Trinity 12 – Baptism of Harold (Harry) Harlen Swenson – St. Paul September 4, 2022
2 Corinthians 3:4-11
The Ministry of the Spirit
v.6 [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Dear friends in Christ, what joy we experience in our worship today, for we have been given to receive the ministry of the Spirit—the ministry of righteousness—that far exceeds in glory the former ministry of the letter—the ministry of condemnation. At St. Paul we have been especially blessed to witness this ministry of the Spirit in action this morning as Harold Swenson received the gift of Holy Baptism—the washing of renewal of regeneration by the Holy Spirit—wherein he has been born again, and made a child of God, having been clothed with the righteousness of Christ. As have all of you who have been baptized into Christ—who have heard His Word and believed it concerning His Son, Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord is alive and at work within you—giving you the gift of repentance over your sin and faith in Jesus to forgive that sin with His shed blood. What surpassing joy and peace!
For the Word of God has two great teachings as St. Paul outlines in our text: the ministry of the letter—the Law of Moses; and the ministry of righteousness—the ministry of the Spirit. Both are necessary and important, but the latter comes with a far greater glory than the former. Why? Because the ministry of the Law serves a singular purpose, which will be brought to an end in Christ Jesus. For the old covenant—that which was enacted on Mt. Sinai under the prophet Moses—was a ministry of the Letter of the Law of God.
This ministry of God through Moses is important. For by it we sinners are brought to sorrow and contrition over our sin. That is, we recognize by the power of the Spirit working through the Word of God that we are sinners—that we have failed to keep God's Law perfectly as He demands. God's holiness exposes our sinfulness. Indeed, God serves us—ministers to us—by spiritually exposing the futility and destructiveness of human self-righteousness and pride, which brings about our condemnation. For there is no sufficiency unto salvation from us, but rather our sufficiency is from God alone.
Indeed, this is one reason why we rejoice in God's gift of Baptism—for all people—of all ages—even little babies like Harry. For every human being is conceived and born in sin—rebellion against God—as the Scriptures clearly proclaim. King David wrote in Psalm 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." Babies bring nothing to God in Baptism—cannot. Indeed, they must be literally be carried to the waters of Baptism by another. This illustrates for us both our complete insufficiency before God—and His complete sufficiency towards us. For it is He who comes to save us—to bathe us in His blood—to shower us with forgiveness—to pour into us His life-giving Spirit. What grace and mercy!
So, as sinners condemned by the clear Word of God, we receive with joy and thanksgiving the ministry of the Spirit of God, which gives life. Baptism washes away our sin by the blood of Jesus. Not just for adults, but children too. Hear what St. Peter preached to the Jews in Jerusalem at Pentecost upon learning that they had crucified the Lord of Life (Acts 2:37-39), "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.'"
So we see that it is the Lord, working through His Word and Sacraments (such as Baptism), that brings forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit works through these means to call people to faith in Christ—drawing them near to the Father. What joy we have in our hearts, beloved, knowing that this gift has been given to Harry, to you and to me, and to all our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.
For we know that we are insufficient of ourselves to receive God's gift of life. We know that our works are inadequate—they do not add up. The Law of God teaches us this very clearly. It shows in sharp relief our great sin by its light. And we know that "the wages of sin is death." So, this ministry of the death leads us to cry out to God for mercy—having cast off our pride in our accomplishments—having shaken off the notion that our righteousness is enough to earn God's favor—we now look to Jesus and His Spirit for mercy and life.
This is not to say that the ministry of condemnation did not have glory. Indeed, it did, as it came from God. St. Paul reminds us that Moses was required to put a veil over his face after speaking with God. For Moses' face shone so brightly with just the reflected glory of God, having been in His presence when he received the Law of God on the tablets of stone at Mt. Sinai, that the people could not look at his face. Yet herein Paul notes that the ministry of righteousness far exceeds the ministry of condemnation in glory. For the ministry of condemnation has been surpassed by what has come afterward—the new covenant given to all people through faith in Jesus Christ.
This new ministry has even more glory for it is permanent. For the ministry of condemnation will pass away—having fulfilled its purpose by bringing sinners to repentance—showing us the death that awaits us apart from Christ. But the ministry of the Spirit—the ministry of righteousness through faith in Jesus—is a ministry of life that will have no end—is absolutely permanent—for it has been worked and accomplished by God Himself.
So that now, beloved, when we are burdened with our sin—when the devil tempts us to despair—when our flesh pushes us to abandon God's Word of truth—we can resist. For we have the gift of the Spirit of life, beloved. The Spirit of Christ that has been poured out upon us in our Baptism—the Spirit that preaches faith into our hearts each time we read and study God's Holy Word and hear it proclaimed into our ears.
The Holy Spirit plucks us out of the depths of our despair and points us to our Baptism—the holy act whereby God gave us the fullness of the righteousness of Jesus. The perfect works of Christ—His perfect keeping of the Law of God—is yours! The suffering death of Jesus on the cross—the death that is the wages of sin—Jesus died in your place—so now His death is also yours. The resurrection of Jesus—His victory over sin, death, and the devil—is also now yours! Which is why we can rejoice. For our righteousness IS sufficient—because our sufficiency is from God. We do not claim anything as coming from ourselves, but rather claim the righteousness of Jesus—His holy blood poured out for sinners like you and me on the cross is what grants us forgiveness for all our sins and eternal life and salvation.
