Jesus came to John to be baptized. This has often puzzled Christians. You see John was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He was calling people to turn away from sin and turn to God to be forgiven because the Messiah was on the way. The Gospels tell us that many including thieves and sinners and tax collectors left their sinful lives and changed their ways and were baptized.
But Jesus was sinless. He was the Holy God of the universe in the flesh. So, many Christians have scratched their heads. In one of the Gospel accounts, John event tried to stop Jesus.
The word repent in the Greek is metanoeo. It literally means a change of mind. Not like you would change your mind about what to eat for lunch, but a radical transformation of mind. "Meta" is like the change in the word metamorphosis with means a change of form. A metamorphosis is a radical change of form like that of a caterpillar changing to a butterfly. "Noeo" mean mind. So this "metanoeosis" of repentance is a radical transformation of the heart and mind.
Jesus was undergoing a radical transformation in his life. He had spent 30 years living as an average Jew of his day. He grew up, went to the synagogue and the temple, made a living as a carpenter. Now when the time was right, he was going to turn away from that life as the carpenter of Nazareth and become a teacher and healer and savior and sacrifice. He was leaving behind wood and saws and planes and hammers, to take up healing and teaching and raising the dead and eventually a cross.
So Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by John because the time had come from him to change from being a carpenter to being a Messiah, a Savior. When Jesus had been baptized the Holy Spirit came down upon him. And God said "That's my boy. He makes his Daddy proud!" Well, that is my paraphrase of "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." Some have mistakenly thought that this was when Jesus became the Son of God. Other places in the Bible make it clear that Jesus was conceived as the Son of God and that he even existed before Creation. What is happening here is God is affirming Jesus' response to his calling to change the direction of his life: to be the Son of God come to die for the sins of the world. And in Jesus' response we are given a model for our ministry.
Just as Jesus was conceived to serve God, we were all called to serve God from our conception. Your baptism represents that calling. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church (2008) says in the section about Christian ministry, "All Christians are called through their baptism to this ministry of servanthood in the world to the glory of God and for human fulfillment."(Par. 125) When you were baptized, whether you were brought to be baptized as a child or you chose to be baptized as a youth or adult, the church, in your baptism, was recognizing your calling to Christian ministry. At your baptism the church joined with God in saying "You are my beloved child. With you I am well pleased."
You are called to minister. I know most of us think of preachers and professional ministers like Elders and Deacons and Diaconal ministers as being called. But all Christians are called. (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church (2008) Par. 127) You might have noticed that on the back of the bulletin where we have the church staff and the retired ministers listed we have added two lines: "MINISTERS: The Members of Central." Central is blessed with an overabundance of retired and active ordained ministers. But all of you, as members of Christ's Church, by virtue of your baptism, are ministers called to serve God.
We call this doctrine The Priesthood of All Believers. It is deeply rooted in the Methodist Movement. In the early days of Methodism John Wesley set apart lay preachers who traveled around England proclaiming Scriptural Holiness and calling people to repentance. Lay people, the non ordained members of the church, have always been the bread and butter of the ministry of the Methodist church. Without the ministry of the laity the church could not operate. Can I hear an amen from all the ordained ministers present? Even the highest law making body of the church, the General Conference is half laity. If you don't believe me just ask Liz Patterson our resident member of General Conference and a lay person. And so, lay people work side by side with ordained ministers in proclaiming the gospel, leading worship, caring for the needs of the world, and assisting in administering the sacraments.("This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion"(2004) p. 22)
Of course we Methodists did not invent the priesthood of all believers. It was a cornerstone of the protestant reformation. But Martin Luther and the other reformers did not invent it either. Its roots can be found in the Bible. Our reading from 1 Peter this morning says, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
This is one of a group of letters in the New Testament called the "Catholic Epistles." Catholic here is used in the sense of universal. It was a letter addressed the all Christians. And it says you are a chosen race. You have been chosen, called to serve God. Now that does not mean others were not chosen. I would argue that all people are called by God, but not all respond to that calling. By calling yourself a Christian you have responded to that calling. It also says that you are a royal Priesthood. The roll of the priest is to be an intermediary between God and the people. As a Christian you are called to represent God to the world, to be a royal ambassador of Christ. You are also called to bring the needs of the world to God in prayer and in service. You are a holy nation. Holy means set apart for a special purpose. Nation means that we are part of something bigger. We are set apart together with all Christians around the world to be "God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
So you are a royal Priesthood. What does that mean? It means that just as Jesus was called to the three years of ministry that we read about in the Bible, you are called to your ministry. You are called to follow Jesus in teaching and healing and serving and sacrificing. You are called to proclaim the word. Some are called to teach Sunday School or to fill in for the preacher and proclaim the word that was. But all are called to proclaim the love of God through their daily lives and actions.
You are called minister in worship. Some are called to sing in the choir or make music. Some are called to serve on the Altar Guild or the Worship Committee. Some are called to help serve Holy Communion. (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church (2008) Par. 340.2b(1)e) But all are called to worship God in their hearts and with their lives.
You are called to minister to the needs of the world. This can be through ministries in the church like SPHIN or the knitting ministry. It can be in organizations like the Bethlehem Center or TOTAL ministries. But all are called to respond in love to their neighbor.
"Anoint" - It means to pour, usually oil, over. In the Bible priests and kings were anointed when they were appointed to office. When the temple was dedicated it was anointed. When Jesus began his ministry he said that the Holy Spirit had anointed him to preach good news to the poor. Also Jesus was anointed by a woman who poured oil over his head. We often call Jesus the Messiah or the Christ. Christ was not Jesus' last name. Both titles mean "The Anointed One."
James says that if any are sick they should call for the elders to anoint them with oil and pray for them. That is what we do when we have a healing service. We use perfumed oil to anoint those coming for prayer. Many Christians perform services of anointing to this day. One might even think of baptism as an anointing to follow Christ.
In the anointing the oil represents the presence of God. That is one of the reasons that perfumed oils are often used. Like the scent which you cannot see but which you know is there. God cannot n-be seen but we know that God is there.
