...the heavens were opened; so at our baptism the gates of heaven are opened to our souls. At the baptism of Christ all three persons of the adorable Trinity were present; so they are at our baptism. And so in that word of promise, which is united to the element of water, faith receives the grace of the heavenly Father who adopts us, the merit of the blessed Son who cleanses us from sin, and the efficacious working of the Holy Spirit who regenerates us. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditation XVIITo Jordan came the Christ our Lord
To do His Father's pleasure.
Baptized by John the Father's Word
Was given us to treasure.
This heavenly washing now shall be
A cleansing from transgression
And by His blood and agony
Release from death's oppression.
A new life now awaits us!
LSB 406:1
How can we not rejoice at such a gift! What a treasure we have in Holy Baptism.
ReplyDeleteChristine
Also at what a treasure we have in Gerhard. Do we ever think that the author of Sacred Meditations was not the grey haired bearded guy in the usual image of him, renowned theologian even in his own time, but a 23 year old theology student! Hell, now he'd probably be told to knock all that maintenance stuff off and be a Youth Group Leader or pastor or whatever to get kids ready for mission. The meditations ought to remind us too that solid Lutheranism is something young people can bloody well handle, and not only handle but champion like this 23 year old!
ReplyDeleteI particulary enjoy St. Mark's account where he states the clouds were rent open (literally tore) as the curtain in the Holy of Holies was during Good Friday.
ReplyDeleteWow, great points about Gerhard, Past Elder! He IS a treasure!
ReplyDeleteChristine