Dividing Flames of Fire Insofar as this sermon is a true proclamation of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, it belongs to Him and His Church. Therefore its use is free to all who deem it worthy and beneficial.
Rev. Kurt Hering Layton, UT For the MP3 audio, go to: http://www.lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=1170 Here is the preaching manuscript: Grace, mercy and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord. TEXT: Mark 1:4-11 4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." A new year-out with the old in with the new. That is what is happening at the Jordan river, where the lsraelites crossed from the wilderness into the promised land, now the Christ of God does the same, taking His people with Him. Here we have not only the life of Christ, but the life of the Church and of the Christian. a.. Law/Gospel b.. Prophecy/fulfillment c.. Water/Spirit d.. OT/NT e.. Repentance/forgiveness The Lord Jesus Christ, the God/man, is baptized into His ministry of forgiveness of sins for you. You are baptized into the name of the One true God-- Father, Son and Holy Spirit-and what happened at Jesus baptism happens at yours. a.. The Father calls you His beloved son with whom He is well pleased b.. You arise out of the water born a new man who arises out of the water to go about your daily life c.. The Holy Spirit descends upon you with God's peace and power to do good works d.. The devil tempts you e.. The world blasts you f.. Your own flesh fails you Back to the life of Jesus for a moment. What happens next for Him? W/o too much detail, since we will be looking at Mark's account of Christ's life until December, we see from Mark's short, action-packed Gospel that Jesus' life was full of good works (miracles) that He does in the course of His real ministry-calling disciples & preaching the Gospel. Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (NKJ) The miraculous nature of His good works demonstrates His authority and power as the Son of God, but His ministry is to bring the kingdom of God to sinners by bringing them to repent and believe the Gospel of forgiveness of sins. One other thing is happening as well-all of this leads to His death. Again that is true for us also. But here is where Christ's life as an example ends and His life as Substitute and Savior takes over. Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the only man born to die as His very purpose for being born in the first place. Every one else from Adam and Eve to you and me was born out of God's love, that according to His will your purpose would be to live forever-with Him in heaven. At least, that is, according to God's plan from the before the foundations of the world and according to His creation. It is only because of sin that you surely must die, not because God wants it that way. 4We 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. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. At our Baptism the life of Christ begins in us-- full of good works (miracles) that He does in the course of His real ministry--making believers out of us by calling us into the kingdom of God, His Father, through repentance and forgiveness of sins. And with the kingdom of God, or rather at the same time yet against that kingdom of God, comes all the same fury that was brought to bear upon our Lord, and for the same reason, keep you from being saved. a.. The devil tempts you b.. The world blasts you c.. Your own flesh fails you This is true both of every Christian as an individual, and of Christians as they are gathered by the Holy Spirit in the one true catholic and apostolic Church where He keeps them with Christ Jesus in the one true faith. I heard a funny story yesterday that illustrates this rather well, perhaps you've heard it. The Rocky Mountain District of our Missouri Synod is paying my salary. Now this might not seem like much of an assault, and it might even be born of some very well-meaning soul thinking are somehow helping God or His people here at Trinity. But it is just one more in a series of untruths which are being employed knowingly or unknowingly to undermine the ministry of repentance and forgiveness of sins here and tear God's people away from the kingdom of God. Some of those untruths have gone so far as to accuse me of false teaching and being uncaring--thus accusing you of being supportive of false teaching and uncaring as well. Have you ever known me in my office as pastor ever be about anything but giving you Christ and Him crucified that you repent, be forgive, believe, and receive the kingdom of God? This pastor, sinner and weak though he may be, has never refused to Baptize, commune, marry, bury a single soul who was willing to hear and be taught God's Word and agree with its truth. a.. 4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. b.. Matt 28:19-20 Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Again, we have the life of the Christian. Christ with you always in the discipling, baptizing, and teaching of everything he has commanded-that, is everything he has said about Himself, His Father, and His Holy Spirit. Far be it from me, or anyone else for that matter, to come between you and the God that wills and commands all of this for your sake. Interestingly enough, the Israelites shared this same life. Here the words of David a king and prophet of our Lord: Psalm 29:3-11 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! The voice of the Lord [indeed] flashes forth flames of fire. Breaks etc. And blesses etc. The Lord sits enthroned over the flood of your Baptism; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever among you his people. The Lord gives strength to you his people! The Lord blesses you his people with peace! Yes, all this for you sinners though you are--in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen ____________________________________________________________ Are you paying too much? 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