Why this lesson on anointing? Because the concept is important to our passage this morning. Another important thing to know is the context of our passage in Acts. The Spirit has just been poured out on a group of Gentiles who have believed in Jesus. In the earliest days of the church only Jews were followers of Jesus. But the Spirit led a Roman Centurion and Peter to meet. The Centurion and his household believed in Jesus and the Holy Spirit came upon them just as it had come on the disciples at Pentecost.
It was in this context that Peter says that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit. As a result of this anointing Jesus began the three year ministry we read about in the Gospels. Jesus performed miracles and healed the sick. Jesus reached out to the poor and downtrodden. And Jesus taught any who would listen about the truth of the Kingdom and the love of God. Then in obedience Jesus died and rose again for our salvation.
After his resurrection Jesus commanded that the disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the world. Pentecost, when the Spirit came, was their anointing. Just as God had anointed Jesus to preach the Good News so Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to anoint the disciples. And they began proclaiming the Good news.
So to recap, Jesus is the Anointed One, the Christ. At his baptism God sent the Holy Spirit to anoint Jesus. At Pentecost Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to anoint the disciples. And down through the years Jesus has continues to anoint his disciples to carry on the ministry of proclaiming the truth of God's love.
Baptism is a symbol of this anointing. Just as the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh, the water is poured out for baptism. One of the early church's symbols for baptism was a shell. The shell was used to scoop up the water so that it could be poured out.
Do you see where all this is leading? Jesus was anointed by God. And then Jesus anointed his disciples. You are anointed to serve God. Your baptism was your anointing to serve.
Do you remember what I said about anointing at the beginning of the sermon? Among the people anointed in the Bible were priests and kings. The Bible says that you are a royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9) You have been anointed by God. You have been adopted by the king and made royalty. You have been appointed as a priest to represent God before the world.
Many Christians think being a Christian is just about getting saved. That is important! But that is just the first step. Once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior and are forgiven, then God sends the Holy Spirit. And that Holy Spirit equips and inspires you to serve God.
If you are not serving God then you are not doing your duty as one anointed by God. That does not mean you have to be a preacher or a church office or in a committee. It does mean you have to be seeking ways to spread the love of God and the Good news of Jesus. It means you will look for ways to Love your neighbor. And you will strive with the Spirit's help to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and spirit. It means you will participate in religious activities like prayer and worship and study. And it means you will invite others to join in those activities.
Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus came to the Jordan with the full intention of being baptized by John. The fact that this was Jesus' intention is important. He didn't just happen to be passing by and decided to be baptized. This was not an impulse decision. Jesus traveled all the way from Galilee for the express purpose of being baptized.
You see, Jesus knew that God had a plan for his life. He had been living in this world for 30 years waiting for this time. His Father had planned for him to proclaim the Gospel - to preach and heal - and then to be rejected and die for the sins of the world. And Jesus knew that the time had come for him to begin that mission.
You know the Father has a plan for our lives too. "Who Me? I'm no Jesus or John!" But God does have a plan for each of us. That is why Jesus came and died. Salvation is the beginning of that plan.
Jesus knew God had a plan for him so he came to the Jordan with the full intention of being baptized by John.
But John tried to stop Jesus! You can understand his logic. John knew who Jesus was. Not just that he was the son of his cousin Mary. But that he was the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world. He had just finished telling the Pharisees and Sadducees that someone was coming who was so much greater than him. He baptized with mere water but the one coming would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
John realized that Jesus was this great one he had spoken of. So he told Jesus "You should baptize me!" But Jesus knew that this was part of God plan so he insisted.
You know sometimes, like John, we have trouble seeing God's plan. The logical course is in one direction but God has other plans. And so we find our good intentions to be in contradiction to God's. Even as we are trying to be faithful, we find ourselves facing God and saying, "No, that's not right. I should be going that way." We know God wants us to serve him but sometimes we find roadblocks in the way and we come to realize that God's plan is really for us to go in another direction.
But that is part of finding Gods plan for us. It's no sin. Even John tried to stop Jesus.
John may have tried to stop Jesus at first, but he listened to his Lord and baptized Jesus. Sure it didn't make sense at the time. But when he objected Jesus straightened him out. He said, "This is the way to fulfill all righteousness." I am sure John couldn't see how baptizing Jesus fit into God's plan. But John listened to his Lord.
And then John's obedience was rewarded! As Jesus came up from the water God showed him. John saw the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And then he heard the voice of God confirming his faith "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased."
That is the way it is for us too. Sometimes our intentions are in opposition to God's. But if we will listen to our Lord and do as he says. Then our faith and trust in him will be rewarded.
What are your intentions? God intended for his son to die for the sins of the world. Jesus intended to be baptized by John. John had at first intended to stop Jesus. But in the end John, who had called other to repentance, repented himself and baptized Jesus. And in the end he saw the power of God and heard God's voice!
So what are your intentions? You know sometimes people intend one thing but are really doing another. Sometimes Christians think they are doing God's will when really they are not. It can be a rude awakening to come face to face with God, like John did, and be told, "No, that's not right." Sometimes that can mean changing the way we think of life or the world. Sometimes it can mean having to change our very way of life.
Sometimes Christians can actually do wrong by intending to do right. Many "Christians" intend to save themselves from Hell by doing good. They think that they will get to heaven by being good, by joining a church, or doing good deeds. The problem is that we are incapable of being good enough to merit or earn Heaven. God's intention is not that we get to heaven by being better than most. God's intention is that we simply put our full trust in him.
It is like bungee jumping. Has anyone here ever been bungee jumping? I don't think I will ever do that. You can show me that the cord is strong enough and even explain to me the physics of it, but I simply won't take the risk.
You see a person can believe in their head that they will not fall to their death. But it takes faith in the strength of the bungee cord to actually jump off a bridge with a bungee cord tied to your legs. That's what it's all about - faith - or rather taking a leap of faith. Many people "believe" that Jesus can save them. But salvation requires taking a leap of faith and trusting completely in Him.
Don't place your faith in bungee cords. Don't put your faith in your own good works either. Don't even place faith in your best intentions. Put your faith in Jesus. Trust him to save you. Then trust him to guide you.
What are your intentions? Are they to serve God or not? We can learn a lesson from the example of John. Sometimes even our best intentions can be in conflict with God's plan. In those instances we just need to trust our Lord.
That is not always an easy thing to do. But if we will we will be rewarded. We will see the Glory of God revealed in our lives.
