Isaiah 43:1-7; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 3:15-22
This morning’s sermon is going to be a little different as we celebrate the Baptism of Christ. I say a little different because as we look at Jesus Baptism, and by way of that, our own baptism and what it means to us, we’ll find that each of our Bible lessons (Isaiah and Romans, and of course, the Gospel from Luke) has very important things to teach us and tell us. So instead of having one sermon, we’re going to have three little sermons following each of the readings. The theme that unites all these little sermons is going to be found in the first verse of the Isaiah reading: “I have called you by name, you are mine.”
So with that being said, let’s hear our first reading (INSERT ISAIAH 43:1-7)
So you may be asking, “What do these verses have to do with Baptism?” And that would be a good question! These verses are important because they help us understand something very fundamental, even foundational to any talk of what Baptism is, and means, and does. And that boils down to one very important word: RELATIONSHIP.
The truth is that God takes his relationship with his people very seriously, he always has. In fact, he created this universe, and galaxy, and solar system, and planet, and all the plants, and animals, the sun, the moon, the oceans, and every plain and valley, because of his love for you, and his desire to have a relationship with you. Think about that. None of this is an accident. You are no accident, or some lucky roll of the evolutionary dice. You were created by a creator. You were knit together in your mother’s womb as Psalm 139 says. And God wants to know you, to have you know him, to be in relationship with one another.
These verses from Isaiah are so amazing because God wants his people all the way back in the Isaiah’s day to know this, and to be reminded of this. And not because they have been so wonderfully awesome and Godly, not at all! God wants them to know how much he loves them right in the middle of their worst hour. In the chapter right before our reading, God has Isaiah speak to the spiritual deafness, and blindness of his people, and how they have openly, and brashly sinned against the God.
But he them immediately has these words for them. But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
What God is saying is, I know what you’ve done, I know your sin, I know you’ve turned from me, but I STILL claim you as my own. I STILL proudly tell the world that it is I who created you, and formed you. EVEN NOW I want you to know that I redeemed you and saved you. EVEN NOW I have called you by name, and know who you are, YOU ARE MINE.
Do you see what I mean when I say that God takes his relationship with you so seriously? And God’s love isn’t like any other kind of love. His relationship, his love for you isn’t something that comes and goes, or rises and falls. His love for you is like the relentless waves of the ocean, that day after day, hour after hour, come crashing down on shore as they have since God created the oceans, and will until he takes you home.
Relationship with God is something you have because of God’s love for you. It’s what you have because of Christ death to pay for your sins. It’s what you have because Christ rose from the dead never to die again, and to open to you the way of eternal life. If you think, not of your best day, but of the day, of the moment when you were most ashamed, where you felt the heaviest weight of sin, where you felt more lost than you ever had. It is in this exact moment when God said to you, and says to you, what he said to his people so many years ago. “You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you… Fear not, for I am with you.” Amen.
Now for our Second Reading (INSERT ROMANS 6:1-11)
When we begin to understand how seriously God takes his relationship with us, we begin to understand how important baptism is, and the blessings that God gives us in our baptism are. Over the history of Christianity, there have been many instances where people have lost sight of what is really important about Baptism, and have argued or focused too much on details, or myths, or human opinions.
For a number of years, many people saw baptism not as being about a relationship or repentance and forgiveness with God, but rather a simple act that was only meant to cover sins committed before a person was baptized. If that is your belief, when would be the best time to get baptized? That’s right, just before you die. What’s the problem with that? Also right, we don’t know exactly when that is going to be a lot of times! There have been controversies over whether people sprinkle water, or dunk in water. Others focus too much on the idea of people making a commitment to God in baptism, and not enough on the commitment that God makes to us. My favorite error, if you can say that, is back in early Irish Christian history, when babies were submerged for baptism, but for boy babies, someone would hold their right arm out of the water, so when they were older, they would still be good fighters. All these are interesting, but they miss the main point.
So what is the main point, well, we just heard about that in Romans. Baptism is one means by which God connects us to himself; God connects our story, to his story. Romans says it so beautifully: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.
This isn’t a casual relationship, or mere acquaintance with God! God says in Baptism we are baptized, made a part of his death for sins, and his resurrection from the dead to life eternal. God actually gives us a newness of life! He gives us hope in place of our hopelessness, forgiveness and holiness in the place of our sin, and the fullness of life in the place of eternal death.
