The Bible: Part 3 The Modern Translations
Baptism Is Regeneration
Baptism is Regeneration
Opening Hymn #355
O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide
Vespers p.229
Psalm 85
Office Hymn #341
Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates
Scripture Lessons
Titus 3:4-7 Baptism is the Washing of Regeneration
Luke 2:15-20 The Shepherds Visit Jesus
Advent Responsory 230
Your Word is a light to my feet and
a light to my path
Sermon
Baptism is the Washing of Regeneration
Canticle p.231
Magnificat (Mary’s Song)
Prayer p.233
Closing Hymn 350
Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come
Midweek Sermon
December 19, 2018
Titus 3:4-7
Baptism Is Regeneration
Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Holy Spirit has written: But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, He saved us, having been justified by His grace. Thus far the text.
Let us pray: Gracious Father, You are kind and loving, save us through the blood of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
We focus on how Jesus comes to us today. Yes, Jesus came to us at the first Christmas. Yes, Jesus will come to us at His Second Coming on the Last Day. But also, yes, Jesus comes to us now through the means of the Holy Spirit, which is the Word of God.
What kind of God is our Father does this? A kind and loving God.
God is always kind for the sake of Jesus. Even though He is Almighty God He is first kind to all His creation. His Word is powerful and effective but in Jesus that Word is also kind to you.
Our Father has spoken, saying,
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
Our Father kindly gave us 13 inches of snow a few weeks ago. The snow blanketed the ground. God gave it for a good purpose. All the trees and flowers, which look dead, continue to grow and extend roots during the winter.
Our Father kindly gives us two services a week in Advent. The living and active Word blankets our body and soul. It doesn’t seem to have an effect on us, like the snow did not seem to have an effect on the trees and flowers. But you continue to grow in Jesus Christ. Yes, God is kind.
Our Father loves you very much. You sin and He takes care of you. Dogs exhibit this characteristic if I may use them as an example. A dog lives to love the leader of the pack, you. A dog knows when its people are hurt or down or joyful and responds lovingly to you. It protects you when in danger. When you get angry at your pet dog, it does not hold it against you. And so your almighty Father loves all who believe in His Son Jesus Christ.
Our Father is kind and loving. That is why He is called the God of grace. Grace is kindness and love given away to those who need it.
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,
Our Father’s kindness and love is not about you. It is about Jesus Christ for you. Jesus is the working Word of God, who became flesh. Jesus is the working Word of God, who dwelt among us. Jesus saves you by His work of dying and rising. He saves you from your works so that you might believe in Him.
How are you saved? It is the work of God that you are saved from your unbelief. What shall you do to do the works of God? Jesus answers, ‘The work of God (not you) but the work of God is this: Believe in Jesus’ (John 6:28-29). Believe that Jesus did the work to save you.
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior
Jesus is the working Word of God. He now washes you with the Holy Spirit. Part of the Great Commission is this: Baptize (wash) all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You are washed by the working, watery Word and the Holy Spirit. Jesus works. The Holy Spirit washes. The working, watery Word washes you, regenerates you, renews you with a birth from above. Our Father kindly and lovingly pours out this heavenly gift abundantly upon you. For you are baptized, from the first Wordy splash to the resurrection unto life for eternity. You are baptized.
However, if you think only that you were baptized or that you want to get beyond baptism to a better, more victorious, Christian life, then you may have found your repentance for this evening. I am baptized. You are baptized. This baptism “indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever” (Luther’s Small Catechism).
that having been justified by His grace we (you) should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Our Father kindly and lovingly, which is His grace, forgives you all your sins. And where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also eternal life and salvation (Luther’s Small Catechism); in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God, which passes understanding, guard your body and soul for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Godliness by Grace
Godliness By Grace
Second Midweek Advent Service
Opening Hymn #333
Once He Came In Blessing
Vespers Service p.229
Office Hymn #338
Come Thou Long
Expected Jesus
Readings p.230
Responsory p.230
Sermon
Trained by Saving Grace
Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Holy Spirit has written: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Thus far the text.
Let us pray: Gracious Father, who by grace brings salvation that has appeared to all men, grant us to live Godly lives in the present age; in the name of Jesus. Amen.
That first Christmas night, shepherds - living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock - saw the angel of the Lord stand before them. And they were not just afraid; they were greatly afraid.
The glory of the Lord does cause fear.
Hidden sins come to out of the darkness. Hidden sins are brought into the Light when the glory of the Lord shines on sinners. Exposed sin causes fear. And rightly so.
Thanks be to God, the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.” There is no hiding from God. So thanks be to God that He came to those shepherd by grace.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. To the shepherd. To all people. Even to you. You live in this grace of God by faith in the Holy Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And that grace teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in the present age while we wait patiently for the second coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
How is that done? How do sinners live Godly lives? How do you live a Godly life?
First, believe in Jesus. He is your salvation. He appears to you in the hearing of His Gospel which give you faith. Gives you the forgiveness of your sins. Yes, you are a sinner but by the forgiveness of your sins in Jesus, you have peace. You have a good conscience before God and man. If you don’t trust Jesus; if you don’t trust that He alone is willing to save you and can save you from sin; then turn away from your unbelief and trust Jesus again. Your sins are forgiven. Don’t be afraid.
Second, this grace of God that brings salvation, teaches you to begin living a God life in the present age. A Godly life is a life that doesn’t hurt others. A Godly life is a life that doesn’t take from others.
For example, the patriarch Joseph. The one with the coat of many colors. The one thrown in a well by his brothers; the one sold as a slave in Egypt.
Joseph believe in Jesus. He learned Godliness in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar trusted Joseph to care for whole household. His money and his wife. Potiphar’s wife was ungodly. She advanced on Joseph and Joseph ran out of the house. Thrown in jail by a disappointed Potiphar - but not put to death.
Joseph believed in Jesus. He learned Godliness in prison. He was a model inmate and he even helped the jailers manage the prison. Interpreting dreams, too. For several years.
Joseph believed in Jesus. He learned Godliness in Pharaoh’s court. Pharaoh didn’t trust Jesus but he trusted Joseph to care for all Egypt through a seven year drought. Many lives were saved by Joseph who, although he couldn’t save himself, trusted Jesus who can and wants to save all people.
Joseph’s Godliness was a fruit of faith in Jesus. His Godliness was learned in the midst of great trials and over many years. And then one day, the Lord reunited Joseph with his father Jacob and even his brothers.
That Godly man even showed kindness to his brothers who meant him harm so many years before.
That Godly man desired to see the day of the promised Babe, wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. Joseph desired to hear the angel voices sing Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men!
But you have God’s testimony. You believe in Jesus. You continue to be trained by the grace of God for living Godly lives in this present age even as you patiently wait for the second coming of your God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem you from every evil and make you His own special people.
Let no one despise you, for your faith or for your learning Godliness.
Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Canticle p.231
Prayer p.233
Benedicamus p.234
Benediction p.234
Closing Hymn #880
Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow
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