If your intentions are to be a follower of Jesus, then put your trust in him. And remember what the Father said when John did that. "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Our Lesson begins "The people were filled with expectation." The New English Bible says "the people were on tiptoe." Have you ever tried to stand on your tip toes? You can't do it for long unless you are a ballerina. Sooner or later you will fall in one direction or another. You can't just stand there on tiptoe; something will happen. That is how the people were. They were on their tiptoes, They were on the edge of their seats. Something was about to happen and they knew it.
And "What were they expecting?" you may well ask. Why, the messiah of course. God had promised to send them one. Things had gotten so bad for God's children. Unrighteousness was at an all time high. They needed a Messiah now more than ever. It seemed that the time was right for God to send one. On top of that, John came out of the desert where he lived a pious life of self denial and looking like the great prophet Elijah. And he started telling people to get ready because the kingdom was coming.
It was natural for the people to wonder, "Is John the Messiah?" He certainly was religious and many people followed him. John set them straight, but he also hightened their expectations. He said, "I am not the king, but the king is coming." The one coming after me is much greater than I am. I am baptizing with mere water, but the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The people were right to expect the Messiah. Because God was preparing Christ and the way for Christ. It was while the people were expecting him that John was telling them to get ready for him. And during this time Jesus was living and growing. And God the Father was waiting for the right time to call his Son into action. The people were ready too, they were on the edge of their seats, attentive, watching and waiting to see what God would do.
So God responded. God called Jesus to begin his earthly ministry of teaching. Many believe that Jesus' Baptism was his calling into ministry. John the baptist was calling the people to repent and prepare for the Messiah. Jesus set an example for the people by responding to that call through a sign of repentance. The jewish ritual of Baptism was a symbolic washing. Jesus was showing the people that they should respond to God's call to repentance as he did.
After Jesus' Baptism a voice came from heaven. God's voice from heaven was a sign to Jesus that he should begin his earthly ministry. God was saying, "Jesus you are my son, now do what the Son of God was sent to do: Save the world." God was pleased with the example that Jesus gave the people. Like a proud father God said, "Jesus, you are my son and I love you." And the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove.
Times haven't changed much, people still stand on tiptoe, expecting and waiting to see what God will do. Isn't that why so many people get excited about predictions of the end. They think, if there is a God he must do something. Sin is at an all time high. Even religious leaders are often found to be unrighteous. Jesus had promised to come again. And so people expect it soon.
People are standing of tiptoe, waiting to see what will happen. They are unsteady. The slightest movement could push them in either direction. Something is about to happen.
What will God do? People look at the unrighteousness in the world and they wonder how long will God wait to do something. They look in the streets and see the homeless. In a world of plenty people die of starvation and exposure. And they wonder when will God do something about this. They look in the AIDS wards. They see people isolated and cast off. Some are innocent and some repentant, but all shunned. And they wonder when will God do something about this. They look into the fields and they see the crosses of anger and hatred burning. In country after country people hate one another for little of no visible reason. And their hatreds and prejudices are instilled in young people's hearts and in their social structures. And they wonder, when will God do something about this? They look into homes and they see broken lives. They very place where people should find refuge they find pain. Spouse abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, families abusing one another. And they wonder when will God do something about this? Discouraged some even wonder if God will do something.
God has done something already and God will do something yet. Our heavenly Father called Jesus. Jesus, God's Son, came to preach good news to the poor. To bring sight to the blind and liberty to the oppressed. God called Jesus to overcome sin and death. And Jesus will come again to establish eternal justice and peace.
In the mean time, until Jesus comes again, he has called us. He has called us to follow him into repentance and into cleansing and into prayer. Then he calls us to follow him into the world to live righteously. He calls us into the streets to cloth and house the needy. He calls us into the hospital wards filled with the unwanted to show God's mercy. He calls us into the fields to put out the fires of hatred. He calls us into the homes to bind the broken lives. He calls us into the darkness of human life to bring the light to Christ.
But how can we do all that; minister to the brokenness of the world. We are often broken ourselves. How can we overcome the power of sin, when we are often powerless. Jesus could do it because he was God, but how can I follow him? It was easy for Jesus. He was born to be the savior of the world, but how can we who need saving ourselves, play a part in delivering others?
The answer is in a little detail in Jesus' baptism. After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. When we respond to God's call, as Jesus did, the spirit descends on us. When we repent and ask God to cleanse our lives, God empowers us to minister as Christ did. Jesus didn't need any more power than he already had, but we do. We need the Holy Spirit's power.
Baptism is a symbol of God's action of adopting us as his children. And as his children God assigns us certain chores. I don't want to call them chores. Because God's calling is a joy. Just as God called his only begotten son to minister so he calls his adopted sons and daughters. The task that God calls us too is too big for us alone. But God does not abandon his children. God is with us through the Holy Spirit's presence.
When you give yourself to God, the Father will anoint you with the Holy Spirit and make you a spirit breathing child of God. John said, "The one who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." That is a promise from God. Believe it! Expect it! Wait for it! Stand on the tip of your toes looking for God to be at work in your life. And as surely as the spirit descended of Jesus, it will empower you to perform the acts of God's children.
Matthew 3:13-17
As a preacher I have a lot of people ask me about my call into the ministry. They want to know did I hear an actual voice calling me like Samuel in the Old Testament? Did I see a blinding light like Paul on the road to Damascus? Was there some cataclysmic event in my life that showed me God wanted me to go in the direction I was going? Some people ask because they are curious, but some ask because they are skeptical. They are uncomfortable with the idea that God calls certain people. They are looking for an authority to support their skepticism and say that God doesn't really call people.
God does call people. I know that because God called me. I heard no audible voice calling me, but I did experience a constant pulling within me. As a child if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up it was usually something like an oceanographer or astronomer. But when I was about ten I started saying a preacher. I felt that my interest in the stars and nature was really because God made it all. My parents took me seriously enough to take me to talk to Rev. Alewine about it.
For a long time I felt that pulling, but there were doubts. While I was in High School those doubts began to diminish. I began to "hear" more and more clearly a call into the ministry. At times I doubted if that really meant preaching. Maybe it was music ministry. I was good at science and math maybe it was to be a missionary that built bridges and dug wells. By the time I got to college I was preparing to go to seminary to be a preacher.
