Adapted from my sermon the day Brad, age 29, was baptized.
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(…continued) There was one more necessary step. Church was not yet a part of Brad’s life.
A few months ago, Brad and Sheila met Mike and Patti from our congregation, and they became good friends. Brad said he was struck by how their two new friends were so active in their church and so willing to talk about their faith. An invitation was made, Brad and Sheila visited here for worship a few months ago, they have been here every Sunday since then; and here we are today. Brad and Sheila and I had several visits over these months, and when I asked him if he wanted to be baptized, he said he was ready. So today, Brad made a public declaration of his faith, and in the water and the Word, he received God’s eternal promise. Brad, we praise and thank God for his work in your life, and we welcome you and Sheila into our church family.
In Matthew chapter 28 Jesus sent his disciples into all the world; telling them to make disciples of all nations, to teach, and to baptize, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Ever since Jesus spoke those words two thousand years ago, the family of God on earth has been growing just like it did here today; by one changed life, one baptism at a time.
As for our differences in how and when to baptize, the most important thing to remember is to keep the focus on Jesus. Many Lutherans make the mistake of emphasizing their baptism, and not emphasizing faith in and obedience to Jesus. Many Baptists will want to tell you so much about the date, time, place, and details of their ‘decision’ for Jesus, that Jesus can become the second most important part of the story.
Jesus commanded us to be baptized and to baptize. That much is clear, and we all agree on that. The details of when and how are not as clear, and that is why we have always had all these differences. But the main thing in Baptism is Jesus, and if we all keep our eyes on Jesus, we will be all right.
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Matthew 28:18-20 — Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:16 – (Jesus said), “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Acts 2:38 — Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 16:29-33 – The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “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 household were baptized.
Romans 6:1-4 — What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
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Almighty God, grant that we, who have been redeemed from the old life of sin by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, may be redeemed in your Holy Spirit to live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–Lutheran Book of Worship (#200), 1978.
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O Lord our God, grant us the grace to desire you with our whole heart; that so desiring you, we may seek and find you; and in finding you, we may know and love you; and in loving you, we may hate those sins that separate us from you; and in obeying in you, we may rejoice. And if in this life we cannot do these things fully, grant that we may at least progress in them from day to day.
–St. Anselm (1033-1109), Archbishop of Canterbury
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O God, we give thanks to you that your Son Jesus Christ, who has shared our earthly life, has now ascended to prepare our heavenly life. Grant that through knowing Him by faith on earth, we may come to know him by sight in heaven. Amen.
–Gelasian Sacramentary (8th century)
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