"All Washed Up! God's Ever New Gift!" Titus 3:4-7
Series: Christmas Sermons - Historic One Year Lectionary Epistles - Lutheran
December 25, 2023
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
We confess in Luther's Large Catechism: "83 Thus it appears what a great, excellent thing Baptism is, which delivers us from the jaws of the devil and makes us God’s own, suppresses and takes away sin, and then daily strengthens the new man; and is and remains ever efficacious until we pass from this estate of misery to eternal glory. 84 For this reason let every one esteem his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly, that he may ever be found in the faith and its fruits, that he suppress the old man and grow up in the new. 85 For if we would be Christians, we must practise the work whereby we are Christians. 86 But if any one fall away from it, let him again come into it. For just as Christ, the Mercy-seat, does not recede from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. If, therefore, we have once in Baptism obtained forgiveness of sin, it will remain every day, as long as we live, that is, as long as we carry the old man about our neck." Sermon text: Titus 3:4-7. Sermon Theme: "All Washed Up! God's Ever New Gift!" preached for Christmas Dawn/Day, 25-December-2023, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Christmas Dawn, The Nativity of our Lord 12/25/23
Sermon Text: Titus 3:4-7
Sermon Theme: “All Washed Up! God’s Ever New Gift!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I. God’s kindness and love appears in human history! (Vs.4)
II. God’s mercy alone saves sinners through baptism!(vs. 5)
III. Baptism saves by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! (Vs.6)
IV. Our baptismal inheritance never fades away! (Vs.7)
I.N.R.I. “I remember when I was young, Ma would give us kids a bath once a year at Christmas, whether we needed it or not.” My Dad would tease his mother at Christmas time. Grandma would object and they both would laugh. Where there is love, there is laughter.
A kind loving mother would never let her rambunctious boys go a year without washing them up. Ma had her children bathe every Saturday night so they’d be ready for church Sunday morning. A habit that followed my Dad into adulthood. Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Grandpa and Grandma treasured Christ Jesus, His Word, His Church, His prayer instilling it in their children from infancy. They brought their infant children to be baptized by Jesus. Sometimes in their own home by their pastor, for no infant was guaranteed to live into childhood. They buried two sons who died in infancy. Adam’s rebellious legacy infects all creation. Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— The wages of sin is death it is all we deserve even as infants - with David we must confess: “Psa 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God’s gift! Born of the Virgin Mary - His eternally only begotten Son has taken our humanity into Himself. God the Son has become One of us in His incarnation and birth. God the Son has become One with Us - Jesus - Savior of sinners - Emmanuel - God WITH US! Eternal life is gifted sinners in Christ Jesus! How can I be certain? Have I done enough to deserve the Gift? Been good enough? Tried by my own thinking and doing to believe sincerely enough? - isn’t that what the false Santa Claus theology teach us - we need to be “good for goodness sake” to get Christmas presents. But if eternal life is something we earn - it isn’t a gift - it is wages.
God gives us what we could never earn - eternal life only in the Gift - Christ Jesus OUR LORD! The only saving faith confesses: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
How is the Gift of Christmas made yours? By Faith. How is faith given? Never by your own reason or strength - only by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel - the Good News the angel preached to Bethlehem shepherds when Jesus was born - a Savior - Christ the Lord. Peace breaks out in the flesh and blood of Jesus - God is reconciling us sinners and our sin polluted creation back to Himself only through His Son! Peace on earth! Good will toward men! God the Father’s good and gracious will is to save sinners, through Christ Jesus, by Holy Spirit worked and Gospel sustained faith through cross won and empty tomb certified forgiveness.
The GIFT is FOR YOU! Rom 6:3-5 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” Rejoice this morning like the Bethlehem sheperds to behold God’s GIFT! You are: “All Washed Up! God’s Ever New Gift!” I. God’s kindness and love appears in human history! (Vs.4) II. God’s mercy alone saves sinners through baptism!(vs. 5) III. Baptism saves by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! (Vs.6) IV. Our baptismal inheritance never fades away! (Vs.7)
I. St. Paul writes young pastor Titus, whom he had instructed and sent to preach in Crete, establishing congregations and teaching more faithful men to answer Christ’s call into the ministry. Titus had a challenging congregation. Paul warns Titus, “Tit 1:10-14 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, (11) whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. (12) One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." (13) This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (14) not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.” Jewish fables and commandments of men turn many away from God’s ever new GIFT - to trust in their own goodness and self-chosen worship.