The last time I doubted my call was during my freshman year at U.S.C. I began to think to myself that life would be a lot easier if I became an engineer. I could finish School in four years and go to work and I could get a nine to five job like regular people. But as I was thinking about this while walking across campus it hit me like a ton of bricks. I could become an engineer, but I would only be living. The only way I could find fulfillment was to take the more difficult road of becoming a preacher. I can still show you the place on U.S.C.'s campus where that realization took place. I wasn't blinded by a light from heaven, but God did shed a light on the path I was to follow to do his will. I didn't hear a voice from heaven, but I did feel an assurance in my heart that I heard God's call to me.
It is only natural for us to be interested in the callings of our preachers and religious leaders. A few years before his death Bishop Bethea gave his testimony to the Annual Conference. And I thoroughly enjoyed hearing how God had been at work in his life leading him to the ministry. These stories give us points of reference. They show us that God is at work in people's lives. They also show us how God is at work.
That is what our Gospel lesson does. It shows us God calling His Son Jesus. Of course Jesus was born the Son of God. For 30 years Jesus was living the life of an average Jew of his day. But when God said, "This is my Beloved Son In whom a am well pleased," God was calling Jesus into action. From that point on Jesus ceased to live as an average Jew and began the ministry of teaching and healing that we read about in God's Holy Word.
In sign language the word "call" and the word "name" can be signed the same under certain circumstances. The meaning of those two words are very close. When you give something or someone a name that name denotes a function or role. A dining room, is a place for dining. An automobile is to make you mobile by means of mechanical automation. In the same way God called Jesus "My beloved son." That title assumes certain responsibilities. Because Jesus was the Son of God he was expected to be the Messiah who saved the world by dying for our sins.
It's important to note that Jesus' call into action took place at his baptism. Through this event God expanded the meaning and role of baptism. For the Jews a baptism was a ritual washing. The Greek word for baptism "baptizo" literally means "to wash." The Jews were constantly baptizing people and things. If something or someone was unclean they would baptize it. If someone died on a bed it would be unclean by contact with a dead body. So they would ritually wash it or baptize it. When the Pharisees criticize Jesus for not washing his hands they literally asked why Jesus doesn't "baptize" his hands. That is what John was doing at the river Jordan. He was ritually washing people. They came confessing their sins and repenting and he was washing them to ritually demonstrate the change taking place within them.
At Jesus' baptism God changed that understanding. How do we know that God intended to change all that. First of all John had prophesied this change. He said I baptize with water, but the one who comes will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Secondly, Jesus didn't need to be baptized in the Jewish sense. He was sinless. He had nothing to repent of or confess. He was pure and didn't need to be purified. That's why John tried to stop Jesus. It is obvious that the Father had other things in mind when he led Jesus to be baptized.
The events of Jesus' baptism show us this new meaning. First of all after Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit descended on him. In a way it was a fulfillment of John's Prophesy of one who comes baptizing with the Holy Spirit. But it shows us that Baptism was no longer merely a ritual cleansing but through Christ it became a means of God's holy presence. Those who are baptized are given the Holy Spirit. Secondly, it was at his baptism that God named Jesus his son and called him into service. In the Christian Church Baptism identifies a person as a member of God's family and calls them into ministry.
The logical result of all this is that everyone who is baptized is called. Not everyone is called to be a preacher, but all of us have a calling. Because we have been baptized we are a part of God's Holy Church. We are members of the Family of God. When we are baptized by water and the Spirit we become Children of God. God adopts us and calls us his own. The ritual of Baptism that we perform in the church is a symbolic representation of that adoption. Baptism is the ritual by which we enter God's church. In some churches the baptism font is placed at the front door. Because the front door is where one enters the church physically. And the Baptismal font is where one enters the church spiritually.
This identity or place in God's Family given to us at Baptism is a call to ministry. God called Jesus "My beloved son" and at that point he began his work as the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. Through your baptism God has called you his son or daughter. And as a result you have a calling, a role in God's family. As sons and daughters of God we are called to live lives of righteousness. We are called to live like our Lord and be servants to our Father's will.
That service takes many different forms. For me it meant taking the long path to Seminary and the parish ministry. For others it could mean any number of things. It could mean missionary work, or Christian education. It could mean serving God through volunteering for the the Red Cross, or meals on wheels. It could mean dedicating oneself to study and prayer. It could mean serving in a local church as a leader or teacher. I once heard the story about a woman who heard for the first time that all Christians are called to something. She asked her preacher what her calling might be. The Preacher knew that she was good at baking pies and said, "Bake pies for Jesus." She was puzzled. How could she bake pies for Jesus? Then one day a friend was having problems and without thinking she baked her a pie and took it to her and the two of them sat and talked. Her friend thanked very warmly for coming over and then she realized what that preacher meant. From then on she baked pies for people going through hard times and that was her ministry. Your calling may change as you mature and change. Jesus' ministry changed over the years. He began as a healer and teacher. But later he took on the priestly role of sacrificing himself for our sins. Callings come in many different forms but they all are ways of serving God.
Jesus' Baptism gives us a model for understanding our calling. His calling came during a ritual cleansing. Likewise, we have to give ourselves to Christ to accept our calling. To be ready to receive our call we must be willing to leave the old behind and move on. We have to be willing to accept the forgiving grace that God is pouring out upon us. To accept Christ as the sacrifice for our sins.
At Jesus' baptism God claimed him and His own. In the same way God claims us. When we dedicate ourselves to Christ, God adopts us as his children. And that identity is our calling. God calls us to act like Children of God. We are called to imitate the grace and love of our heavenly Father, and to follow in the footsteps of our Big brother Christ.
Like Christ we are called to a life of service. Jesus responded to his call by becoming the Savior of the world. Follow in Jesus' footsteps and respond to your call. If you are not sure what that call is then seek it. Ask God to make you faithful to it through the Holy Spirit that has been given to you.
Mark 1:4-11
The lights won't come on if the power is off. That's a fact, but sometimes our actions seem to ignore that fact. We humans are creatures of habit. We do a lot of things without thinking about it. Most of the time we are operating on automatic pilot.
