Saturday September 19, 2020 - Deny Yourself in Baptism

Fourthly.

What does such baptizing with water signify?--Answer.

It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?--Answer.

St. Paul says Romans, chapter 6: We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

As the focus for this week was on bearing our crosses, we look at how we begin to bear our crosses. Jesus started by telling his disciples that "they must deny themselves. What does it mean to deny ones self? How do you do that?

Denying yourself means that you put off your sinful nature. It means that you put to death the evil deeds and desires that come from your sinful nature. We do this through the waters of baptism.

Baptism is not just a one and done thing. Baptism creates a change in us that lasts for our whole life. Even babies that are baptized are changed. As they grow to understand their sinfulness and the love of Jesus, our job is to teach them to drown their old Adam and to live according to their new man.

As you strive to follow Jesus, deny yourself. Drown your old Adam in the waters of your baptism everyday. And live guided by the new man in you. Amen.

Our song for today is “All Christians Who Have Been Baptized”

All Christians Who Have Been Baptized - LSB 596