This was not the sermon for the 2nd Sunday in Lent 2011, but it is a Lenten sermon about Holy Baptism. Yes, “Holy Baptism”. Baptism is an act that God performs for us, so it is set apart for God’s special purpose, which more than qualifies it to be “Holy”.
Yesterday while driving to church, my wife and I were listening to a radio preacher who has a program called ‘The Jesus Christ Show’, where he speaks and takes caller’s questions as though he were the person of Jesus Christ. He says things like this, “I walked on the water in order to…” Anyway, a caller called in to ask about baptism, infant baptism, etc., and this radio preacher proceeded to demolish baptism as an act of God and made the thing into into an act of faith on the part of believer. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. This heretic radio preacher proceeded to rob the assurance, that God wants His children to have, right from under them. It was sickening. But hey, that’s what Southern Baptist (non-denominational) preachers do, they turn the whole thing (Christian faith) into a spiritual ladder climbing project that focuses on ‘your faith’, ‘your seriousness’, ‘your feelings’, ‘your whatevers’. It always ends up that way.
Here’s a sermon that explains Holy Baptism:
click here > The Baptism of Jesus
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For those of you expecting to hear yesterday’s sermon, the master (CD) was inadvertantly taken home by a parishoner. Once I get it back, I’ll put it up for you.
If anyone wants to defend heretical forms of baptism such as “believer’s baptism”, feel free to chime in. We may not love heresies, but we love heretics, and we’re always happy to fill you in on what the Bible has to say about these bones of contention that we have together.
And we are not afraid to do a little theology in order to make the Bible more clear in bringing forth Christ and His great love for sinners.
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Thanks to flickr and Travis S. for the photo.
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Filed under: Assurance, Baptism, Pastor Mark Anderson, Sermon |
The Old Adam Lives! 
so you’re saying baptism is less about a statement of faith and more a way that God transforms believers? I’m not picking you apart – I just want to understand what the significance of baptism is in your view, as it wasn’t totally clear in the post.
It’s not about a statement of faith, at all.
Jesus commanded that we baptize. He was not into empty religious ritual for rituals sake. He commanded it, so He’s in it, doing something for us.
He adopts us in Baptism. He gives us His name, He gives us the assurance that He is always for us. He forgives our sin in Baptism (Acts 2:38) or (3:28 – I always get that transposed). He gives us the Holy Spirit in Baptism.
St. Paul says in Romans 6 that God puts us to death (the sinful self) in Baptism, and raises us to new life.
Just a few, for now. I’m late and have to head out the door.
I’ll check back when I get in alter this afternoon.
Thanks, Charlie.
– Steve
I got permission to re-post this comment originally made by Stephen at :
http://www.geneveith.com/2011/03/18/the-calvinist-case-against-lutheranism/
I thought Stephen stated the Lutheran position quite well, indeed.
by Stephen
“The gospel which a Calvinist finds “extra nos” is no gospel. It sees this Christ who is outside the believer only as mirror of the sanctified, obedient believer in which is to be found assurance of election. This is to put on Christ as example – in your words “appropriated in someone’s life.” But this is not the gospel which actually saves, for again, it locates the truth within the believing individual for its certainty – in works of obedience to law, and thus making the gospel into law. There is no cross, no mercy, no Christ “for me.” And it is also not certain, because the human realm is always broken by sin. This is the fallacy that some finally discover as their efforts to appropriate the “example” fail them, and why many flee such false doctrine, inoculated forever against true faith in Christ alone. This kind of faith is old Adam faith, and it cannot offer assurance because it depends upon experience which is always uncertain, headed for the grave. Such a difference is anything but subtle.”
“Lutherans (ideally) do not trust in their ability to appropriate anything. They trust in the promise made to them in Christ alone sealed in their baptism. We believe and trust in the mercy of God in Christ for our salvation and nothing else. The only “evidence” of faith is found where God has placed it – in Word and Sacrament. This is truly extra nos, independent of any act of believing. Where Christ is, there is life and salvation.”