For instance, have you ever walked into a dark room and flicked the light switch even though you knew that the power was off. Everyone knows that the lights won't come on without electricity. But we try to turn them on anyway. And even after we realize that the power is off we keep flicking the light switch anyway to no avail.
This seems to be a universal truth that applies to more than just electricity. It also applies to our spiritual lives. We can't shine spiritually if it the power is off. We can't find meaning and proclaim truth if we are not plugged in to the main source of power. That is a truth that most of us would affirm yet many Christians try to shine the light of Christ while the main breaker is in the OFF position.
The lights won't come on if the power is off. This is a universal truth that can be seen in creation itself. In Genesis it says that the universe was a vast dark chaos before God began creating. It says that "darkness covered the face of the deep." But before God can start making something of the is vast darkness it says the wind or spirit of God swept over the face of the deep. Then God said, "Let there be light!"
Before God could turn the lights on, the universe had to be plugged in to a power source. And that power source is the Spirit, or presence, of God. Without the Spirit of God the universe would still be a dark place. You or I could flick the switch all day and it would still be dark.
Since this is a universal principle, that the lights won't come on without the power on, it also applies to each of us. After all we are part of this creation. If the universe cannot run without a power source, then neither can we. Do you follow my logic.
Perhaps we can see this principle at work in Jesus' own life. Mark writes, "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth to Galilee and was baptized by John." For most of his first 30 years Jesus lived in Nazareth. We know very little about his life there. He was probably a carpenter. A pretty peaceful and ordinary existence. In those days Jesus left that life and began a new life. He left the comfort and security of Nazareth to begin traveling to teach and heal. Instead of his bed in Nazareth Jesus slept of the ground. He gave up the security of a carpenters shop for the hazards of the open road. He left a peaceful existence for a life destined to end on the cross.
In those same days John was baptizing in the Jordan River. People flocked to John because they had turned from God and desperately needed and wanted to turn back. They wanted to turn from their old lives of selfishness and hate and turn to a new life of loving God and their neighbor. So they repented and John baptized them to demonstrate God's forgiveness. And Jesus, who was among them, came to be baptized as well.
But Jesus didn't need to repent! Jesus, unlike all other humans, had never turned from God. He was sinless. He had nothing to repent of. But like them, Jesus was leaving his old life behind. And like them, Jesus was being obedient to God. He was surrendering to God's will for his life. So, despite John's objections, Jesus was baptized.
Right after Jesus was baptized something important happened: the heavens were torn apart. I remember one time I was at the Beach for a seminar. My room was on the 15th floor and looked out over the ocean. One afternoon I looked out. It was overcast but the clouds were starting to break up. And the sun was shining through is a few places. And I could see the rays of light shining through the clouds. And way out in the ocean one part of the sea was illuminated and it seemed to glow against the backdrop of the darkness around it. It was as if heaven had broken through and the glory of God was shining through for all to see. That is how I imagine it looked to Jesus.
It is important to note that the heaven was torn open, because the Spirit that descended on Jesus was the Spirit of God. The power of the Holy Spirit sent from God the Father was descending on and filling the Son. And God said, "You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased."
This incident is important because it demonstrated the principle I ma preaching about. It shows us that Jesus' power was from above; from Almighty God. Without the power of God, Jesus could not have done the things that he did. He could not have healed the sick or cast out demons. He could not have multiplied the loaves or calmed the sea. He could not have forgiven his disciples for deserting him. He could not have willingly died for the very men who nailed him to the cross. He could not have been the Lamb of God slain for the sins for the world. Understand; Jesus was born the Son of God. He was God Almighty in the flesh. He didn't need and infusion of power to work miracles. He was that power incarnate. But for our benefit God demonstrated that truth.
The lights won't come on if the power is off. Jesus was able to live as he did because he was full of the spiritual power of God. He was able to shine a light in the darkness because the power was on. And the only real source of spiritual power in this universe is the Spirit of God Almighty. Jesus was and is that spiritual power.
Too many Christians try to live a Christian life without being filled with that power. They try to shine the light when the power is off. They think that they can find meaning in life without prayer and without reading the Bible. They try to life for Christ without looking to Christ. They are like one standing in the dark flicking a light switch while the main breaker is reading "Off."
We can't live a truly Christian life on our own. The only way to live a Christian life is to empty ourselves and be filled with spiritual power from above. Do you want the strength to face the troubles of life? Do you want to be able to forgive and put the past behind you? Do you want to see miracles happen in your life? Then surrender to Christ. Put the past behind you. Turn from sin and turn to God. Let power from heaven fill you.
The lights won't come on if the power is off. This is a universal principle. The problem is it is contrary to what our society believes. Our society believes in independence and self reliance. "Get a hold of yourself" - "Pull yourself up by your boot straps and be your own man." That is what the world tells us.
But that is not how it works. You can go out and buy a portable generator so that if the power afraid goes down you can still turn on the lights in your house. But there is no such thing as a portable spiritual generator. You can't generate your own spiritual power you have to get it from God.
Yet people try to be their own source of spiritual energy - their own God. They try to live on their own. They think because they once turned to God in the past they don't need God any more. And they drop out of church and forget to pray. They basically unplug themselves and then when things get dark they wonder why the light won't come on.
The lights won't come on if the power is off. God Almighty is the only power source for abundant life. Turn from your self reliance and turn to God in faith and devotion. Surrender to his will to his will just as Jesus surrendered and was obedient unto death on a cross. Let the Almighty fill you this the spirit and work in you. Then stand back and watch the lights come on in your life.
Mark 1:4-11
Today I want to preach on the topic of "Who do you think you are?" The story goes that Jesus and St. Paul were playing golf one day. As Jesus got ready to tee off he pulled out a nine iron. Paul said, "Lord, I wouldn't use that if I were you. You should use the driver. If you use a nine iron you will not be able to hit the ball over the water hazard. Only Tiger Woods could hit a ball that far with a nine iron." Jesus said, "Well if Tiger Woods can do it I can do it." So he hit the ball and it landed right in the water hazard. Jesus went down and when he got to the water he walked out on the water to the place where the ball fell in and reached down for it. Then Jesus came back up and started to tee off again with the nine iron. Paul interrupted and said, "Lord, please be patient with me, but I told you once if you use the nine iron the ball will land in the water hazard." But Jesus went ahead and again the ball landed in the water. Again he went down and walked across the water until he came to the place were the ball was. Just then a foursome came up and they saw Jesus walking on the water. Stunned one of them said, "Who does he think he is? Jesus Christ." And Paul replied, "No, he is Jesus Christ, but he thinks he's Tiger Woods."
