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Proper 19 Trinity Lutheran Church
14 September 2008 Murdock, NE
+ Jesu Juva +
Matthew 28:19-20
Baptism of Ellie Jane Woodshank
“Make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Those are the Lord’s words. His mandate and institution words.
Holy Baptism is the Lord’s gift. With the water comes the Holy Name. The Divine Name. The Triune Name. “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Ellie was gifted with the Triune Name today at the font.
Are you baptized? Then God has put His Name on you too.
Please note that God’s Name is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And sinners for whom Jesus died are to be baptized with water in that Name. And that Name only.
I’ve got news for you. Someone who is “baptized” with water in the Name of God the Mother, God the Daughter and God the Child is NOT BAPTIZED. Mother, Daughter, Child: that’s not God’s Name. What about: “I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer, and of the Sanctifier?” Or: “I baptize you in the name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer?” What does Jesus say? He mandates that Baptism be done “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That’s God’s Name. He gives it to sinners in Baptism.
Ellie is baptized. We know that for sure. Because it was done according to the Lord’s bidding. According to His mandate and institution.
And since Ellie is baptized in God’s Name, she is baptized by God Himself. That’s why Baptism is holy. It is God’s own work. God’s own gift. His own giving. He speaks. We listen. He gives. We receive. A holy gift from Him. A remarkable gift. His most holy Name.
The Holy Trinity has made Himself accessible to Ellie and to you. She doesn’t have to take a rocket ship to the outer rim of the Milky Way Galaxy to try and find God. God found her / you. God came to her / you. Where? At the font. With His Name. God gives Himself in all His fullness to her / you with His Name.
For with His Name He is there. “Lo, I am with you always,” Jesus promises. And Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior, is never without His Father and your Father. And Jesus is never without the Holy Spirit who proceeds from both the Father and the Son.
Where God gives His Name – He’s there. And in Holy Baptism He’s there for you. For Ellie too.
So Ellie doesn’t have to try to get to heaven. Heaven came down to her as a gift. That’s right. Paradise is her treasure right now. All given with the Triune Name. With the Triune Name put on her in Holy Baptism heaven broke wide open for Ellie. And all of heaven’s gifts.
And to put it quite simply that’s salvation. God’s saving Name is in Holy Baptism. God’s saving Name is given in Holy Baptism. And where God’s saving Name is, there is life and salvation for sinners. For you. For me. For Ellie.
No wonder St. Paul describes Baptism as a “washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3). With God’s Saving Name the water of Baptism is a life giving water. Rich in grace.
Baptism and salvation go together. Jesus Himself promises in Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” To be saved is nothing else than to be rescued from sin, death and the devil. To be forgiven by God’s grace. To be given all the benefits of Christ’s dying and rising. And to be given the Holy Spirit with all His gifts. To be saved is nothing else than to be brought in to Christ’s kingdom of forgiveness in order to live with Him forever.
Until the forever living with Him, there’s the living with Him right now.
And for that, there’s the proper use of one’s Baptism. Kristi and Joe, how will you teach Ellie to use her Baptism? Members of Trinity, how do you use your Baptism?
That’s easy. It’s a daily kind of thing. Daily we sin. Daily we sin much. And so the old Adam by daily contrition and repentance must be put to death. Drowned and die with all sin and evil desires. Why? So that the new man, the person of faith, will daily emerge and arise to live before God in Christ’s forgiveness. Daily dying to sin. Daily rising to new life through faith in Christ. Death. Resurrection.
Kristi and Joe, teach Ellie to draw strength and comfort from Holy Baptism. When her sins, conscience, or the devil accuse her or you, what do you dare teach her to say? It’s this: “Oh, yes, I am a sinner. Big time. I have sinned. This is what I have done. This is what I’ve left undone. But Jesus has died for me. Go talk to Him! He says I’m forgiven. And in addition I am baptized! God put His Holy Name on me. And since I am baptized I have the promise that I am saved and have eternal life in Jesus. Take that sin! Take that devil! My conscience is free. Jesus reigns there. So get lost sin and devil. Jesus is my Lord!”
Happy Baptism Day Ellie! Happy using your Baptism for your comfort and joy!
In the Name of Jesus.
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