August 29, 2023
Dear Friends,
There are lots of people who are baptized, but they’re no longer Christian.
Does that mean that Baptism is ineffective? A waste? Do we give too much credit to Baptism when we say that “it works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this”?
A couple of things to note here:
1) Whatever we say about Baptism has to be what the Bible says about Baptism. So, we dare not say that Baptism is ineffective. After all, “Baptism, which corresponds to [the flood], now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).
2) Whatever we say about faith has to be what the Bible says about faith. For instance, Paul writes about the Jews, who had all the promises of God, but they departed from the faith. “What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar” (Romans 3:3-4).
So here’s the story: Baptism gives all the gifts promised by God, including faith in the Lord Jesus. Some, tragically, depart from the faith. Think about the parable of the sower in which some seed is sown on the rocks and so, though it sprouts up, it has no roots and withers under persecution. Or some is sown among the thorns and, though it starts well, it is choked out by the cares and pleasures of life.
Just like with any gift, the gift of Baptism can be squandered or discarded. Imagine you were given a precious family heirloom as a baby. A beautiful watch. It’s to be hoped that as you grow older you also grow in your appreciation for that watch. You learn the story of the one to whom it belonged. You see its value as more than just so many parts and workings. Its value is the heritage it symbolizes.
You can also imagine someone who, instead of appreciating the gift, grows disdainful of that same watch. It’s a trinket, and in a pinch, it gets pawned, and the gift has been discarded.
Or you can imagine someone who is never shown the watch. He doesn’t know it exists, so he cannot treasure it and one day it is simply lost.
The gifts of Baptism are just like such a gift. They’re a treasure, and we’re meant to grow in our appreciation for them as we grow in maturity. But you can easily imagine lots of reasons that doesn’t happen.
Here’s the key: It’s never because something is lacking in Baptism or the faithfulness of God. It is always because of human faithlessness. And that’s tragic, and we should earnestly lament it anytime someone neglects or discards the gifts of Baptism.
But here’s the great hope. The long-suffering, merciful, and faithful love of God in Christ Jesus means that the gifts of Baptism can be regained through repentance and faith. Just as the prodigal son returned and was not treated as a servant and not regarded as a scoundrel, so also, all of God’s children are always welcome home. Pray earnestly that God would bring back all his lost sheep!
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Tuesday, September 5 @ 7pm – LWML Meeting
Sunday, September 10 – Sunday School begins!
Wednesday, September 13 @ 5:30-7pm – Family Night
Thursday, September 14 @ 6/7pm – Elders’/Council Meeting
Wednesday, September 20 @ 6pm – Small Catechism Class
Saturday, September 23 – Pork Chop Dinner