Fix your eyes only upon Jesus - the Author and Finisher of your salvation! (Titus 3:4) Justice demanded that we should die and spend eternity in hell. God’s Law is eternal and unchangeable. The soul which sins it shall die! Our father Adam tried to hide from reality. Fig leaves couldn’t cover his guilt and shame. Running with Satan away from Life and Light meant only death and hell. Blaming that woman - only further fractured their marriage. The Lord God’s kindness appeared that day. He came seek the lost. He called him by name, ‘Adam, where are you?” He called Adam to be honest about what he had done - confessing his sin. Adam played the blame game, as did his separated wife. The kindness and love of God appeared in the promise He spoke while cursing that old serpent the devil. War was declared on the father of lies. The murderer from the beginning would not triumph - the Virgin would conceive and bear a Son. He came to crush Satan’s head, to stop his incessant spiritual lies. He came to take all the venom Satan could muster into His own innocent flesh and suffer the hell we deserved. He came to pour out His blood - the blood of God - to restore life to mankind - to creation.
Christ’s incarnation by the Holy Spirit through the Promise preached by Gabriel to the Virgin Mary - is God’s kindness and brotherly love appearing to sinful rebellious man. In Jesus the love of God our Savior shines forth! Satan lied that God’s Word of Promise wasn’t enough - he lied that God doesn’t care for you - you have to get what you want by yourself. His lies enslave and tear us from God our Savior.
II. “Christ has saved us once for all, and in a two fold manner. First, He has done all that is necessary for our salvation - conquered and destroyed sin, death, and hell. Secondly He has conveyed all these blessings unto us in baptism. He who confidently believes Christ has accomplished these things immediately, in the twinkling of an eye, possesses salvation” (M.Luther, Church Ep. Postils, 2nd Christmas Sermon. Para. 24) Listen: (Titus 3:4-5) Sinners are not saved by trying to do better. They are saved through Christ in Holy Baptism! How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God's word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,”
The only living God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - the Holy Trinity - save us sinners according to His mercy. Mercy in sending His Son to be our Substitute to fully satisfy the Laws demands and fully pay the debt of hell our sins deserved. He birthed us from above in Holy Baptism - the washing of regeneration. Baptism brings us from death to life, from Satan to God, from hell to heaven!
How can this be? God does it all! His Word and promise give, effect, seal the GIFT to you! Baptism is only and always God’s work - His every new gift!
Beware of those who rail against infant baptism. They take your eyes off of Christ Jesus, conceived FOR YOU - covering your sin in the womb - born FOR YOU - proclaiming peace between God and Man. Growing up FOR YOU - perfectly fulfilling all of God’s commandment in every thought, word, and deed as your Substitute. Suffering and dying FOR YOU! It is finished! Payment is made. Risen FOR YOU - death is destroyed - His Life is yours!
It is all His Work - His doing - His gift! “The true Christian’s whole life after baptism is but a waiting for the manifestation of the salvation already his. He is certainly in full possession of eternal life yet concealed in faith.”(M.Luther, Church Ep. Postils, 2nd Christmas Sermon. Para. 25)
III. Trust your crucified and risen Savior’s Word - Mar 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.Listen! (Titus 3:4-6) Upon Jesus’ birth - the Holy angel preached the good news to the shepherds. Then all heaven broke forth upon earth - the holy angelic army joined in a song of victory. The fallen angel Satan and his demonic hosts heard their death knell in their song of joy in Christ Jesus!
From Jesus’ pierced side blood and water flowed upon this world from His cross. This is our only victory over Satan, sin, death, and hell - we overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb - Jesus - the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world - all your sin! Now the Holy Spirit daily and richly applies to you and all believers the victory of Calvary, the testimony of His empty tomb - forgiveness of all your sins!
Beware of Satan’s white spiritual lie which turns faith into your own work. Faith in faith never saves. Faith in Jesus Christ Our Savior alone saves - now and forever.
IV. The Christian is like a fish - we only live and thrive in the water of Holy Baptism. This is your inheritance - your birthright being born again by God the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus to know God is your loving Father! Listen! (Titus 3:4-7) You are justified - yesterday, today, and forever in the waters of Holy Baptism - it is Jesus ever new gift to you. It is God the Holy Spirit’s ever renewing gift in you!
We confess: Therefore every Christian has enough in Baptism to learn and to practise all his life; for he has always enough to do to believe firmly what it promises and brings: victory over death and the devil, forgiveness of sin, the grace of God, the entire Christ, and the Holy Ghost with His gifts. 42 In short, it is so transcendent that if timid nature could realize it, it might well doubt whether it could be true. 43 For consider, if there were somewhere a physician who understood the art of saving men from dying, or, even though they died, of restoring them speedily to life, so that they would thereafter live forever, how the world would pour in money like snow and rain, so that because of the throng of the rich no one could find access! But here in Baptism there is brought free to every one’s door such a treasure and medicine as utterly destroys death and preserves all men alive. 44 Thus we must regard Baptism and make it profitable to ourselves, that when our sins and conscience oppress us, we strengthen ourselves and take comfort and say: Nevertheless I am baptized; but if I am baptized, it is promised me that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body.(L.C. part IV, para.41-44). Rejoice today you are all washed up! Ever made new in baptism - in Christ Jesus YOUR SAVIOR!
