Here We Stand in Baptismal Life

Christ is risen!

Here we stand in Easter story: perfect world, sin, Jesus die & rise, Jesus returning to unite all things in heaven & earth in resurrection to come

This side of resurrection, can be hard to see how we are a part of that story, what that story means for our lives:

“Feels like my relationship w/God is all up to me.”

“After being saved, it’s just all rules.”

“I only feel like God loves me when I feel spiritual highs.”

Baptism is Jesus' Easter gift of a new way of living this side of the resurrection. Easter means we stand in the gift of baptismal life.

Baptismal life begins by being chosen in love

In a culture of individualism, being a Christian “starts with me.”

We live lives of our own choosing: Republicans, Democrats, Bears fans, Packer fans; sign up for gmail accounts, credit cards, Costco memberships, email newsletters.

Treat being saved as another things we sign up for, choose to “accept Jesus.”

Live as if relationship w/God a one way street, on us to connect our lives to Jesus.

Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller (Has American Christianity Failed?) - revivalism: Christian life begins with a personal decision to accept Christ.

Not how Jesus works. Jesus chooses us, makes us his friends.

John 15:15-16 “I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you.”

Salvation is more than you signing up for a Jesus membership.

Just as God said, “Let there be light” and there was light, He claims you as His own by putting His name on you. Judgment Day verdict early!

Baptismal life means you live every day knowing that even despite all your defects, failures, sins, & unfaithfulness, God chose you anyway.

Baptismal life is marked chiefly by receiving forgiveness

Many Christians fall into the trap of thinking that being a Christian means living a holy life & doing good works.

Gospel w/strings attached, cross a bait-&-switch, Jesus a bribe. “Congrats, you’re saved, now get to work!”

Treadmill Christianity:

living like it’s really all about obedience to rules & good works

relationship w/God is determined by how holy your life is

either God proud of you because of your goodness or disappointed in you because of your sin

I own a treadmill at home, know how they work: big, ugly, mint-condition reminders that you’re out of shape.

Roller-coaster life of pride or despair; all on you to keep your salvation in good shape (read Bible more, sin less, pray more)

(Wolfmueller) pietism: Christian life is chiefly marked by growth in good works.

Gospel of forgiveness is chief marker of Christian life. Christian life is a life of love from God.

1 John 5:2–3 ESV

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Mothers don’t make up rules as an opportunity for kids to earn her love; wants kids to abide in her love!

No mom wants her kid thinking she doesn't love them. 1st rule of every mom: “I always love you.” Come home, play, eat, enjoy time together!

Baptismal life isn’t about trying to be holy, but going back again and again to Jesus’s forgiveness—that’s how you know you’re saved.

Baptismal life is the gift of objective, tangible comfort.

Got real: hospital visit to 90 y.o. man on death bed

Faithful Christian all his life, regular in church

Asked how he was feeling about dying: “Scared, how do I know I’m saved?”

You don’t have to be on your deathbed to feel that way.

We all feel far from God sometimes: Sin. Fear. Tragedy. Old pizza.

If we don’t feel close to God, we must not be; if we do feel close, we are

Supposed to have some sort of mystical connection to God; when you’re there when you “just know it.” (Song, sermon, nature, coffee)

All about chasing next spiritual high & finding next mountaintop experience; feel comfort of being saved

(Wolfmueller) mysticism: Christian life means having direct, unmediated access to God

You can know God loves you through your feelings, and when feelings are gone then God must not be there or love me.

God does not make His love known to you through your feelings, but through Jesus.

John 15:9 ESV

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Know what I told man in hospital? “It’s okay to feel scared. But God is still with you. You are baptized. You are His. Jesus died for you & you are forgiven. You will rise with Jesus.” Objective!

Baptismal life isn’t about feeling forgiven or close to God, but going to where God promises to be (Word/Sacrament) for objective, tangible comfort.

Baptism is Jesus' Easter gift of a new way of living this side of the resurrection

We don’t live as if it’s on us to choose God/as if Jesus demands holiness in order to love us/or as if we need to feel saved to be saved.

He isn’t looking for holy people to love, but He loves us into holiness.

His love isn’t conditional or transactional, but relentless and overflowing

His love isn’t “in theory” or fickle, but tangible and dependable

Jesus rose to give us the same relationship with God right now that we will have in the resurrection.

Baptismal life: living every day according to God’s goodness & love.

Christ is risen!