Baptism and the Lord's Supper

In this part of the sermon: Martin begins by reviewing the series on the perseverance of God's people, emphasizing its necessity and the means God provides for it. He categorizes these means into…

Visitors coming in on course five of a seven-course meal is used to explain why a brief review of previous sermons on perseverance is necessary for newcomers.

the fact that all of the true people of God will adhere to the way of faith, holiness, and obedience, even unto the end. Now, since we have in the summer months an unusual number of visitors, it is as though some of you are coming in on holidays. A friend who is serving a seven-course meal, and you find them at course number five. And they don't want to be unsociable, but neither can they disrupt the total plan of that meal, and they can't go back and serve the first four or five courses, but they can at least give you a smell and a taste.

0:36 - 1:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Through the analogy of a wedding band, Martin illustrates how baptism serves as a constant reminder of vows made and commitments undertaken, powerfully prodding believers to live…

Martin uses his wedding band as an analogy for baptism, explaining how it serves as a visible token and constant reminder of solemn vows and commitments, prodding him to faithfulness in his marriage, just as baptism reminds a believer of their commitment to Christ.

He is using the realities attached to that watery ritual as an encouragement to faith, as a prod to various dimensions of obedience and holiness and consistency in the Christian life. Ever since he was baptized he used the illustration. I've repeated it a number of times in baptismal meditations and because I've never found a better one I'm going to repeat it this morning. Because as I prepared I kept glancing down at my wedding band and I just couldn't help but think of it.

34:28 - 35:03 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Through the analogy of a wedding band, Martin illustrates how baptism serves as a constant reminder of vows made and commitments undertaken, powerfully prodding believers to live…

Martin recounts his own soberness and heavy-heartedness before marriage, questioning if he could live up to the standard of loving his wife as Christ loved the church, to emphasize the seriousness with which he took his vows.

And that day I stood in the presence of several hundred witnesses and I made some solemn vows. I declared that I was stepping out of the realm of the independence of a single man. That I was now prepared to take upon myself the awesome responsibilities of being a husband and all that pertains to being a husband according to the word of God. And my mother just reminded me I'd forgotten it when she visited in conjunction with Heidi's graduation a few weeks ago that just even a few days before the marriage she said I went around the house at times looking very, very sober and heavy hearted and wh...

36:10 - 36:52 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is mandated by the Lord Jesus and it is intended among other things to be that very instrument of prodding us on in the path of holiness.

The unthinkable contradiction of a married man passing money to a harlot with his wedding-banded hand is used to illustrate the equally horrible contradiction of a believer giving himself to sin, denying his baptismal vows.

Now how unthinkable it would be would it not for this hand to reach out and illicitly to touch another woman in a manner that would be a violation of my sacred vows. Can you imagine a married man passing money to a whore with the very hand on which he has a ring that speaks of his commitment to another woman? You say what a contradiction. The hand that says I will be true to this one woman passing money to a whore?

38:23 - 38:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is mandated by the Lord Jesus and it is intended among other things to be that very instrument of prodding us on in the path of holiness.

Martin quotes Luther, who, when tempted by sin, found the motive 'I am baptized' to be powerful, illustrating how reflecting on baptism can be a deterrent to sin.

I am a baptized man or woman. I have declared that I have left the realm of sin's dominion. The love and willful practice of sin I have committed myself to Jesus Christ and to live unto righteousness. It was Luther who understood that principle and said himself that when he was seduced by sin there are times when he found this motive that is so powerful I dare not sin.

39:51 - 40:22 Read in full sermon