We may find this joke humorous, but it illustrates a very important point. Who we are is very important. It defines what we do. People build their expectations of us based on who they think we are. If people have it in their minds that a person is one thing and they begin acting like something else they take exception. In the joke one of the golfers was shocked to see another golfer walking on water. But St. Paul wasn't because he knew that was Jesus. When we start acting out of place people get angry and say, "Who do you think you are?"
This is important because Jesus' friends thought they knew who he was. Up to the time that Jesus started his ministry at the age of thirty, he probably lived a rather ordinary life. The Bible doesn't tell us much about that life. In fact the book of Mark just completely jumps over it. We know that he was a carpenter. Other than the incident that Luke records when he was twelve we know nothing else.
If you had asked them, Jesus' friends and acquaintances would tell you who he was. He was Jesus the carpenter. He went to work every morning, and then went home every night. On the Sabbath he was in the Synagogue; a smart hard working fellow.
So it took people by surprise when he started acting like God. They took offense and tried to kill him. They said "Isn't this the carpenter the son of Mary and aren't his brothers and sisters here with us." "Who does he think he is claiming to be the Messiah." We should teach him his place. He is just an ordinary carpenter.
They thought Jesus was a carpenter but we know he was the Son of God. This fact became clear at his baptism. After Jesus was baptized God spoke to him out of heaven and said, "You are my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." God is speaking to Jesus. He says, "You..." Now I assume that Jesus knew who he was. It was unlikely that God is telling Jesus something he did not already know.
God was claiming Jesus as his own. This was a signal to Jesus that the time had come for him to start living out his true identity. Jesus' baptism was his calling to begin saving the world.
And that is what Jesus did. God said "you are my beloved son" and right away Jesus started acting like the Son of God. Just look at the sequence of events in Mark. The first thing Jesus did after his baptism was to go into the desert to meet the Devil and defeat him. Then he started gathering together his disciples.
It is clear that Jesus' baptism was the beginning of his earthly ministry. But why was Jesus baptized to begin with? John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. It says that John was calling people to repentance. And when they were baptized they confessed their sins. In Judaism a baptism was a ritual washing of something. It was common for them to wash pots or eating utensils. The idea was that they be purified of any uncleanness. John was calling people to a ritual cleansing that symbolized the cleansing that the Messiah would work in them.
But Jesus had no uncleanness. He was perfect without sin. He didn't need to repent of any sin. He didn't need to be cleansed of any impurity. So why was Jesus baptized?
The only possible answer is that Jesus was baptized as an example to us. He wanted to show those who would be his followers what kind of relationship they would have with God. He didn't need to repent of his sins, but we do. We need allow God to wash our lives clean. And like him the Holy Spirit descends upon us when we turn to God.
But more importantly than that, in our baptisms God claims us as his own. When Jesus was baptized a voice came out of heaven and said, "You are my beloved son, in you I am well pleased." When we were baptized God claimed us as his own also. Certainly none of us were born daughters or sons of God in the same way Jesus was. But because of the blood of Christ, God adopts us. We are adopted sons and daughters of the living God. Now some of us were baptized as infants, and some of us were baptized as adults. Some of us were dunked in the water and some of us were sprinkled on the head. It doesn't matter how it was done. What matters is that your baptism represented God's action of accepting you.
Now we were not baptized for nothing. When God claimed Jesus and said, "You are my son in whom I am well pleased," Jesus didn't just stand there. Jesus responded to God's statement of who he was. He started acting like the Son of God. He started acting like a Savior. Jesus' baptism was his calling to ministry.
Likewise, our baptism was our calling to ministry. When God baptized each of us, God also called us to ministry. God said, "You are my beloved daughter, You are my beloved son." And God expects us to respond to that. God has claimed us as adopted sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. And through the Holy Spirit, God expects us to act like it. We are to go out into the a World that doesn't know of the love of God and proclaim it.
Now when we do that, people are going to take offense. They will say, "who are you to tell me I should love my neighbor." "Nobody could love me. Who are you to say that God loves me?" "Who are you to even say that there is a God?" "Who do you think you are telling me how to live my life?" And we can respond, "I am and adopted daughter," or "I am an adopted son of God. Christ is my brother." "Do you want to be our sister or our brother too?"
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
We have all been where the children of Israel were. Perhaps not physically but we have all been in a similar situation. Someone you know and love but have not seen in a long time is arriving on a plane. As you watch the people debark the plane and walk across the tarmac. You think you see your loved one only to discover as they come closer that it is in fact someone else. And so you keep looking.
The people of Israel had been looking for a long time for a Messiah. One whom the prophets had said would save the children of God. One who would lift up the down trodden. One who would vindicate the righteous and punish the unjust. One who would be Emmanuel - "God with us."
When they saw John the baptizer they though they had seen their Messiah. He spoke fiery words of judgment against the unjust. He inspired the people, even publicans and prostitutes, to repent. He spoke of the reign of God coming upon the people. God was with him in a powerful and real way.
But the people were mistaken. Sure John resembled the Messiah. After all they were cousins. But there was one difference - a big difference. John baptized with water, but the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire! What John did represented the coming of God into people's lives. Jesus would bring the real thing!
So the people kept looking and Jesus came. In the midst of John's ministry Jesus heard the call of his Father. A call to leave his life as the carpenter of Nazareth and begin the earthly ministry which would lead to his death. And so Jesus joined the crowd of people coming to be baptized. Not to repent of his sins of course, for Jesus was sinless. He came to turn from his old life and begin a new one.
It was then that it happened! Luke tells us that after Jesus had been baptized he was praying. And the heaven's opened and the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus. Luke says that the Spirit was like a dove. It wasn't a dove that landed on Jesus. It was the Spirit, but the only way that Luke could describe it was that it appeared like a dove. And Luke also says it was in bodily form. It wasn't just some ghostly image or vague impression. It was real and had substance to it.