My Dad and his parents baptized bodies now rest in the earth. Their baptism is still at work preserving them until Christ’s final coming in glory. Then the Holy Spirit will complete their baptism. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. Amen.
Sermon Text: Titus 3:4-7
Sermon Theme: “All Washed Up! God’s Ever New Gift!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I. God’s kindness and love appears in human history! (Vs.4)
II. God’s mercy alone saves sinners through baptism!(vs. 5)
III. Baptism saves by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! (Vs.6)
IV. Our baptismal inheritance never fades away! (Vs.7)
I.N.R.I. “I remember when I was young, Ma would give us kids a bath once a year at Christmas, whether we needed it or not.” My Dad would tease his mother at Christmas time. Grandma would object and they both would laugh. Where there is love, there is laughter.
A kind loving mother would never let her rambunctious boys go a year without washing them up. Ma had her children bathe every Saturday night so they’d be ready for church Sunday morning. A habit that followed my Dad into adulthood. Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Grandpa and Grandma treasured Christ Jesus, His Word, His Church, His prayer instilling it in their children from infancy. They brought their infant children to be baptized by Jesus. Sometimes in their own home by their pastor, for no infant was guaranteed to live into childhood. They buried two sons who died in infancy. Adam’s rebellious legacy infects all creation. Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— The wages of sin is death it is all we deserve even as infants - with David we must confess: “Psa 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God’s gift! Born of the Virgin Mary - His eternally only begotten Son has taken our humanity into Himself. God the Son has become One of us in His incarnation and birth. God the Son has become One with Us - Jesus - Savior of sinners - Emmanuel - God WITH US! Eternal life is gifted sinners in Christ Jesus! How can I be certain? Have I done enough to deserve the Gift? Been good enough? Tried by my own thinking and doing to believe sincerely enough? - isn’t that what the false Santa Claus theology teach us - we need to be “good for goodness sake” to get Christmas presents. But if eternal life is something we earn - it isn’t a gift - it is wages.
God gives us what we could never earn - eternal life only in the Gift - Christ Jesus OUR LORD! The only saving faith confesses: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. Who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
How is the Gift of Christmas made yours? By Faith. How is faith given? Never by your own reason or strength - only by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel - the Good News the angel preached to Bethlehem shepherds when Jesus was born - a Savior - Christ the Lord. Peace breaks out in the flesh and blood of Jesus - God is reconciling us sinners and our sin polluted creation back to Himself only through His Son! Peace on earth! Good will toward men! God the Father’s good and gracious will is to save sinners, through Christ Jesus, by Holy Spirit worked and Gospel sustained faith through cross won and empty tomb certified forgiveness.
The GIFT is FOR YOU! Rom 6:3-5 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” Rejoice this morning like the Bethlehem sheperds to behold God’s GIFT! You are: “All Washed Up! God’s Ever New Gift!” I. God’s kindness and love appears in human history! (Vs.4) II. God’s mercy alone saves sinners through baptism!(vs. 5) III. Baptism saves by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! (Vs.6) IV. Our baptismal inheritance never fades away! (Vs.7)
I. St. Paul writes young pastor Titus, whom he had instructed and sent to preach in Crete, establishing congregations and teaching more faithful men to answer Christ’s call into the ministry. Titus had a challenging congregation. Paul warns Titus, “Tit 1:10-14 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, (11) whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. (12) One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." (13) This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (14) not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.” Jewish fables and commandments of men turn many away from God’s ever new GIFT - to trust in their own goodness and self-chosen worship.
Fix your eyes only upon Jesus - the Author and Finisher of your salvation! (Titus 3:4) Justice demanded that we should die and spend eternity in hell. God’s Law is eternal and unchangeable. The soul which sins it shall die! Our father Adam tried to hide from reality. Fig leaves couldn’t cover his guilt and shame. Running with Satan away from Life and Light meant only death and hell. Blaming that woman - only further fractured their marriage. The Lord God’s kindness appeared that day. He came seek the lost. He called him by name, ‘Adam, where are you?” He called Adam to be honest about what he had done - confessing his sin. Adam played the blame game, as did his separated wife. The kindness and love of God appeared in the promise He spoke while cursing that old serpent the devil. War was declared on the father of lies. The murderer from the beginning would not triumph - the Virgin would conceive and bear a Son. He came to crush Satan’s head, to stop his incessant spiritual lies. He came to take all the venom Satan could muster into His own innocent flesh and suffer the hell we deserved. He came to pour out His blood - the blood of God - to restore life to mankind - to creation.
