Baptism

...What a wonderful word. What a joyous and cleansing action, and work of God! God Himself, through the hands of the pastor, washes us in His Name, and by his command. Cleansing us from all of our own sin, our very own, most grievous sin. And we are brought into both the death, and the resurrection, and life of Christ! He imparts and gives us His name. He sees us, and traces the Cross over us, to cover us with the Cross of Christ.

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."  - Romans 6:4 ESV

 From the Book of Concord we read about Baptism.
“Baptism is not a work that we do but … a treasure that God gives us and faith grasps. … In baptism, therefore, every Christian has enough to study and practice all his or her life. … Thus, we must regard baptism and put it to use in such a way that we may draw strength and comfort from it when our sins or conscience oppress us, and say: ‘But I am baptized! And if I have been baptized, I have the promise that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body ….’ ”


What an amazing Promise Christ has given us in our Baptism. I do find it extremely significant that at the end of the Gospel of Matthew when we hear the words of the Son of God telling us...

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 Think of it, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Here Christ Jesus is telling us, that, I am about to tell you all something very important, "all authority in heaven and on earth is given to me." and what is the next thing he tells us? I imagine the next thing he says would be of utmost importance, and relevance. He says "Go, therefore" ..."and make disciples of all nations..." And of all of the doctrines, and practices the Lord would have us understand, know, and use in our going... He tells us to "...lead everyone into making a personal decision to follow me"? No, you say? That's right, he commanded us to lead everyone into the sinners prayer to invite Jesus into our hearts. No again? Our Lord Jesus here, on this statement of all authority in heaven and on earth, tells us to "Baptize in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." 
  Thanks be to God for the Baptism that He has given us! 

1 Corinthians Chapter two gives us a very clear understanding of what God has given us. And how we are to understand it.

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

-1 Corinthians 2:10-12

To understand the deep things of God, is to understand what He has freely given us, In Christ.
Now of course Baptism is not a "get out of jail free" card. But that is a topic for another time.

God's peace be with you!

Happy New Year 2020?? "By Gracious Power" Yes!

I've just recently heard of this New Years Hymn written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was certainly not aloof, and thinking like most do today as we see on every new year celebration.. "oh Happy New Year, this year is going to be so much better, I'm going to be better, and..." better better better... Blah blah blah! Here in his Hymn, he makes no such empty platitudes. 

Here in his Hymn, he is looking forward with realistic hopefulness. Looking into the face of unknown adversity, in a way that is counting on it almost.  BUT With Hope in Christ, because He is enough! The Hymn was written in German of course. Below is the English translation.

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,
       and confidently waiting come what may,
we know that God is with us night and morning,
       and never fails to greet us each new day.

Yet is this heart by its old foe tormented,
       and evil days bring burdens hard to bear;
Oh, give our frightened souls the sure salvation,
       for which, O Lord, you taught us to prepare.

And when this cup you give is filled to brimming
       with bitter suffering, hard to understand,
we take it thankfully and without trembling
       out of so good and so beloved a hand.

Yet when again in this same world you give us
       the joy we had, the brightness of your sun,
we shall remember all the days we lived through
       and our whole life shall then be yours alone.

Words © 1974 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188