Easter 2022

Romans 6:8-14 (NIV) 8  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9  For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14  For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Most of us cannot remember the first time we were in church. That is because Christian practice had been that not soon after a child was born to Christian parents, they made arrangements with the pastor to have that child baptized into the Christian faith in a worship service not long after the child’s birth.

Exceptions:

Some parents desire to have the child baptized in the hospital regardless of the child’s physical health because they are concerned about its spiritual health.

Some parents choose to have an extended period between birth and baptism which may indicate a lack of belief concerning that “All of us are born into this world with a deep need for baptism. From our parents we inherit a sinful nature; we are without true fear of God and true faith in God and are condemned to eternal death. But Jesus took away our sin by giving his life on the cross. At our baptism he clothes us with the robe of his righteousness and gives us a new life.” Page 12 of the Baptismal Rite in Christian Worship.

In the Baptismal Rite we also emphasize the importance of teaching Christian truths to the newly baptized so that the child may remain a child of God until death.

This is also approached in different ways by parents. Some are very intentional about training up the child in the way they should go so that when they are old, they will not depart from it. They do this in the home and in the church. Others seem indifferent and wait way too long to carry out this responsibility and lose precious time in the religious upbringing of their children.

Another abuse of baptism is cited by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans. Here he is writing to adults who were baptized as adults and transitioned from being immoral pagans to godly believers. But they were reluctant to put away their past. They even bragged about what they considered to be a license to sin based on their baptism. St. Paul cites their hubris:

Romans 6:1–7 NIV84

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Rather than look at baptism as a free ride with no responsibility to live a godly life, he teaches that since we are connected with Jesus in his death and resurrection through baptism, our godly response should be to live for him who died for us and lives for God.

This is the point being made in our text. It presupposes that we believe certain things about Jesus.

Jesus died. This is the somber event we commemorated on Good Friday.

Jesus died for our sins. By his sacrificial death on the cross, he has redeemed us (lost and condemned sinners), not with gold or silver but with his holy precious blood and his innocent sufferings and death.

Jesus rose again.

Romans 6:9 (NIV) 9  For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

This is the glorious event we celebrate today and which gives us comfort and strength all the days of our lives.

He cannot die again and he now lives to God.

Romans 6:10 (NIV) 10  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

2 Corinthians 13:3–4 NIV84

3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.

He is at the right hand of God serving as our Prophet, Priest, and King.

Ephesians 1:22–23 NIV84

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Hebrews 1:1–3 NIV84

1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

St. Paul then applies the death, resurrection, and living rule of Jesus to our lives after baptism. No longer are we to wallow in sin and unbelief, but as redeemed children of God we are to live for Jesus.

Romans 6:11-14 (NIV) 11  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14  For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

How are we to do this?

By not indulging in sin and living as though Jesus never did anything for us.

And by dedicated our lives to Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NIV84

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Later in Romans, St. Paul gives these practical commands.

Romans 12:1–8 NIV84

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Conclusion; Easter is a wonderful celebration in which we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus and find comfort in our own eternal future in heaven.

Easter should also inspire us to live for Jesus every day of our lives as St. Paul clearly teaches. Amen.