Romans 6:1-11.                 Live your baptism??                                        25/6/17

{1) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? {2} By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? {3} Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? {4} We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. {5} If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. {6} For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- {7} because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. {8} Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. {9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. {10} The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. {11} In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Here this morning we have a most challenging and yet a most encouraging message for us to consider carefully. It has much to say to us and to the church today. It has much to say to those who are seeking after an easy, soft Christianity, where we can have and do what we want.

It challenges those who think that they can presume on God’s grace and it doesn’t matter how they live and act in relation to their fellow human being. It also challenges those who think that we can attract members by giving them a soft, feel-good, all-tolerant accepting church.

Yet it is most encouraging to those who are burdened by their weaknesses and the failures of humanity and facing death or a life that seems to be ‘death warmed up.’ It helps us to focus our attention where it needs to be. It points us to the sure and certain hope that we have as a result of our baptisms.

I believe we desperately need to hear this message today, for much of our life we focus on ourselves and the world around us; even when it comes to the Christian faith and life. “I have my faith; therefore, I can do [whatever].” Our faith and life is centred in ourselves.

Here are some examples that we hear regularly. ‘I believe in Jesus Christ, so it doesn’t matter if I do things that are wrong’ ‘Surely I have every right to get even with someone who has wronged me.’ ‘We mustn’t speak out against error: after all, they have their understanding of the truth.’ ‘Don’t you tell me what I can or cannot do; after all we live in the freedom of the gospel.’ ‘I don’t need to go to church regularly, or Bible Study, or even desire to know the truth, because I think I am doing OK.’ ‘We must liven up our church services or else we will lose our young ones.’ ‘We mustn’t insist on people holding to the same beliefs that we have.’ And the list goes on and on.

We all too often want everything to fit into our own criteria of what we believe is right and good. We want to make and find our own life. We want to live life to the full, and have that which we believe is good for us. After all, life and living is what it is all about; us and our happiness is paramount. Surely that is what God wants for you and me.

Yet the reality of life is far different. The more we hanker after life and its pleasure; and the more that we strive after the ideal life; the more we find that we are left short; over and over again. We want our life to go well for us, but we experience pain and frustration: we want love and acceptance and are left more and more alone: we search for fulfilment and find only meaninglessness and emptiness. The more that we strive for the things of life that we want, the more we experience the opposite. We long for life and only find death. We are living, walking death; and we are totally unable to make any sort of life for ourselves.

But then, as we come to this understanding of life, we are pointed to exactly the opposite. We are pointed to the baptismal font.  We are pointed to that fact that there we are drowned and died, but have in that been given life – eternal life with God. There we find that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

So as we as death-bound sinners come to the baptismal font we are connected to Jesus and all that he had done for us on the cross. There we were drowned; killed with Jesus Christ for that sin and to that sinful nature that clings so closely to us. There we are given the new life of Christ. Just as surely as he rose from the dead, so we also are assured that this new life of Jesus Christ is ours. Our whole life and living is now found in him and in him alone.

Our old life and orientation in life was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. We have been freed from sin; that means, that life that has to strive in order to have what we want. We have been freed to be able to have the life that God knows should be there for us. In connection with Jesus Christ it is now ours already. Completely! Fully!

‘But; but ….’ I can hear you say; ‘Where is it? Where is this new and good life?’ Where, in this world, do we find that which we so desperately need?

 Look again at the baptismal font; it is there in our connection with Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection. When Jesus walked this earth, did he have life good and easy? I think not! And he certainly didn’t promise us that it would be the case for us either. In fact, he said that we could expect quite the opposite.

Along with that he says; as we bear our cross, doing what he would have us be doing, he will be using it all for good; that is for people’s soul’s salvation and eternal life. And we are able to bear it all because we now have the full assurance that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. So also, it will be the case for us. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Along with that assurance and knowing that we are now connected in Christ, we now take note of those next words that are spoken. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

That surely is now the positive challenge then that we have before us today: To count ourselves dead to that old self-centred, I want to do my own thing and get my own way, type of attitude. That surely is not what is important to us. We are a part of something infinitely better; and it is guaranteed for us. We can now acknowledge the depravity of life that we experience, and now be able to look to that which is far better.

So we are now alive to God in Christ: that means we will want him to have his way in our lives, at all times. He and what he says and wants is what will be all important in our lives. As we do allow him to have his way we will find the life that is needed. God himself will work great things, for his kingdom. In that we will find all the meaning, satisfaction and purpose that is needed for us as we live out our lives in the midst of a sinful, hurting world.

So, shall we go on living as if we are the centre of the world?   By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? We know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

We therefore, now, know that we are dead. Our life as we selfishly want it to be, counts for nothing. No longer do we find, chase, or make our own life. It is nothing. What is important is the life that we are now baptised into; Jesus Christ. There we find the life that we truly need, and which gives all that is necessary for us as we live out our lives every day.

Jesus Christ is surely the centre of our world and the centre of our activity; whether that is at home, at work or when we are with our friends. As we focus on that life that we have in and with Jesus Christ we will find that all our petty selfishnesses are nothing and mean nothing. We have something far more important; and far more life-giving.

Even though we may still experience all kind of weaknesses, hurts and tragedies we can know for sure that they are not the end of the story. Nothing that happens in our lives, is now bad for us. For God is using it all for good – either our good or the good of others. Nothing now can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

So now we can go forward, boldly and confidently. We face everything, knowing that since we are united with Jesus Christ the future is certain. Our troubles and hardships are but a brief interlude, before an eternity in heaven with our great God, there to enjoy the very best of everything.

So let us remember, daily, our baptism and what God has done for us in it. Then let us go forward to live this new life that is given to us; all the while giving all glory and honour to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to whom it belongs, now and for all eternity. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish