Catechetical Sermon Series I – Baptism and the Ten Commandments

Here are some comments to help the readers understand how I arrived at my selection of the scripture readings and hymns for this part of the catechetical sermon series.

Baptismal Sermons

For each of the baptismal sermons I included in the readings the scriptural texts Luther used in his Catechism (Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-16; Titus 3:3-8; Romans 6:1-11).

For the first sermon the Old Testament and Epistle readings reflect the fact that circumcision is the Old Testament predecessor to Baptism, and that Baptism (the circumcision of Christ) can be administered to infants. Circumcision was administered to infants on the 8^th day (Genesis 17:9-13). The sermon text contrasts Jesus’ Baptism with our baptism – Jesus was baptized as an adult and did not need Baptism; most of us were baptized as infants and all of us needed Baptism to be brought to faith and to have sin forgiven. At His Baptism Jesus was declared to be God’s Son; at our Baptism we became God’s sons and daughters as we were brought from unbelief to faith in Christ. At Jesus’ Baptism He was anointed with the Holy Spirit for His messianic work; at our Baptism the Holy Spirit began to guide our spiritual lives. Jesus was baptized with the Baptism of John; we were baptized in the name of the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus was perfect and sinless so the Father was well pleased with Him; by faith in Christ, God the Father becomes well pleased with us even though we are both sinner and saint. The scripture readings also reflect the fact that Baptism gives faith, forgiveness and eternal life. These are my selections – the readers who will preach on the Catechism might find other scripture selections that better fit their circumstance.