Sermon Index
The Third Sunday in Advent, December 14, 2008
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Well, Christmas is coming. Are you ready? House decorated, presents bought, cookies baked, holiday plans made, church services scheduled. But of course, you know that in the church when we ask if you are ready we really mean is if your heart is ready. Do you believe in Jesus as your Savior? Do you believe that he redeemed you from your sin? Do you confess with your lips that he is your Lord and God?
Todayfs Gospel lesson is about John the Baptizer. John reminds us that if we really do believe in Jesus, then the next step is to be baptized. Baptism is not going to the beach on a sunny summer afternoon and splashing in the water. Baptism is not a game. It is not an option where we can decide whether or not to be baptized. In Mark 16:15-16 Jesus says, gGo into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.h There is the great promise of salvation to all who believe and publicly proclaim their faith when they receive Baptism. Baptism is a celebration of salvation, a celebration of death by drowning, the washing away of sin, and the resurrection to a new life in Jesus Christ.
So, the proper preparation for Christmas is baptism, that is, to believe in Jesus as your Savior and be baptized. Then as a saved, redeemed, born-again Christian, we can celebrate the holiday in holiness and understand the true meaning of Christmas.
So, if there is anyone here today that is not baptized, please talk to me after the service about how you too can receive this sacrament of pure grace and salvation.
And to you here today who have already received he sacrament of Baptism, it is time to renew your vows, to renew your promises, and to review the promises of God. In other words, today is a time to utilize the power of Baptism in your life. Whether you were baptized as an adult or a child, baptism has the promise of God: that promise is that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. That is the promise of God, and Godfs promise is stronger than my faith, stronger than my doubts, stronger than my sin, stronger than my failures and stronger than my personal triumphs. Baptism is the work of the Holy Spirit who works in our hearts and in our lives to bring us to faith and keep us in faith.
In the baptismal ceremony, the sign of the cross is made over the person receiving baptism, and then the baptism itself is done in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Our worship service on Sunday morning begins with the words of baptism: in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The words of confession and absolution have power because they proclaim the essence, the meaning of baptism, which is, forgiveness of sin.
In the Catechism, Martin Luther tells us that we should remember our baptism every day. Every day the old sinful person in us should drown and a new person should arise to live with Christ. And when that happens, we have a life that is holy, a life that has a purpose, a life that has triumph, and a life that is ready for the coming of Christ.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church