And a voice came from heaven. God said, "You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased." God was addressing Jesus. Affirming in him who he was and confirming his call to ministry.
I think we need to stop, take a step back and look at these events. The people are looking for a Messiah and wondered if John might be the one. John tells them that the Messiah will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. When the Messiah does come God sends the Holy Spirit upon him as God calls him into service.
I think it is important to notice the role of the Holy Spirit in all of this. John says that the Holy Spirit is the real thing. What he does is symbolic of what is to come. He is going around pouring water in the people who are turning to God. That represents what God will do later when the Messiah comes. The Messiah will pour out the Holy Spirit upon them.
Then when Jesus had been baptized, John's prophecy begins to be fulfilled. God pours out the Holy Spirit on Jesus. And Luke emphasizes it is real! And at that point God claims Jesus as his Son.
You know, the church has a good reason to set aside a special day to focus on Jesus' Baptism. We focus on it because it is an example for us. Now some think it is merely an example how one should be baptized. But frankly we cannot tell from the Bible if John poured the water on Jesus or if Jesus was immersed. Jesus' baptism is however an example of how God calls us to ministry and how we should respond.
When Jesus heard his Father's call to ministry he responded. He turned to the way that God was calling. And he turned from his old life.
It is only slightly different for us. When we realize that God is calling us we have to turn from our old lives. The only difference is that our old lives include sin.
When Jesus turned to God, his Heavenly Father poured out the Holy Spirit on him. In the same way when we turn to God he pours the Holy Spirit upon us. Now, I know that some Christians feel uncomfortable with talk about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We have all seen people who like talking about the Holy Spirit, but whose lives do not demonstrate the presence of God. We have all seen the hypocrites who act, and I do mean act, in extreme ways to appear holy and then end up serving only themselves. We have also run into those people who define the outpouring of the Holy Spirit only in terms of certain gifts. They argue that if you do not speak in tongues you are not a Christian. They say if you are uncomfortable with their forms of worship, you must not have the Holy Spirit like they do.
But the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an important part of Christian faith. Jesus came, as John told us, to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Jesus came to pour into our hearts and souls the real living presence of God. That is what the Holy Spirit is. It is God's living presence in the midst of our lives and it is what enables us to be real for God and the world.
Now about some of those fears and concerns people have when we start talking about the Holy Spirit. If you gave your life to Christ, then you have the Holy Spirit. It is as simple as that. If you have experienced that peace that passeth understanding, faith and hope in times of trouble, the ability to love where you couldn't before, then that is the Holy Spirit at work in you. The Holy Spirit does not necessarily cause us to engage in extreme behavior. Just because God comes into you life does not mean you will jump and shout; although some people do. Sometimes the Spirit leads people to silent contemplation. Sometimes, however, the Holy Spirit does lead us to extreme behavior. Extreme behavior, like risking ones life for others. Extreme behavior, like worshipping in the catacombs or in people's houses when your religion is outlawed. Extreme behavior like loving the unloved and forgotten of our society. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Finally when Jesus had been baptized and the Spirit was poured upon him, God claimed him as his own. In the same way God claimed you as his own. At the moment you surrendered to God and God's Spirit entered your heart he said, "You are my beloved daughter," "You are my beloved son." And that means something.
For Jesus it was a verification of his ministry. He was indeed the Son of God. And he could go forth with that authority and strength. He could face the evil forces knowing that he was stronger than any of them. He could proclaim God's word knowing that it was true because it lived in him.
In the same way our membership in the Family of God is a verification and confirmation of our ministry. You know that is why we call it confirmation when a person publicly proclaims Jesus as their Lord. Because through the church, at that moment, God declares "This is my child." And having heard that Divine proclamation we can go forth in faith. We can go forth knowing that the Holy Spirit of God who dwells in us is greater than all the powers of evil in this world.
John said "I baptize with water but the one who comes after me will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire." In other words the Messiah would bring the real thing. And when Jesus came, God sent the spirit on him. And Luke tells us it was real and substantial. It looked like a dove and was in bodily form. And God claimed Jesus as his Son so that he could pour out the Holy Spirit and Fire on us.
Is God real in your life? It God substantial in your existence? Do you known the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in you? Does Jesus live in your heart and does that give you peace and strength and hope and love? And are you real and genuine for God and the world.
Consider Jesus' Baptism and follow his example. Turn from your life and turn to God. Allow him to flood your soul with his Spirit. Then go forth and live like a child of God.
This is how the story of the Good News of Jesus goes. Like the prophet Isaiah used to says, �I�m sending a messenger ahead of me to get thing ready. He�ll be like someone yelling in the wilderness �the King is coming�� So John the baptizer showed up in the wilderness and started a camp meeting. He would preach that people needed to change their lives and get baptized.
People from parts all over came to hear John. Even city folk came and some even got baptized by him. Now John didn�t even take up an offering at these camp meetings. He didn�t need to because he lived off the land and wore whatever he could find.
And when he preached, John would tell people that one who was more powerful than him would come and baptize them with fire and the Holy Spirit. Then one day it happened. Jesus came to John�s camp meeting and was baptized. As Jesus came up out of the river the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. And as if that weren't enough, God spoke out of heaven and said, �You are by son whom I love and who makes me proud.�
-(act like sermon is over)-
Have you ever gotten the feeling like there�s got to be more? I remember when I was in High School. We all thought that life would be perfect when we had moved away from home and had our own place and our own wheels. Some of us went off to college or went to work. And we discovered that we had our own place and our own wheels. And we had this feeling that there had to be more.
Some people think that when they become financially secure and have a stable trusting relationship and a family that they will have arrived. But every day people with loving families and comfortable jobs up and leave it all. They excuse it as a "mid-life crisis." But at the heart of it is a feeling that there�s got to be more. More than the days to day responsibilities of life.
And then there are the people who either live for the weekend or for retirement. And when that time of rest or retirement comes they are at a loss. They feel that there�s got to be more. There simply has to be more to life than the things we strive for so often.
That is how I think the people of Jerusalem felt in Jesus� day. They had it all. The city folk had the Romans to keep the peace. And despite the taxes, and sometimes because of them, they had economic security. The people in the city were often on the government�s good side too. So they were comfortable.
