Due to a technical glitch, there is no audio or video of this sermon.<\/p>\n
Sunday, December 13, 2015 \u00a0Advent
\nThird Sunday of Advent
\nYear C<\/p>\n
Old Testament<\/i> Zephaniah 3:14\u201320
\nNew Testament<\/i> Philippians 4:4\u20137
\nGospel<\/i> Luke 3:7\u201318<\/p>\n
John\u2019s baptism is a break from how the Jews traditionally removed their sins.\u00a0 Once a year, the Jews would come to the Temple on the day of atonement.\u00a0 At which time an animal sacrifice was performed as atonement for sins. \u00a0Of the burnt offerings made, two goats were brought before the Lord.\u00a0 One was sacrificed and the other after presentation, was sent off into the wilderness.\u00a0 Thus the term scape goat, the sins sent off on the goat into the wilderness.<\/p>\n
However, John\u2019s baptism for the forgiveness of sins is based upon a need for repentance of sins and a washing clean in water.\u00a0 There is still a catch.\u00a0 The doing of good works, the bearing of good fruit prevents the ax from chopping down the tree that does not bear good fruit, the doing of good works.\u00a0 How the Jews are to live in their covenant with God, is a a people of the Law.\u00a0 They are called in their covenant with God to take care of the widows, orphans, poor and the stranger.<\/p>\n
On the day of atonement, the sins committed are atoned for in burnt offerings and sins sent off on the goat.\u00a0 The people are still to follow the law.\u00a0 John asks for the people to repent, to change their hearts and minds, to be cleansed and commit sins no more.\u00a0 How, by caring for others, acting out of fairness.\u00a0 There is no animal, no person, nothing to dump their sins upon.\u00a0 There is a need, an expectation, of a change in heart and mind before being washed of their sins.\u00a0 There is an expectation of doing things different than they had been before.<\/p>\n
John\u2019s baptism is only a preparation for something radically different.\u00a0 Even though John\u2019s baptism calls for a change, Jesus\u2019s baptism is very different than even John\u2019s baptism.\u00a0 Jesus baptism is not of water but of the Spirit and fire.\u00a0 That can seem confusing, when we baptize now, we use water.\u00a0 Our baptisms in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in which we use water is an outward symbol of an inward change.<\/p>\n
Jesus\u2019s baptism brings the Spirit into the lives of those baptized.\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 baptism cleanses us through His Fire.\u00a0 Jesus fire of cleansing is different than what we hear about the fire that will consume the shaff of the wheat is a part of the plant that is of waste, it has little value it is not the fruit of wheat, it is not the good parts of wheat.\u00a0 The fire that the shaff is sent to, consumes and consumes and does not stop.\u00a0 Yet the fire that Jesus baptizes in, does not consume but cleanses.<\/p>\n
There are no requirements to Jesus\u2019s baptism, wellllll, other than a belief in or a want to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.\u00a0 A child when baptized in our faith tradition, has no idea of their need, their want or anything else in relation to Jesus.\u00a0 The parents and God parents are the ones that promise to raise the child in faith, so that when they come of age, confirmation time, they can take on their own fait walk, their own responsibilities for the promises made at the time of their baptism.<\/p>\n
Unlike John\u2019s baptism, there is no requirement of repentance, no requirement for bearing of fruit, good works.\u00a0 That being said, it is a change of heart through faith, through prayer, through our baptism that we respond to God, in what the Son and Spirit do for us.\u00a0 We do good works, we respond because we feel compelled to respond in ways that respect what is done for us.\u00a0 We do not bear false witness against our neighbor, we do not cheat one another, we treat one another as we wish to be treated and we love God with all our hearts.<\/p>\n
Now, maybe you have experienced or are experiencing right now, mistreatment by a baptized Christian.\u00a0 You may be wondering what about this change in people.\u00a0 Change is a learning experience.\u00a0 It is not something that comes natural and when change does not always work out, you just keep on trying, knowing that you are forgiven in the death of Jesus.\u00a0 We are baptized into Jesus\u2019s death and share in His redemption, no matter what.\u00a0 It is not conditional but by the Grace of God, the forgiveness is unconditional.<\/p>\n
How does that help the person who is not experiencing love and care by Christians around them?\u00a0 That is when we can turn to what Paul says today in his letter to the Philippians.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>4\u00a0<\/sup>Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5\u00a0<\/sup>Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6\u00a0<\/sup>Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7\u00a0<\/sup>And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [1]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n The time of Advent and the time of Christmas can seem like a lonely and scary time.\u00a0 Know that despite the turmoil around you, you can always count on the Lord.\u00a0 Even with the hustle and bustle, even in all the shouts and rumors that may surround you, hear words of Psalm 46:10, 10<\/sup>\u201cBe still, and know that I am God!…\u201d Hold onto the words of Psalm 37:7 which says; 7<\/sup> Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; \u00a0do not fret over those who prosper in their way, \u00a0over those who carry out evil devices. [2]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, who changes us all, through our baptism in his death.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/sup><\/sup><\/a> The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version<\/em> (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Php 4:4\u20137.<\/p>\n