January 2021
Remembering Your Baptism
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” ~ Matthew 3:16-17
The grace of the Lord T Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,
Remember your baptism. This was the theme of my sermon for the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord on January 10th. Remember your baptism. It is not meant to be an admonishment, but an encouragement. It is a call to remember the promises of God, given to you through baptism – Your new and eternal identity in Christ.
Through Baptism you have been given the forgiveness of sins, so that in Christ heaven is opened to you. Through baptism the Holy Spirit came to you as a gift from our heavenly Father, so that together with all the faithful you can firmly believe and boldly proclaim the mighty works of God’s salvation in Christ Jesus our Savior. Through baptism you were given a new identity, so that through your baptismal unity with Christ, our heavenly Father has adopted you and made you a co-heir with Christ of His heavenly kingdom. Yes, in Christ you are beloved of our heavenly Father and His good pleasure is found in you.
Remember your baptism. It is more than just a reminder that you are a Christian. It is a reminder of God’s love for You in Christ Jesus our Savior. It is a reminder that as a Christian your primary identity is found, not in your ethnicity or nation; it is not found in your gender or occupation; it is not found in your political affiliations or social groups. Your primary and eternal identity is and should always be found in Christ.
The world seems to get stranger and more polarized with each passing day. However, as those who center our identity in Christ and His authority over all things we need not be troubled or worried. Rather, God is calling us to become more firm in our baptismal identity, and to look for the opportunities He gives us each day to unapologetically and faithfully live out our faith in Christ. Yes, in these strange times (perhaps now more than ever) our neighbors, our families, and we ourselves benefit greatly when we remember our baptism.
When you were baptized, the Triune name of God (Father T Son and Holy Spirit) was placed upon you. Anytime you hear or say the Triune name of God you are blessed with the opportunity to remember your baptism. As we enter 2021, I encourage you to invoke the Triune name of God at the beginning of your daily prayers (when you wake up, at meal time, when you go to sleep, etc.) Begin your prayers, in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you may also want to make the sign of the cross upon yourself as an added physical reminder of your baptism.
Remembering your baptism is one small thing you can do to find strength and courage to graciously face whatever the world may throw at you. Remember the promises of God. Remember your identity in Christ - you are a forgiven, Holy Spirit filled, heir of God’s Kingdom. Remember your baptism.
Living forever, now,
Pastor Michael James Grannis
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:18-20