For Martin Luther and for Lutherans, baptism means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, can be drowned through daily repentance; and that day after day a new self can arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever. Baptism sends us into the world to participate in the healing of our church, our society, and the world. We respond to grace by surrendering ourselves to God to be made whole and by the many ways we support others becoming whole.
In the Small Catechism, Martin Luther cites Paul in Romans 6:4: “Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” That walk-in newness of life is the great adventure!
This message is adapted from Women of the ELCA’s free, downloadable resource, “Epiphany: Unfolding the Discovery.” Today we remember Martin Luther, renewer of the church, who died in 1546. Please pray for our synodical women’s organization presidents as they continue their annual meeting in Chicago today.
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