Our connection to Christ through Holy Baptism

Perhaps, like me, you’ve been watching the news reports on the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. I watched one report from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that included an interview with a woman who asked people to pray but then added, “But so far God has not stopped the winds.” When terrible disasters happen such as the fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, volcanic eruptions, and so forth, people may wonder why, if He is a God of love, God allows various things to happen that hurt “good, innocent people” as well as the “bad.” On the other hand, there are some who look at these events as signs of God’s impending return as Judge of the living and the dead.

This weekend, we will hear about Jesus being baptized by John as He began His public ministry at the age of about 30 (Luke 3:23). In the midst of calling people to consider their relationship with God and if their attitudes and actions gave evidence of them walking with God or away from Him and to repent of their sins so that God might forgive them, Jesus came and asked to be baptized. Matthew tells us that John didn’t want to baptize Jesus, but instead wanted Jesus to baptize him. After all, Jesus did not need forgiveness, yet John did – forgiveness from the One who had the power to forgive. But Jesus insisted on being baptized in order to “fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15)

In other words, the one who was Immanuel (God with us) came to identify with us and attach Himself and His forgiveness to baptism so that when we are baptized, all that He accomplished becomes ours. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT), “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” You see, before coming as Judge of the living and the dead, He came to be our Savior that we might not be condemned eternally but have eternal life.

The signs around us remind us that the ultimate Judgment Day will come. And, unfortunately, in all of the news reports there is no call to consider one’s relationship with God, repent of what is wrong, and follow Him. And so we do that, inviting people to know Jesus as we do – the one who would save us that we might enjoy life with Him now and for all eternity.

In the water, in the Word, In His promise, be assured:

Those who are baptized and believe Shall be born again.

Father welcomes all His children To His fam’ly through His Son.

Father giving His salvation, Life forever has been won.

LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK #605, verse 2