead.  (Acts 1:9-11) 

God gives us life in these bodies of ours, and the body matters.  In the normal course of things, it is while we are in the body that we are able to hear the Gospel and receive salvation.  It is with these bodies that we love, speak words of salvation, serve, do both good and evil, receive Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and so much more.  No wonder, then, that God chose to protect our bodies with one of the Ten Commandments, “You shall not murder.”  (NumberFive, as we number them.)  And Jesus extends the connection of this command to our entire selves – body, mind, and soul – saying that even anger and name calling violate God’s command.  (Matthew 5:21-22) 

Now, if you are keeping score, you have realized I just called you a murderer.  At least if you’ve ever gotten angry and called someone names you are. 

Actually, I didn’t call you a murderer.  Jesus did.  He called me one, too. 

This past Sunday was Life Sunday, and churches all across the U.S. remembered the 40^th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade.  Since that date over 50 million babies have been aborted in the U.S. – a sad statistic at best.  That being said, Life Sunday, while begun as a focus regarding abortion and the sanctity of life in the womb, has expanded to deal with all sorts of issues dealing with human life. 

Life issues are a major dividing point in our nation.  They are issues that rile people up.  To be very forthright, the Church has not always handled these issues very well, and sadly the major message the world hears from God’s people is condemnation instead of God’s love for people and passion for life.  I confess that my words on this topic over the years have not always been a loving reflection of my Savior. 

This is our goal, however, as God’s people.  Living in Jesus’ forgiveness – even forgiveness for the sin of murder – we extend God’s love and forgiveness to everyone in the hope that they would believe in Jesus.  Dealing with people who are walking through the painful situations regarding unwanted pregnancies, suffering and terminal illness, guilt from previous life-ending decisions, and the like requires that we humbly recognize our own place in God’s presence – we are sinners saved by Christ’s death.  Ours is not the place of judgment.  God will handle that with far more wisdom than we are capable of.  Ours is the place of confessing God’s Word – both Law and Gospel.  Ours is the place of pointing to Jesus and saying that all sins are atoned for at the cross: yours, mine and all people in the world.  Ours is the place of loving God and neighbor by our actions, because God loved us by His. 

Questions to Ponder

-          Look at some of the verses sited above.  Why is it important that Jesus is truly human? 

-          How did Jesus demonstrate His physical resurrection to the disciples?

-          Jesus says that love is at the root of the Ten Commandments.  How does the Fifth Commandment demonstrate God’s love for you?

-          How do we know about God and His will for us?  How do you know that He loves you?  

Baptized as a Baby, and it Counted!

I was at a hospital in metro-Detroit to visit a man who was dying.  His son was a member of my congregation, but the man, himself, was somewhat disconnected from his Roman Catholic upbringing.  The son was distraught, concerned for his father’s health and salvation, so he had asked me to come.  So there I was. 

What I hadn’t been told was that the man had a daughter who was a born-again, re-baptized, non-denominational Baptist who was adamant that her father’s baptism didn’t count because he was an infant when he was baptized.  It was like stepping into a Cold War meeting of the U.S. and Soviet Union; thick with tension, each party waiting for the other to flinch, and my presence was just the spark needed to get things going. 

I began to speak to the man about God’s faithfulness and the gift God gave him in his baptism, and that’s when the daughter went off.  She began lecturing and saying that her dad’s baptism was invalid because he was a baby, he wasn’t immersed, and baptism can’t give faith or forgiveness.  I could see the questions and fear in the old man’s eyes, and I made a decision.  I excused myself and asked the children to come in the hallway with me and we had a stern talk about not upsetting their dying father. 

The daughter got in my face and cited this past week’s gospel lesson (Luke 3:15-22) to prove that baptism must be done by immersion and only for adults.  It was a militant stance, and as I stepped into the theological debate I knew two things:  (1) she would not be convinced, no matter what Bible verses I pointed her to because she had put human traditions over God’s Word and (2) this conversation was not going to serve God’s kingdom or the old man in the hospital room. 

Sigh!