In short, your baptism is an amazing gift, and one that you should not take for granted. It is a gift that means as much to you, and you faith, and you life today as it did the day you were baptized, and it will mean that much to you for all eternity. You baptism was never about what you did for God, but rather all about what Christ has done, for you. It has always been about Christ’s death on the cross, his resurrection from the dead, and his unrelenting love for you.
The question has been asked to me many times, “Can a person be saved without baptism?” The answer is, “yes.” If you look at the thief on the cross, he repented of his sins, and asked for Christ’s mercy, and what did Christ say? “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” In Mark 16 we read: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” Saying essentially, belief and baptism are meant to go together for salvation, but there is no mentioned of being condemned for not being baptized, only for rejecting faith.
But you can see where this question misses the point! It treats baptism like a law deal, or something you HAVE to do. And this isn’t the right focus. Baptism is a gift, an ongoing gift, a gift in which God works faith in us, and strengthens faith, and connects us to him and all he’s done for us. Why wouldn’t we WANT to be baptized? Why shouldn’t we be thankful for this gift, and gladly receive it, and baptize babies, and children, and adults, and grandparents. It’s ALL ABOUT what God has done for us, and given us, and the gracious plans he has for us. It’s all about God saying to you, “I have called you by name, your are mine.” AMEN
And Now, let’s hear our final reading, the account of Jesus himself being baptized (INSERT LUKE 3:15-22)
At the start of this reading, we meet up with John the Baptist preaching about the coming Messiah, and proclaiming how worthy, and powerful the Messiah will be, and then we learn that Jesus the Messiah has arrived on the scene and has come to be baptized HIMSELF by John. Luke’s account is short and sweet, but moving and powerful nonetheless: “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Now there is so much that can be said about Jesus baptism, and also lot’s of questions. Why was Jesus baptized? Obviously he didn’t need forgiveness, or to be connected any more directly to God the Father. So what is going on here?
What we see happening is that Jesus, at a specific time, and a specific point in history is marking the beginning of his mission. He is marking the starting point of his ministry to the World to be the Savior of the world, the hope of the lost, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. And what he is doing is connecting his baptism, his life, his death, to all the baptisms that had taken place at John’s hand, and all the baptisms that would take place in all of time. Yours and mine included.
And the great gift of witnessing Jesus baptism through Luke’s Gospel, is that once again you see how important God’s relationship with you. All three persons of the Holy Trinity are present in one place at one time, and what does the Father say, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” It is a miracle!
But what happened in your baptism is no less a miracle by any means. Your baptism was filled with Jesus and connected you to him, Your baptism was filled with the Holy Spirit and marked the start of his work in your life, your baptism was witnessed by your Heavenly Father, the creator of heaven and earth, who smiled and said of you, exactly what he said of Jesus, “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.”
One great gift about your baptism was that it happened. It really happened, in a real place, at a real point in history, with real water, and the real Word of God. And I think God designed baptism this way, because he knew that we would need this assurance sometimes. Sometimes we have doubts, sometimes we come to church and hear about God’s forgiveness, and his grace, and we wonder, “can it really be for me?” Sometimes we receive holy absolution for our sins, but we think to ourselves, “I still FEEL guilty, am I still guilty, does God still love me?” It happens to all of us? We almost start arguing with God.
But what if I asked you what you had for breakfast? (ask someone). You had__________ for breakfast. What if I said to you, “no you didn’t!” Could I win that argument in your mind? Could I convince you otherwise? Of course not, you KNOW what really happened! Because it happened in a real place, in real time, it was a truly historical event!
The same is true of your baptism. If Satan ever tempts you to doubt that God loves you, if you ever find yourself doubting of God still calls you his child, if you ever think for one moment that God no longer cares or can’t forgive you, think of your baptism. You were baptized in the name of God, the WHOLE name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It really happened.
And what also really happened is that all of God gave you a name that day as well, God said, you are MY BELOVED CHILD. And he doesn’t change his mind. Remember that, not just on your good days, but on your awful days too. Thank God that you are baptized, because it means something. And if you aren’t come talk to me, and let’s fix that soon.
What a joy to know that God says to you, “I have called you by name, you are mine”
Amen
