The funeral of your sin

Verse for the week: “The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” Psalm 29

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, gracious Father, you indeed are not a silent God, but the God who speaks. You have spoken that in the fight against the devil, the world, and our sinful selves it is not good for man to be alone. Speak today that our understanding of the calling of marriage may be strengthened and all households may be built up by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

Bible reading for the day: Romans 6.1-11 (note Written in 56 AD, Paul’s letter to the congregation in Rome is his systematic summary of Christian faith. Here he declares that your baptism is not license to sin; it is actually the funeral of your sin AND the birth of a new you.)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for putting my sin to death through my baptism into Christ and for raising up a new me who trusts Christ rather than myself. My old self, my old Adam, is a proud swimmer so he resists this drowning. But your death and resurrection are stronger… so by the power of your promise, free me daily to consider myself dead to sin and alive to you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKQJJ6xz1K0

What is baptism?

Baptism is not merely water; it is water used according to God's command and connected with God's Word.

What is this Word of God?

It is the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the last chapter of Matthew, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

What gifts or benefits does Baptism bring?

It brings about forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare.

What is this Word and promise of God?

It is the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the last chapter of Mark, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

benediction: The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.  (Philippians 4.7)

 

*The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN www.dailytext.com).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:

T: thanksgiving

                                                            R: regret (repentance)

                                                            I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)

                                                            P: plan or purpose

Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.