Baptism is a great gift God has given us.   It is far more than a nostalgic moment where we offer our children to the Lord.  God places His name on those who are baptized and fills them with the Holy Spirit.  He creates faith, washes away sin, and gives us all His gifts.  (Titus 3) Baptism saves.  (1 Peter 3:21)  The reason it saves is because it delivers the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection to us.  (Romans 6:3-7)  What is more, our Lord Jesus commands baptism as part of making disciples – not choosing to be disciples – but making disciples.  (Matthew 28:19-20)

Brothers and sisters, I urge you to cherish your baptism.  Turn there when you feel doubts about your faith, or have questions about your salvation.  You are baptized!  God has touched you to mark you as His own, and to give you all of the benefits of being His child!  Then share the good news of what God has done for you so others can know God’s love and blessings in their lives, too!  (And if you’re not baptized: why not?  Let’s talk about that!)

Questions to Ponder

-          Who did people wonder John might be?

-          How does John describe Jesus in Luke 3:16?  What does this mean for Jesus’ baptism?

-          Where do we see each person of the Trinity in Luke 3:21-22?

-          When and where were you baptized?  How old were you?  Who was there?  What do you know about that day?

-          How might knowing that God was at work in your baptism comfort you when you have doubts, troubles or struggles?

-          Which of the passages cited above is the most meaningful or challenging to you?  Why not memorize it and meditate on it?  

And the Christmas Season Comes to an End

Well, Christmas has come and gone again, but the Christ Child, who was born to save us from our sins, lives and reigns to all eternity and is still at work in our world!  This past Sunday, January 6, was the Feast of Epiphany – the 12^th Day of Christmas – and the, “12 drummers drumming,” bring the Christmas festivities to an end.  The decorations have come down from the sanctuary, and we have entered the Season of Epiphany which focuses us to see Jesus as the God-Man who came to save us.  The season kicks off with the visit of the Magi, which you can read about in Matthew 2:1-12. 

It is interesting how the visit of the Magi has been romanticized and sanitized.  Many a nativity scene shows these visitors from the Orient bowing offering their gifts at Jesus’ cradle, but the truth is Jesus’ family had moved into a house by the time the Magi arrived, and He was likely a year-or-two old.  Songs and legends refer to them as kings, but they were not.  Magi served kings.  We also tend to call them wise men, and this they were in a manner of speaking.  They were likely a mix of scientist and sorcerer, studying the stars and nature to predict the future and harness their powers. 

You might be wondering at this point, “What in the world are people like that doing visiting Jesus and worshipping Him?”  And if you are, I would argue that you have hit on the point Matthew is making as he records this event. 

The Magi were the worst kind of false religion practitioners you can find, and they come to Jesus.  Think through Jesus’ ministry.  Was it the priests, Pharisees and scribes who flocked to Jesus, or was it the tax-collectors, prostitutes, and “sinners”?  As Jesus, Himself, said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  (Luke 5:31-32) 

Jesus comes for sinners.  He is the demonstration of God’s all-powerful love for people just like you and me who disobey Him, rebel against Him, and even pretend we don’t need Him.  The Magi are a living picture of the kind of people God redeems in Jesus. 

Here is the rub for us in this scenario.  Where do you want to be on the continuum between Magi and Pharisee?  Are you a sinner who needs Jesus to shed His blood for you?  Or are you basically a good person who just occasionally messes up a little? 

For my part, I am a sinner.  Apart from the blood of Jesus, I have no hope for salvation.  I hope that you will join me in that answer so that you can know the amazingness of God’s grace; that He welcomes people like us into His presence through Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. 

P.S.  This reading also demonstrates the importance of reading the Bible to know what it actually says.  If you are not reading the Bible please join me in reading through the New Testament this year.  You can get the readings and a devotion based on the readings through the church web site – here.  Or you can follow through my web page here. 

Questions to Ponder

-          Somehow the Magi knew a King of the Jews had been born by observing the stars.  There is much speculation as to how they knew that Jesus had been born, but the text is clear as to how they knew where He was born.  How did they find out where Jesus was born?

-          What did King Herod say was his intention in helping the Magi to find the newborn king?  What was his real intention?  What important information did Herod get from them Magi in v. 7?

-          What was the Magi’s response at seeing the star after visiting Jerusalem?

-          If the visit of the Magi really shows that God welcome’s sinners, what is the significance of having confession and absolution in every worship service?  What is your response at hearing that your sins are forgiven?

-          Herod was not about to worship Jesus or acknowledge Him as a true king.  How do you resist Jesus’ lordship in your life?  Where do you try to remain “king”?

-          How might knowing the scandalous background of the Magi impact who you share the Gospel with?