The world wants to put boundaries around Christ’s Gospel that announces a new, eternal identity for you. It will attack the unfair forgiveness of sins, and even blame it for the lack of justice and peace in the world. It will scoff at infant baptism1 as a promise and pure gift of God. “Shouldn’t a person merit this promise?” they’ll say. “Learn more and grow in intellect? Become more contrite? Get potty trained? Show some sign of obedience?” Or someone will add something to the Gospel Promise — one more thing to do or refrain from2. And if the message itself is not killed, the messenger is!
Don’t be fooled! The Gospel will not be withheld from God’s chosen sinners, and this Word that creates faith does not return empty.3
It cannot be contained! The Word of God is not bound! May it reach you today!
Or the real, “new you”-creating, future-determining, election-by-God baptism of a sinner at ANY age
Adding to the Gospel takes away the benefits. What is added is always another law. What good was the Christ Alone Faith Alone word if another law has been put in front of the Christian? Adding to the Gospel absents Christ’s Word and Work! The Promise of God alone puts the law in the rear view mirror — a true freedom that seems dangerous to those who don’t have that promise.
If this pure gift of God in Baptism is something you’ve received before, may you rest in it. God remains faithful to the promise He gave you. Find a place that promise is NOURISHED for God’s sake (this is the will of God - for you to cling to His Promise) and the sake of your own peace and comfort. The door is open at St. Paul Lutheran in Hull, IA, and there are many in our congregation (along with me, the pastor here) ready to renounce the devil and put in the promise of Christ for you again and again.
If you know someone who has not received a personal promise from God in Baptism, and you are moved by the Holy Spirit to nourish the promise for that person (perhaps your child or another loved one), let’s do this. Again - the door is open here, and this new life in Christ would be something announced and celebrated. It is an offense to the Old Adam in you, as the apostle Paul puts it, but a wonderful gift in the creation of a New You that will never die. It would bring all of God’s people tremendous joy for this promise to be delivered to him/her. The angels will celebrate this, and the devil will be reminded his defeat at Christ’s Cross yet again.
If you want to learn more about this radical thing, just let me know.