But I am Baptized!
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(Galatians 3:26-27)
Many years ago, I was very nearly in a plane crash. There was an issue with the landing gear, and the pilot could not confirm that it had properly lowered. As we made our final approach, we were ordered to assume “crash positions” with our heads by our knees. The poor woman next to me, whom I did not know, grabbed my leg so tightly in fear that she nearly drew blood. It was quite an experience!
The experience was one of the first times in my life when I realized that I was actually OK if things didn’t turn out well. In that moment, I was reminded of something that Martin Luther used to say quite often in the face of danger: “But, I am baptized!”.
Whenever he was confronted with a challenge in life, or when satan reminded him of past sins, he simply repeated to himself “but… I am Baptized”.
The power in your Baptism is something amazing. Baptism isn’t a profession of your faith. It is an act of God in your life. This is why baptism is regarded as sacred and a sacrament. God moves in you, changes you, and seals you in that moment forever.
From the instant you are baptized, only forgiveness and eternity await. You are, to God, seen as a part of Christ. You have “put on” His righteousness, and His eternity.
This is why we often say that we are adopted as sons and daughters of God – and why we call one another brothers and sisters in Christ.
As you go through whatever life may throw at you today, I want to encourage you to use the saying by Luther boldly. Is satan reminding you of sin, you are baptized and forgiven. Is there are medical problem you are facing, you are baptized, and eternity awaits. Are you worried about what will happen in your life next, You Are Baptized!
God will always take care of His children as the loving Father He is. Draw strength from the work God has done in you. It only gets better from here.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Patrick