Christ’s incarnation by the Holy Spirit through the Promise preached by Gabriel to the Virgin Mary - is God’s kindness and brotherly love appearing to sinful rebellious man. In Jesus the love of God our Savior shines forth! Satan lied that God’s Word of Promise wasn’t enough - he lied that God doesn’t care for you - you have to get what you want by yourself. His lies enslave and tear us from God our Savior.
II. “Christ has saved us once for all, and in a two fold manner. First, He has done all that is necessary for our salvation - conquered and destroyed sin, death, and hell. Secondly He has conveyed all these blessings unto us in baptism. He who confidently believes Christ has accomplished these things immediately, in the twinkling of an eye, possesses salvation” (M.Luther, Church Ep. Postils, 2nd Christmas Sermon. Para. 24) Listen: (Titus 3:4-5) Sinners are not saved by trying to do better. They are saved through Christ in Holy Baptism! How can water do such great things? Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God's word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit,”
The only living God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - the Holy Trinity - save us sinners according to His mercy. Mercy in sending His Son to be our Substitute to fully satisfy the Laws demands and fully pay the debt of hell our sins deserved. He birthed us from above in Holy Baptism - the washing of regeneration. Baptism brings us from death to life, from Satan to God, from hell to heaven!
How can this be? God does it all! His Word and promise give, effect, seal the GIFT to you! Baptism is only and always God’s work - His every new gift!
Beware of those who rail against infant baptism. They take your eyes off of Christ Jesus, conceived FOR YOU - covering your sin in the womb - born FOR YOU - proclaiming peace between God and Man. Growing up FOR YOU - perfectly fulfilling all of God’s commandment in every thought, word, and deed as your Substitute. Suffering and dying FOR YOU! It is finished! Payment is made. Risen FOR YOU - death is destroyed - His Life is yours!
It is all His Work - His doing - His gift! “The true Christian’s whole life after baptism is but a waiting for the manifestation of the salvation already his. He is certainly in full possession of eternal life yet concealed in faith.”(M.Luther, Church Ep. Postils, 2nd Christmas Sermon. Para. 25)
III. Trust your crucified and risen Savior’s Word - Mar 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.Listen! (Titus 3:4-6) Upon Jesus’ birth - the Holy angel preached the good news to the shepherds. Then all heaven broke forth upon earth - the holy angelic army joined in a song of victory. The fallen angel Satan and his demonic hosts heard their death knell in their song of joy in Christ Jesus!
From Jesus’ pierced side blood and water flowed upon this world from His cross. This is our only victory over Satan, sin, death, and hell - we overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb - Jesus - the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world - all your sin! Now the Holy Spirit daily and richly applies to you and all believers the victory of Calvary, the testimony of His empty tomb - forgiveness of all your sins!
Beware of Satan’s white spiritual lie which turns faith into your own work. Faith in faith never saves. Faith in Jesus Christ Our Savior alone saves - now and forever.
IV. The Christian is like a fish - we only live and thrive in the water of Holy Baptism. This is your inheritance - your birthright being born again by God the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus to know God is your loving Father! Listen! (Titus 3:4-7) You are justified - yesterday, today, and forever in the waters of Holy Baptism - it is Jesus ever new gift to you. It is God the Holy Spirit’s ever renewing gift in you!
We confess: Therefore every Christian has enough in Baptism to learn and to practise all his life; for he has always enough to do to believe firmly what it promises and brings: victory over death and the devil, forgiveness of sin, the grace of God, the entire Christ, and the Holy Ghost with His gifts. 42 In short, it is so transcendent that if timid nature could realize it, it might well doubt whether it could be true. 43 For consider, if there were somewhere a physician who understood the art of saving men from dying, or, even though they died, of restoring them speedily to life, so that they would thereafter live forever, how the world would pour in money like snow and rain, so that because of the throng of the rich no one could find access! But here in Baptism there is brought free to every one’s door such a treasure and medicine as utterly destroys death and preserves all men alive. 44 Thus we must regard Baptism and make it profitable to ourselves, that when our sins and conscience oppress us, we strengthen ourselves and take comfort and say: Nevertheless I am baptized; but if I am baptized, it is promised me that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body.(L.C. part IV, para.41-44). Rejoice today you are all washed up! Ever made new in baptism - in Christ Jesus YOUR SAVIOR!
My Dad and his parents baptized bodies now rest in the earth. Their baptism is still at work preserving them until Christ’s final coming in glory. Then the Holy Spirit will complete their baptism. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. Amen.
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