Yet they came out to see John. They might have come in part to see a spectacle. I am sure in his camle's hair robe and with his fiery preaching he must have put on quite a show. But some of them were touched by him and changed. Even tax collectors repented and were baptized.
They must have been looking for more. Even John said, "There�s got to be more." He said that there was another coming after him that was even more amazing. That this amazing one would baptize them not with mere water to symbolized the spirit of God but with the actual fire of the Holy Spirit. Then as if on cue there came Jesus. And the heavens opened and God said, �You are my son.�
There's got to be more! Maybe even God felt that way once. The Bible tells us that in the beginning the world was a formless void, and that the spirit of the Lord swept over the universe. I guess as God looked at that formless void God thought �There�s Got to be more.� So God said, �Let there be light� And suddenly there was light.
But we all know that there was still more. It took five more days for God to be satisfied with the universe. It is as if each morning God looked at the universe and said, "There's got to be more." So God said, "Let there be land" or "Let there be a sun and moon and stars." Then finally plants and animals and humans.
But even that was not all. There was a whole history of things and people. God kept talking to the people and doing things for them And the Bible says that God is not finished. There was much more to come.
Paul knew that there was more. The lesson from acts tells us how Paul told some people about it. During his travels Paul met some believers who had never heard of the Holy Spirit. They had been baptized by either John or one of his disciples. They had heard of Jesus and believed in him but had not heard the whole story. Some how no one had told them about how Jesus sent the Holy Spirit.
So Paul filled them in. There was more than just surrendering ones life and confessing ones sin to God. There was also the very presence of God living in our midst.
And so they accepted the Gospel. They had received the Jewish baptism that symbolized repentance. But now they received a Christian baptism that symbolized adoption as children of God through Jesus Christ. And Jesus entered their hearts and they received the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever had the feeling there�s got to be more? If you have you are right. There is more! There is more to life than the things that most people strive for. There is more than wealth, and power and security and admiration.
There is Jesus! But even then there is more. Yes, I said there is more. No, there is not more than Jesus. There is more of Jesus.
Even after we have surrendered ourselves to God in Christ and been baptized into the death and resurrection, there is still more. There is more worship, more devotion, more praise, and more service. Too often people think that baptism or accepting Christ is the end. They think at that point they have arrived. John, the pioneer baptist, said there is more. Even God at the dawn of time foresaw more. And Paul told the disciples of Jesus there is more.
If you have even felt there�s got to be more you were right. There is the one who comes to pour out the Holy Spirit and fire. There is Jesus and a life dedicated to knowing and serving him. And that is more than you or anyone else could have hoped for!
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
"Remember your baptism." The first time I encountered this statement it was in an Episcopal church and they were going through a service of reaffirming their baptism. It seems a rather curious statement to me. I don't remember my baptism. I was baptized as an infant. My wife on the other hand was baptized as a young person and she remembers going to the altar to tell the preacher she wanted to be baptized and then being baptized later on.
But this was not a Baptist preacher telling the congregation to remember their baptisms. It was an Episcopalian priest. I am sure that the majority of his congregation were also baptized as infants as I was. What's more, the words he was reading were from a service that probably dated back to a time in England when being baptized as an infant was an almost automatic thing.
How can I and all those other people who were infants when we were baptized "remember" our baptisms. Certainly this means more than just recalling an event in my personal history. Something bigger is involved here. And I think the key to it is found in the baptism of Jesus himself. His baptism is a model for our understanding of baptism.
The Bible tells us that for the first 30 years of his life Jesus lived the life of an ordinary person. He worked every day of the week and then went to the synagogue on the Sabbath and the temple for special holy days. Then as his cousin John was preaching, he knew the time had come to begin to fulfill the mission for which he came to Earth. So he went down to be baptized by John. Remember John's baptism was a baptism for repentance. And many sinners and tax collectors responded to John's preaching by being baptized that turning from their lives of sin.
But Jesus had no sin to repent of. You see, the real meaning of the word "repent" is to turn from; to change direction. We all need to change direction from sinning to doing God's will. Jesus didn't need to do that because he had been doing God's will. But he was turning from his life as an ordinary carpenter to his life as a teacher, example and then redeemer.
So Jesus came to John to be baptized and then something interesting happened. First the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus. Then God the Father put in his two cents. He said "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.
Now of course Jesus had been Gods' Son since before his birth. But in that moment God was stating this important fact because this is the fact which defined Jesus' actions from that point forward. Jesus came to John because he was the Son of God. He would teach and heal and work wonders because he was the Son of God. Then he would die and rise again because he was the Son of God!
Baptism is primarily about what God does! That's where most people misunderstand baptism. They think baptism is about what we do. An actual baptism involved our actions, but only as a response to what God has already done. Our action is to come to be baptized or to bring our children to be baptized and then to affirm our faith in Jesus Christ. But ultimately that is all in response to what God has already done.
And what is it that God has done? God has called you to be his child. He has claimed you. We were all orphaned by sin and God has said "You are my beloved child." The Almighty has declared it for all who care to listen: you are a child of God and you make God happy!
That is why it is so important that we baptize small children. Because baptism is something that is done for them. And it symbolizes the fact that God has claimed us before we were able to say yea or nay. Since God has claimed each of us and our children to be His, we respond to that by symbolizing his actions. The way Christians have traditionally symbolized this is through baptism. And just as the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus so the waters of baptism are poured out. In the act of baptizing the church recognizes and affirms that God has called us as his children.
Remember your baptism. God has said of each of you "You are my beloved child." Jayne, you are my beloved daughter. Tom, you are my beloved son. Susan, you are my beloved daughter. Alex, you are my beloved son.
God has called you to be his child. And through Jesus he has signed the adoption papers in his own blood. Jesus Christ the only begotten Son or God, who lived a perfect sinless life, died for you. All we need to do is accept that gift of God's grace.
God has graciously called you are His son or daughter. What will you do? Believe in Jesus Christ! Give your life to him. He didn't ask you if you wanted him to die for your sins. He did it for you before you were able to say yae or nay.
So what will you say now? Now that God has claimed you as His child? Say, "I give my life to Christ." Ask Him into your heart. Respond to His call on your life. Remember your baptism!