"You are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed in Christ." (Gal. 3:26-27)

“He saved us through the washing (baptizing) of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior." (Titus 3:5-6)

Nathaniel Isaac and Jacob Ian were baptized here at Grace Lutheran recently. What a wonderful event! Their father will soon be deployed to Afghanistan. He has already spent two tours in Iraq. It was marvelous to have Nathaniel and Jacob's father here for the baptisms. Nathaniel is seven years of age. His younger brother Jacob is five. Didn't they look sharp! Those two young boys were all dressed up, clothed in new suits and shined Sunday shoes.

Why, just the day before the baptisms they were here at the church with mom and dad getting ready for the event. Both boys were wearing T shirts with "monster" trucks on them. As I explained to the boys and their parents about the wonderful Biblical truths of Holy Baptism, I searched for ways that the truths could be illustrated. One way to get a hint of the miracle of baptism was right there on the boys' shirts. A monster truck, when filthy from the mud it wades through at a monster truck pull event, cannot clean itself. I actually asked the little guys if a dirty truck can clean itself? To which they laughed and replied, "No way!"

The book of Titus helps us to learn that baptism is a "cleansing" job of God. The word "baptism" actually comes from the Greek word which means to wash clean. Sin and error have stained our souls and lives, so much so that we cannot clean ourselves. God has saved us by making us clean by the washing of rebirth. In baptism we have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. Being scrubbed clean (spiritually speaking) is done through Christ Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

The book of Galatians helps us to learn that in the waters of baptism we have been clothed in Christ. In other words, God has put a whole new garment on us! We have gone from T shirts to a Sunday suit and Sunday shoes. God covers us! God clothes us. It is his action. We simply are the receivers of new clothes, clothes of grace and mercy.

Nathaniel and Jacob were standing next to the font. Each of their foreheads were just above the lip of the font. They stood straight, tall and still. They waited. They listened. They stood there in hope and anticipation. Each of them had the waters of the font poured on them generously, three times. Once in the name of the Father, once in the name of the Son, and once in the name of the Holy Spirit. We all watched God scrubbing away. We all watched God clothe these two little men.

I will always remember this day. I remember all baptisms. I will remember the boys' grandfather, who also stood as a sponsor, take the two boys outside after the service. Grandpa had taken the basin which holds the water in the font. He took the water outside and poured the water into our new "sacramental" garden area. The baptismal water from the font drenched the roots of a newly planted tree in our garden.

It was a wonderful day of grace at Grace Lutheran.

See you at the next county fair monster truck pull,

Pr. C