Sermon for 2nd Sunday of Epiphany. The Baptism of Christ.

Acts 10: 34 - 43

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Matthew 3: 13 - 17

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’

15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’

Three signs: the baptism of Jesus, our own baptism, and the cross.

In our reading from the Matthew's account of the life of Jesus we heard the story of how Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist.

As Jesus was coming up out of the water ‘he saw the heavens open and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”’

Here we have the voice of God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son, apparent in one narrative.

John the Baptist is working with the Trinity.

Matthew is writing of the Trinity.

This picture in words describes the belief of the Apostles in the one God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Baptism of Jesus is a sign of who Jesus is, the Son of God, and a revealing of the Triune nature of the one God.

A sign in the bible is an event that reveals a hidden truth; it is a God given moment moment of revelation.

A single event can reveal a world of truth.

The signs in the Gospels reveal the truth of who Jesus is.

Just as the life and teaching of Jesus revealed to Matthew who Jesus was, that Jesus was both God the Son and God our brother, so by reading about the life and teaching of Jesus in the Matthew's Gospel it can be revealed to us who Jesus is.

In one life, eternal life was revealed.

Our baptism is also a sign, an event that reveals a hidden truth. The Church has a word for this, ‘sacrament’ - which means an 'outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.' Baptism makes visible God's forgiveness, it is a sign that God forgives.

The Anglican church teaches that Jesus gave us two Sacraments, baptism and communion. Both reveal in different ways the love of God, and enables us to understand that God forgives.

That God forgives is a truth we often cannot see, and many often doubt.

We can find it difficult to forgive ourselves, and to forgive others, and so we imagine God is as unforgiving as we are. This divides us from God, from others, and from ourselves. However, the prayer of Jesus on the cross was, ““Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

God's forgiveness does not depend on who we are, it depends on who God is, and who God is was revealed in the life of Jesus.

The baptism of a baby is a wonderful picture of this, before we have even had a chance to do anything wrong God assures us of His forgiveness in the waters of baptism, knowing that we will make mistakes God offers us a blank cheque of forgiveness to be redeemed at any time in our lives. To cash in the cheque all we need to do is turn to face Him and receive His forgiveness, rather than continuing to go through life with our back to Him.

That is why in the baptism service we ask, ‘do you turn to Christ?’

The freely offered forgiveness of God challenges us to lead a life of forgiveness. Don’t ever think being a Christian is an easy option, a way of hiding from your problems, turning to Christ requires you to look the truth in the eye.

Forgiveness is not easy, that is why God sends the Holy Spirit to help us, but in the end it is easier than living with the self-destructive bitterness that comes from not forgiving others, and the self-destructive guilt that comes from not forgiving yourself.

Religion is about making you feel guilty; Jesus is about making you free.

In fact Jesus commanded the Church to pronounce forgiveness, even if sometimes we actually make it sound like he commanded us to pronounce condemnation.

Here is one last sign for you, a sign that really lets you know where you are, the sign of the cross. It is the sign made on the forehead of those to be baptised, it is the sign remembered in the bread and wine of communion, it is the great sign of God’s love and forgiveness.

If you cannot believe that God forgives you, if you cannot forgive someone else, or if you cannot forgive yourself, then look to the cross.

The forgiveness of God is freely given, but the great sign of God's forgiveness was purchased at infinite cost, the cross stands as a sign in history for all to look to, a sign that says, ‘if you doubt God loves you, think again.’

God created us in love, in Christ He redeems us in love, and by the Holy Spirit He sustains us in love, receive then the forgiveness of God and walk with Matthew, John the Baptist and all the Saints, in the way of Christ, the way that leads to eternal life.

Amen.

In the place of the Creed this week, an affirmation of our faith; it is good at the beginning of a New Year to remember the promises made at our Baptism or Confirmation, and to determine to live faithfully in the coming year as Christians.

Please stand.

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

All I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

All I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

All I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting.Amen.

Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship,in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?

All With the help of God, I will.

Will you persevere in resisting evil and,whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

All With the help of God, I will.

Will you proclaim by word and examplethe good news of God in Christ?

All With the help of God, I will.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all people,loving your neighbour as yourself?

All With the help of God, I will.

Will you acknowledge Christ's authority over human society,by prayer for the world and its leaders,by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?

All With the help of God, I will.

Almighty God,we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faithwith all who have been baptised into your name.Keep us faithful to our baptism,and so make us ready for that daywhen the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,our Saviour Jesus Christ.

All Amen.

All May Christ dwell in our hearts through faith,that we may be rooted and grounded in loveand bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. Amen.