So, beloved, you need not worry come Judgement Day that you are not good enough for heaven—that you are insufficient. For in Christ Jesus you are more than sufficient. And the glory of His ministry of righteousness is permanent. You will live in glory with the Holy Triune God unto all eternity. Having been washed clean with His Baptism, and received His Holy Word of absolution—you are forgiven—you are saved—you have life and glory—you are sufficient. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2 Corinthians 3:4-11
The Ministry of the Spirit
v.6 [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Dear friends in Christ, what joy we experience in our worship today, for we have been given to receive the ministry of the Spirit—the ministry of righteousness—that far exceeds in glory the former ministry of the letter—the ministry of condemnation. At St. Paul we have been especially blessed to witness this ministry of the Spirit in action this morning as Harold Swenson received the gift of Holy Baptism—the washing of renewal of regeneration by the Holy Spirit—wherein he has been born again, and made a child of God, having been clothed with the righteousness of Christ. As have all of you who have been baptized into Christ—who have heard His Word and believed it concerning His Son, Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord is alive and at work within you—giving you the gift of repentance over your sin and faith in Jesus to forgive that sin with His shed blood. What surpassing joy and peace!
For the Word of God has two great teachings as St. Paul outlines in our text: the ministry of the letter—the Law of Moses; and the ministry of righteousness—the ministry of the Spirit. Both are necessary and important, but the latter comes with a far greater glory than the former. Why? Because the ministry of the Law serves a singular purpose, which will be brought to an end in Christ Jesus. For the old covenant—that which was enacted on Mt. Sinai under the prophet Moses—was a ministry of the Letter of the Law of God.
This ministry of God through Moses is important. For by it we sinners are brought to sorrow and contrition over our sin. That is, we recognize by the power of the Spirit working through the Word of God that we are sinners—that we have failed to keep God's Law perfectly as He demands. God's holiness exposes our sinfulness. Indeed, God serves us—ministers to us—by spiritually exposing the futility and destructiveness of human self-righteousness and pride, which brings about our condemnation. For there is no sufficiency unto salvation from us, but rather our sufficiency is from God alone.
Indeed, this is one reason why we rejoice in God's gift of Baptism—for all people—of all ages—even little babies like Harry. For every human being is conceived and born in sin—rebellion against God—as the Scriptures clearly proclaim. King David wrote in Psalm 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." Babies bring nothing to God in Baptism—cannot. Indeed, they must be literally be carried to the waters of Baptism by another. This illustrates for us both our complete insufficiency before God—and His complete sufficiency towards us. For it is He who comes to save us—to bathe us in His blood—to shower us with forgiveness—to pour into us His life-giving Spirit. What grace and mercy!
So, as sinners condemned by the clear Word of God, we receive with joy and thanksgiving the ministry of the Spirit of God, which gives life. Baptism washes away our sin by the blood of Jesus. Not just for adults, but children too. Hear what St. Peter preached to the Jews in Jerusalem at Pentecost upon learning that they had crucified the Lord of Life (Acts 2:37-39), "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.'"
So we see that it is the Lord, working through His Word and Sacraments (such as Baptism), that brings forgiveness of sins. The Holy Spirit works through these means to call people to faith in Christ—drawing them near to the Father. What joy we have in our hearts, beloved, knowing that this gift has been given to Harry, to you and to me, and to all our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.
For we know that we are insufficient of ourselves to receive God's gift of life. We know that our works are inadequate—they do not add up. The Law of God teaches us this very clearly. It shows in sharp relief our great sin by its light. And we know that "the wages of sin is death." So, this ministry of the death leads us to cry out to God for mercy—having cast off our pride in our accomplishments—having shaken off the notion that our righteousness is enough to earn God's favor—we now look to Jesus and His Spirit for mercy and life.
This is not to say that the ministry of condemnation did not have glory. Indeed, it did, as it came from God. St. Paul reminds us that Moses was required to put a veil over his face after speaking with God. For Moses' face shone so brightly with just the reflected glory of God, having been in His presence when he received the Law of God on the tablets of stone at Mt. Sinai, that the people could not look at his face. Yet herein Paul notes that the ministry of righteousness far exceeds the ministry of condemnation in glory. For the ministry of condemnation has been surpassed by what has come afterward—the new covenant given to all people through faith in Jesus Christ.
This new ministry has even more glory for it is permanent. For the ministry of condemnation will pass away—having fulfilled its purpose by bringing sinners to repentance—showing us the death that awaits us apart from Christ. But the ministry of the Spirit—the ministry of righteousness through faith in Jesus—is a ministry of life that will have no end—is absolutely permanent—for it has been worked and accomplished by God Himself.
So that now, beloved, when we are burdened with our sin—when the devil tempts us to despair—when our flesh pushes us to abandon God's Word of truth—we can resist. For we have the gift of the Spirit of life, beloved. The Spirit of Christ that has been poured out upon us in our Baptism—the Spirit that preaches faith into our hearts each time we read and study God's Holy Word and hear it proclaimed into our ears.
The Holy Spirit plucks us out of the depths of our despair and points us to our Baptism—the holy act whereby God gave us the fullness of the righteousness of Jesus. The perfect works of Christ—His perfect keeping of the Law of God—is yours! The suffering death of Jesus on the cross—the death that is the wages of sin—Jesus died in your place—so now His death is also yours. The resurrection of Jesus—His victory over sin, death, and the devil—is also now yours! Which is why we can rejoice. For our righteousness IS sufficient—because our sufficiency is from God. We do not claim anything as coming from ourselves, but rather claim the righteousness of Jesus—His holy blood poured out for sinners like you and me on the cross is what grants us forgiveness for all our sins and eternal life and salvation.
So, beloved, you need not worry come Judgement Day that you are not good enough for heaven—that you are insufficient. For in Christ Jesus you are more than sufficient. And the glory of His ministry of righteousness is permanent. You will live in glory with the Holy Triune God unto all eternity. Having been washed clean with His Baptism, and received His Holy Word of absolution—you are forgiven—you are saved—you have life and glory—you are sufficient. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.