may 14 2023
May 14th 2023, Easter 6
First Reading: Acts 17:16-31
Psalm: Psalm 66:8-20
Epistle: 1st Peter 3:13-22
Gospel: John 14:15-21
Sermon
Text; 1st
Peter 3:13-22
Sermon Title: “Baptism Now Saves You”
In the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul”. (Psalm 66:16) “In your hearts, regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you”. (1st Peter 3:15) “It is better to suffer for doing good; if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil”. (1st Peter 3:17)
“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him”. (1st Peter 3:21-22)
Our sermon text this morning is the Epistle reading from 1st Peter. The Apostle speaks briefly on three different issues in these 10 verses. Most of 1st Peter has to do with enduring suffering and persecution for the faith and here he relates it to our bearing witness to Jesus Christ. Peter wrote, “even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you”. (1st Peter 3:14-15)
We are to be prepared to speak of our faith (and how can we be prepared unless we are hearing and reading God’s Word?) whenever we are given the opportunity. Peter exhorts us to do this, even if we are persecuted for our witness to Christ; even if you are “slandered … reviled … for it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God”. (1st Peter 3:17-18a) That was the purpose of Christ’s coming; to atone for the sins of the whole world; this is how He reconciled us to God. “The times of ignorance God overlooked. Now, He commands everyone, everywhere, to repent”. (Acts 17:30)
Again, this is reflected in the explanation of the Second Article of the Apostle’s Creed, where we confess, “I believe in Jesus Christ … who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person … not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own; live under Him in His Kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness”.
Peter then speaks briefly of Jesus’ descent into hell; “being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit; in which He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey; when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah”. (1st Peter 3:18b-20a) There, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them”. (Colossians 3:15) This is really all we need to know about this teaching which we confess in the Creed.
Finally, Peter here speaks of Holy Baptism saying, “While the ark was being prepared, in which … eight persons were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”. (1st Peter 3:20b-21) Jesus our Lord has “gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him”. (1st Peter 3:22)
We will spend the rest of our time this morning, looking at the sacrament of baptism, according to Holy Scripture and Luther’s Small Catechism and the other parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Now, a sacrament is a sacred act, which contains three elements. First, a sacrament is something commanded and instituted by God. In addition, a sacrament is something in which God has joined His Word of promise to a physical element; such as water, bread, and wine. Finally, a sacrament offers and gives the forgiveness of sins, earned by Christ on the cross. Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper fit this description.
The Augsburg Confession teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation, “that the grace of God is offered through baptism and that children should be baptized”. (Augsburg Confession, Article IX, par. 1) Luther wrote in the Small Catechism, “baptism is not just plain water, but it is water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word”. (Explanation, first part of Baptism) This command is found in several places in Holy Scripture, including at the end of Matthew’s Gospel; where Christ our Lord said, “Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. (Matthew 28:19)
Here, we see that the Triune God Himself instituted Holy Baptism in His Word and in His name. Therefore, let no one doubt it is of divine origin … although it is performed by human hands, it is nevertheless truly God’s own work”. (Large Catechism, Baptism, par. 6, 10) And from the Epistle today, we know that “Baptism now saves you”. (1st Peter 3:21a)
Again, Luther wrote, “Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe 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) These are the first two parts of baptism in the Small Catechism. (Read opening statement, page 268 in LSB)
Now, let us briefly review a couple of the questions that often come up regarding baptism, and what the Word of God has to say about them. First of all, we Lutherans are often asked why we baptize babies and small children. There are at last four clear reasons that are given in Holy Scripture.
First, babies are included in the words “all nations” from Matthew 28. Peter also declares that it is “for every one of you … the promise (given in baptism) is for you and your children”. (Acts 2:38b-39) Second, Jesus specifically invites little children to come to Him, telling the disciples, “do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God”. (Luke 18:16b)
Third, as sinners, babies need what baptism offers, the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life; “for unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”. (John 3:5) Finally, Jesus clearly says that babies can have saving faith, speaking of “little ones who believe in Me”. (Matthew 18:6a)
What about the mode of baptism? In other words, is there a particular way in which the water is applied to the person? In Scripture, the word baptize simply means to apply water and it is used of immersing, dipping, pouring, and sprinkling. Therefore, it is not the amount of water that is used or how it is applied that counts, but that the water is applied using the Word of God; “I baptize you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. Those that would insist that one must or even should be immersed in order to have a legitimate baptism; are contradicting the Word of God by adding to it.
Getting back to the Catechism, the third part of Baptism, deal with the power of baptism and so the question is asked, “How can water do such great things”? As we have already said, it is not just water, but water and the Word. Paul speaks of this in his letter to Titus saying; “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”. (Titus 3:5-8)
The fourth and final part of baptism in the Small Catechism asks; “What does such baptizing with water indicate? Answer; It indicates that the old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die along 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”. This is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans where he wrote, “We were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised form the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”. (Romans 6:4)
In case you may have forgotten, the Old Adam is the sinful nature that we are all born with because of Adam and Eve’s fall into sin. This old nature is to be “killed” in us by daily sorrow over our sins and repentance, by which we overcome evil desires. As Jesus said, “if anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me”. (Luke 9:23) Are you taking up your cross daily, fighting to overcome sinful desires?
Now, we have a new nature, created in us in our baptism, “for if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation”. (2nd Corinthians 5:17) Because we are a new creation, we are now able, not only to fight and overcome sinful desires, but also to do good works and “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4b) “to live before God in righteousness and purity forever”.
Luther concludes, where this amendment of life does not take place, but the old Adam is given free reign and grows stronger, baptism is not being used, but resisted … when we become Christians, the old man daily decreases until he is finally destroyed … for what is repentance, but an earnest attack on the old man and entering upon a new life”. (Large Catechism, par. 68-75)
This is what it means to live in our baptism. This is a struggle for the Christian, every day of our lives, until the day we die. As Paul wrote, “When I want to do right, evil lies close at hand … I see in my members, another law, waging war against the law of my mind … wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me from this body of death”? (Romans 7:21-24) With Paul we confess; “Thanks be to God (who has delivered us) through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Romans 7:25a) Amen.
Close with prayer on page 271 of Baptism liturgy.