It’s Friday
It’s Friday…
It is raining…
Are you all wet?
Are you at least wet behind the ears?
All of the above, I hope!
Never grow up or out of being what you were made into in your baptism. Never leave that place.
But didn’t Paul say that when he was a “11 …child, I spoke as a child” and “understood as a child,” and “thought as a child,” but then when he “became a man,” he, put away”. [1 Corinthians 13:11].
And didn’t the writer of the Hebrews say:
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Hebrews 6:1-2
St. Paul also says:
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness; 20 and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are futile.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20
And:
20 Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking….
1 Corinthians 14:20
Yes, but this does not mean we are to ever dry off…
Not from that. We are THE BAPTIZED!
It is a state of being made by God Himself.
The problem is few understand it correctly. I have heard it said that Lutherans believe that “once baptized always saved”! That Lutherans cannot lose their state of Grace.
Not so. You can walk away from the gifts and calling of God. The baptized can walk into hell.
However, a question many people often ask about forgiveness, is connected to these things.
We know that Jesus died for the sins of the world—past, present and future. So why then do we ask for forgiveness, daily and many times on each Sunday? Why do we get forgiven each Sunday, and this multiple times?
Yes, we do! I the Absolution, in the Words of the Liturgy, in the Readings, in the Sermon, in the Prayers, and in the Lord’s Supper. Grace upon Grace!
What did Jesus tell Peter when Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet? When Peter wanted to have Jesus wash his entire body? Jesus said that Peter was already clean! From what? Baptism, of course! And that only his feet needed washing.
Why? Because we are still walking in this dirty, sin-filled world. They get filthy! We need to walk in that flowing river that comes out of the side of the temple of God! (See Ezekiel’s vision of the temple in the desert and John 4:14). See the water mixed with blood that came out of Jesus’ side, the rock that is Christ that follows with us in the desert in this valley of the shadow of death.
These are applications of our baptisms. Making the sign of the cross, we are to recall this. I am baptized, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. I need this cleansing much as I sin much, even still.
This is not a childish thing. This is not “laying again the foundation of repentance” (unless it needs to be!), but applying it as it should be. Daily. Multiple times.
Common practice was morning, mid-day and evening. These are the prayer times of the Old Testament church as the early church.
A good thing to put into practice once again this Lententide.
This Lent, but Sunday is almost here…
Then we will be forgiven 6 ways to Sunday! (On Sunday? During Sunday? Always wondered about that saying…but you get my meaning….)
It will be a feast day that is laid out in the midst of our enemies by the Lord Jesus Himself.
All making ready for the main course to come…
Our Easter rising…
This coming Sunday – Oculi Sunday (3nd Sunday in Lent) – March 8th – 2026
Old Testament – 2 Samuel 22:1-7
Psalm – 4
Epistle – Ephesians 5:1-9
Gospel – Luke 11:14-28
Sermon – THE KINGDOM HAS COME UPON US – based on Gospel reading – Luke 11:14-28
Prayers: For a lasting peace in our world and in our cities—especially Minneapolis! That a lasting one would remain between the people of Israel and Gaza as well as for the people of Russia and the Ukraine. That the people of Iran would be free from tyranny and that the evil there would be put down. For our congregation that it would please our Lord that we would increase in numbers and there remain in this place a congregation that calls upon Him rightly, practicing the faith according to the Scriptures. For those who are being persecuted and murdered because they call upon the name of Jesus—especially in Africa. For the end of violence in our cities and that our schools and congregations would be protected from those who wish them harm. For our families that parents would courageously discipline their children and raise them in the fear of the Lord, teaching them about salvation in Jesus alone.
On Baptism from Luther…
For that purpose Christ instituted holy baptism, thereby to clothe you with his righteousness. It is tantamount to his saying, My righteousness shall be your righteousness; my innocence, your innocence. Your sins indeed are great, but by baptism I bestow on you my righteousness; I strip death from you and clothe you with my life.
I [i.e., God] have given you baptism as a gift for the forgiveness of sins, and preach to you unceasingly by word of mouth concerning this treasure, sealing it with the Sacrament of my body and blood, so that you need never doubt. True, it seems little and insignificant that by the washing of water, the Word, and the Sacrament this should all be effected. But don’t let your eyes deceive you.