Lent 2021 - Holy Baptism (Belt)

Week 5 – Holy Baptism

March 15 – Pastor Belt

Having seen our lack, seen God’s giving, asked for what God gives in prayer.  The rest of the catechism shows us how we receive what we ask for what God gives in order to fill our lack.

            Baptism is the first place to begin.  We are born again.  We enter God’s kingdom because God gives us his Spirit who makes us holy and forgives us our sins. (that is three petitions of the Lord’s prayer right there.)

            Baptism is a Sacrament.  You can see the word, ‘sacred’ in it.  The Greek word for Sacrament is “Mystery.”

            Baptism is God at work.  It is not you at work.  You are not professing your loyalty to God.  He is giving you Himself.  You are given the name of God, you are marked as His.

            Baptism is Jesus Christ’s idea.  He told us to do it.  It is not just plain water.  It is water combined with God’s Word.

            That water is Jesus Christ incarnate.  And where Jesus is and appears, he does his stuff to you.  Baptism gives to you what Christ won for you on the cross.

            Baptism regenerates you, forgives you, and restores you.  Our response to this is faith.  Faith clings to the Work of God and trusts that it has been done for you.

            Baptism is valid when it is done as God wants with his Word.  Baptism is beneficial when you trust and believe that in Baptism Jesus is saying to you what he said to the thief on the cross: today you will be with me in paradise.

            Baptism does all this because it does Jesus Christ to you.  You died with Jesus in your baptism.  You were buried with him.  You were raised with him.  Jesus’ life and story is now your life and story.

            This means that although Baptism is not your work but God’s work on you and to you, that there is work for us to do in baptism.  Baptism is not a once and done event.  It is always who you are.  You are baptized, not were baptized.  What is this work?  To confess your sins and be forgiven.  This is how you return to your baptism and remember it.  We turn to that next time.

March 16
Read Mark 9

March 17
Read the Baptism section in the Catechism and the following readings. Attend Divine Service.

Acts 2:22-41
Psalm 51
1 Peter 3:18-22
Matthew 28:16-20